Seems strange with all the possible clues in the car , that it was not retained by the police permanently?
Yes, I can't figure out why law enforcement ever released the vehicle to the Kesses--and so quickly after calling it the crime scene.
The Kesses were horrified at the thought of what might have happened and couldn't stand to look at it. They returned it to the leasing company as soon as possible.
The boot (trunk) scenario is strange , making rob be present ehen initially opening it , no pictures at all , as you mention. Strange.
Law enforcement put Rob through everything. Just everything. Two or three polygraphs; took his DNA twice; countless interviews; being there when they opened the trunk--and the guy's alibi checked out. And he never even attempted to lawyer-up. He did everything they asked of him--no matter how many times they asked.
He has to be an amazing person to put up with all that.
Can the fact the bottom of the car was caked in mud be relevant? Or could jen have done this in her own driving?
There is certainly the possibility it could be relevant. I wonder if there were any roads in the immediate area under construction--I remember that according to gas usage, the vehicle probably wasn't driven far on the late evening/night of the 23rd. (I take into consideration that the POI may have filled it back up to the exact level he had perhaps recorded when he began driving the vehicle; but somehow I don't find that feasible).
Or maybe even an unpaved driveway, or an old dirt path that a local might know about.
As far as Jenn herself driving on muddy roads--I'd be surprised if she was the type. We know she liked to go shopping; maybe out to a restaurant or a classy bar for a drink--not much mud around those places.
She liked to go to the beach, probably with Rob. It's hard to say if they would have used his car or her car. Would they go to the beach on a rainy day, or would there even be actual mud around? Maybe on the side of the road after a rain--where they parked maybe?
Or maybe some of the roads were under construction that she used to travel to Fort Lauderdale on the Wednesday before she flew to St. Croix. Maybe even parts of the highway she used to travel to her job in Ocoee were under construction.
IIRC, Mr. Kesse said he cleaned her vehicle just before she went on her vacation--I wonder if he noticed any mud caked underneath at that time. I wonder how long it had been since the vehicle was put through a car wash? Usually you can get the undercarriage washed--sometimes they charge a little bit more, but not much. Some people do that regularly.
So, it's hard to say, I guess. But it's something that I'm sure law enforcement would look at. (I hope).
Is it because its holding info they want to hold back?
Concerning the trunk contents, I think so. They never even told the Kesses what they took out of it, and still have in their possession, today.
I assume police had checked the boot before Rob was asked to look ( yes , to trst his reactions)
Sure they would have. There would have been a possibility she was still alive if she was in there.