Kimberly Kessler leaves Nassau jail to begin prison sentence, sheriff gives staff cake, ice cream

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — Sheriff Bill Leeper said when convicted killer Kimberly Kessler left the Nassau County Jail to begin her life sentence in prison, he would be giving cake and ice cream to the staff.

Leeper wasn’t kidding -- he delivered on his promise on Friday, giving staff a cake that said “Incarceration Relocation Celebration!” written in black icing.

Kessler was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the murder of Nassau County mom Joleen Cummings, who was reported missing on Mother’s Day 2018. Cummings’ body has never been found.

Through the years of her time at the Nassau County Jail, Kessler often gave staff a difficult time, including an April 2021 incident where she grabbed feces that she had been collecting in Styrofoam trays in the back of her jail cell and began smearing it on herself and the walls.

Leeper shared photos of the cake, along with the following statement:

“Nassau County inmate Kimberly Kessler was transported this morning to the Florida Women’s Reception Center in Marion County to begin her life sentence without parole in the Florida Prison System. For 3 ½ years she has been in NCSO’s care, custody and control. The costs borne by the taxpayers of Nassau County for her custody since her arrest have been staggering. A conservative estimate cost for her suicide watch, medical costs, transportation and food amounted to over $215,000. Sheriff Leeper said once she leaves our custody we will celebrate with cake and ice cream. A few pictures are included of some of the staff at the Nassau County Jail who celebrated and are glad they no longer have to deal with her.”

©2022 Cox Media Group