YULEE, Fla. – Tangles Hair Salon and Supply, the Yulee hair salon where a Nassau County mother worked before she went missing, announced on Tuesday it will close.
The owners posted the notice on the salon's Facebook page, citing financial troubles and the ongoing law enforcement investigation into Joleen Cummings' disappearance.
"I want to let everyone know, due to the devastating loss of Joleen and lost revenue, we will not reopen," the post said, adding that the leasing company "refuses to work with us."
Cummings, 34, is presumed dead. She was last seen alive leaving work at the salon on State Road 200 on May 12. That's the same day cell phone records indicate her phone was last used.
The mother of three was officially reported missing May 14 by her ex-husband after she failed to show up to pick up the couple's children for Mother's Day, according to the Nassau County Sheriff's Office.
Her SUV was found the next day parked outside a nearby Home Depot. Her co-worker Kimberly Kessler, who goes by Jennifer Sybert among other aliases, was seen getting out of the vehicle.
Authorities said Kessler, 50, did not have permission to drive the vehicle. While investigators consider her a suspect in Cummings' disappearance, she's currently charged with grand theft auto.
Court records show Kessler is due in court on Thursday. Sheriff Bill Leeper said additional charges are likely, though he did not disclose which charges could be added.
The owners and co-workers of Tangles Hair Salon later sent the following statement:
Tangles Hair Salon will not be reopening. Losing our friend and who we considered family was devastating. We willingly closed the store for the investigators, in hopes that it would help locate Joleen. We know they have been working around the clock in an effort to solve this heinous crime and we have the utmost respect for NCSO. The side effect of this whole situation is a loss of income for the salon. We are just a small business and can not take financial setbacks of this magnitude. The property management company notified me today that they will hold the salon to the terms of the lease. Working there without Joleen would be very difficult. So it is with great regret that we announce that we will not be reopening, we want to thank all of our loyal customers that have become our friends over the years, you all are the greatest. We also want to thank all the people who expressed their support on our Tangles Facebook page. We do ask for continued prayers for Joleens family, that closure will come soon and for us as we try to move forward. We all love you Joleen!"