FL JESSE KIRK: Missing from Titusville, FL - 4 March 2025 - Age 72

Titusville Police, FBI search for Titusville woman missing under “highly suspicious circumstances”

Titusville Police are asking the community for help in the case of a 72-year-old woman who is missing under “highly suspicious circumstances.”

www.wftv.com

Titusville Police, FBI search for Titusville woman missing under “highly suspicious circumstances”​

Titusville Police are asking the community for help in the case of a 72-year-old woman who is missing under “highly suspicious circumstances.”

Police said Jesse Kirk was reported missing by a friend around 9 AM on March 4th when she did not show up for her morning walk, which was highly unusual for her to miss.

Investigators later found Kirk’s burned car in a remote area of Christmas in Orange County near State Road 50.

Investigators said when they visited Kirk’s home in Titusville, they found 35-year-old David Armstrong Barber lurking in the area. According to police Barber had several new burns on him and appeared to be suspicious.


He was ultimately arrested for Loitering and Prowling in the area.

Detectives later discovered Barber is the estranged boyfriend of Kirk’s niece.

Channel 9 learned Kirk’s niece had reported Barber’s problematic behavior after their break-up multiple times.

A pending Criminal Case in Brevard County shows after their break-up, he was caught on a Ring doorbell camera trying to break into the couple’s old home.

Court documents show, in Orange County, Kirk’s niece asked a judge for an injunction to protect her from Barber’s alleged stalking.

That injunction hearing was scheduled for late March.

Channel 9 also reached out to an attorney for Kirk’s niece. He told Channel 9 that his client made multiple reports about Barber’s conduct and was fearful for her life.

That attorney told Channel 9 Kirk’s family is trying to process the latest developments in Jesse Kirk’s missing person case.


MEDIA - JESSE KIRK: Missing from Titusville, FL - 4 March 2025 - Age 72

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Titusville woman missing under 'suspicious' events; car found 'burned,' officials say

Titusville Police are searching for a woman who vanished under what they describe as suspicious circumstances.

www.fox35orlando.com

Titusville woman missing under 'suspicious' events; car found 'burned,' officials say​

Titusville Police are searching for a woman who vanished under what they describe as suspicious circumstances.

Titusville Police are investigating the disappearance of Jesse D. Kirk, 72, who was reported missing under suspicious circumstances.

Kirk was reported missing by a friend after she did not show up for her usual morning walk along S. Washington Ave. — a departure from her routine.

During their search, detectives encountered David Armstrong Barber, 35, of West Palm Beach, in the area near Kirk’s condo. Barber, identified as the estranged boyfriend of a relative of Kirk, was arrested for loitering and prowling. Authorities noted that he had recent, significant burns on his body.

Adding to the mystery, Kirk’s burned vehicle was found near State Road 50 and State Road 520 in Orange County.


Investigators have not disclosed whether Kirk’s disappearance is directly linked to Barber’s presence or his injuries. There is no confirmation yet of whether foul play was involved in her disappearance, though authorities have labeled the case as "highly suspicious."

Police have not released any leads regarding Kirk’s possible whereabouts or if any physical evidence has been recovered from the burned vehicle. Barber’s arrest came after detectives spotted him lurking near Kirk’s home, though it remains unclear why he was in the area and whether he had provided any statements to authorities.

Titusville Police have described the case as "highly suspicious" and have labeled Kirk as a "missing and endangered adult."

Police also noted that Barber was "found lurking in the area" and had "significant recent burns" on his body at the time of his arrest.

 

[GrandmaBear]

So it seems apparent he likely killed her so where is she...

Did they or the niece live with the aunt I wonder. when they were together I mean. It sounds like the niece sure looked for help, what help did the courts or LE give her??

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Jesse Kirk: Missing Florida woman's car found burned; what we know about the case

Titusville police in Florida are searching for Jesse Kirk, a missing 72-year-old woman, who was reported missing by a friend after missing her morning walk, authorities said.

www.fox35orlando.com

Jesse Kirk: Missing Florida woman's car found burned; what we know about the case​

Police in Florida are searching for a missing 72-year-old woman who authorities said seemingly disappeared under suspicious circumstances.


What we know: On March 4, at around 9 a.m., Jesse Kirk, 72, was reported missing by a friend after she did not show up for her usual morning walk along S. Washington Avenue in Titusville – a departure from her routine.

Police began an investigation, and during their search for Kirk, authorities said they encountered a "suspicious" man near her condo.

Police identified the suspicious man near Kirk's condo as David Armstrong Barber. The 35-year-old West Palm Beach man is the estranged boyfriend of one of Kirk's relatives, officials said.

Barber was arrested on charges of loitering and prowling. Authorities noted that he had recent, significant burns on his body.

Kirk's "burned up" vehicle was found around the same time near State Road 50 and State Road 520 in Orange County, according to detectives.

What we don't know: Investigators have not disclosed whether Kirk’s disappearance is directly linked to Barber’s presence or his injuries. There is no confirmation yet of whether foul play was involved in her disappearance, though authorities have labeled the case as "highly suspicious."

Police have not released any leads regarding Kirk’s possible whereabouts or if any physical evidence has been recovered from the burned vehicle. Barber’s arrest came after detectives spotted him lurking near Kirk’s home, though it remains unclear why he was in the area and whether he had provided any statements to authorities.

Dig deeper: Court documents state that in November 2024, Barber’s ex-girlfriend filed a restraining order against him for stalking her. He was allegedly seen digging through a dumpster outside of her apartment, and was allegedly seen underneath her car. Court documents state the ex-girlfriend found a rod and wires attached to her car.

We are also learning this is not his first encounter with law enforcement.

In December 2024, Barber was arrested, accused of attempting to break into the Rockledge apartment he and his ex-girlfriend lived in together until the two broke up in July 2024.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Witness places man at scene of burning car in missing Titusville woman's case

A witness called 911 after seeing a man walking away from what appeared to be the missing woman's burning car.

www.wesh.com

Witness places man at scene of burning car in missing Titusville woman's case​

Documents obtained Wednesday in the case of a missing Titusville woman show that a man was seen walking away from her burning vehicle.

The Titusville Police Department is looking for Jesse D Kirk, who is now considered missing and endangered under "highly suspicious" circumstances.


Several hours later, detectives encountered a suspicious man near the missing woman's condo. David Armstrong Barber, 35, of West Palm Beach, was arrested for loitering and prowling after detectives found him lurking in the area. Barber appeared to have significant recent burns on him. He is also the estranged boyfriend of one of Kirk's relatives.

The missing woman's vehicle was found burned up in a location near State Road 50 and State Road 520 around the same time.

A witness told police she saw Barber walking away from what appeared to be the missing woman's burning vehicle while holding his right arm. The witness called 911 after seeing a report about the missing woman on TV.

Police said it was a significant lead because no details about Barber had been released at the time.

Barber now also faces a grand theft of a motor vehicle charge.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I wonder how much jail time he did for stalking, or wiring something to the niece's car, etc. None I'm guessing.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

This guy is scary...

Ex-deputy stalked missing Titusville woman’s niece, court records allege

A former Brevard County corrections deputy arrested in connection with the disappearance of 72-year-old Jessie Kirk is under a restraining order for allegedly stalking the missing woman’s niece last year, court records show.

www.clickorlando.com

Ex-deputy stalked missing Titusville woman’s niece, court records allege​

A former Brevard County corrections deputy arrested in connection with the disappearance of 72-year-old Jessie Kirk is under a restraining order for allegedly stalking the missing woman’s niece last year, court records show.


Police arrested David Armstrong Barber, 35, on charges of loitering and grand theft auto after investigators said they found him lurking near Kirk’s condo with first and second degree burns on his arms.

Barber previously dated the missing woman’s niece and is currently facing separate criminal charges for allegedly attempting to burglarize the ex-girlfriend’s former home, court records show.

News 6 is not identifying Barber’s ex-girlfriend by name since she claims to be a victim of stalking and revenge porn.

Barber’s ex-girlfriend sought a restraining order in November after she said Barber repeatedly ignored a letter from her attorney demanding him to stop all contact and harassing behavior.

According to a petition filed in Orange County Circuit Court, the woman said she moved out of the Brevard County apartment she shared with Barber in June and ended their three-year relationship because he was posting sexually explicit photos of her on a pornographic website without consent.

The ex-girlfriend’s attorney sent Barber a “cease and desist” notice on July 17 demanding he delete the images and stop contacting the woman and her family, court records show.

The next day Barber reportedly sent an email to the woman’s attorney acknowledging that he had received the request.

But according to the woman’s petition for a restraining order, the following evening Barber was captured on surveillance video placing something underneath her car parked outside her new home in Orange County. Police later located a wire attached to a tire mounting rod, the woman stated.

“Please give me a chance to start over. Let me win your love and trust back,” Barber reportedly wrote in an email sent to the woman’s attorney about a week later. “Please don’t let your fear get the better of you. Please don’t run away from this relationship. I know I have caused you pain. Please forgive me.”

Barber returned to his ex-girlfriend’s new home at least four times in mid-November, she alleged in a court filing. Surveillance videos reportedly showed him rummaging through her garbage with gloves on, hiding next to her car late at night, and crawling underneath her vehicle.

“I am terrified of his actions and fearful he is trying to sabotage my vehicle or follow me to an unsafe location and attack or kill me,” the woman wrote in her petition.

A judge issued a temporary injunction against Barber in November that prohibited him from having contact with his ex-girlfriend. The injunction was extended in January, court records show, and a hearing on the restraining order was scheduled for later this month.

On Dec. 4, weeks after Barber was reportedly seen at his ex-girlfriend’s Orange County home, a new tenant who had recently moved into the couple’s former Brevard County apartment contacted Rockledge police to report a suspicious incident.

Video footage from the tenant’s Ring doorbell camera showed a man police identified as Barber sneaking towards her front door and placing black electrical tape over the camera lens.

Two weeks later, Barber was caught on camera returning to his former Rockledge apartment and attempting to unlock the door with a key, police records show.

Investigators could not determine if Barber entered his old apartment since the doorbell camera recording ended early, according to a report.

Authorities arrested Barber Dec. 22 on charges of attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools. He was released from custody the same day on a $20,000 bond to await trial, court records indicate.

Court records related to Barber’s attempted burglary arrest and stalking injunction do not specifically mention Kirk, his ex-girlfriend’s aunt.

Titusville police say a man matching Barber’s description was seen on surveillance cameras driving Kirk’s white Lincoln Navigator the day she was reported missing.