GUILTY Wesley Hadsell guilty after retrial on murdering adopted stepdaughter, A.J. Hadsell #3

[MsMarple]

Jurors saw disturbing autopsy photos and heard from AJ’s little sister, Justice.

The day AJ went missing, Justice said she came home from school and noticed the family dog outside, and a Bluetooth speaker was left on.

During cross-examination, Justice told jurors she and her mom did find a note on their kitchen counter believed to be from AJ saying she needed a break.

A coworker of Wesley Hadsell told the court, she worked alongside Hadsell for about a month. She said she knew Hadsell used cocaine, but he told her he would never use heroin because his friend died from an overdose. This coworker also knew Hadsell had issues with his family.

She told jurors, Hadsell went to lunch the day AJ went missing and when he returned nearly two hours later he acted skittish, upset, and out of sorts.​

Wesley Hadsell Trial Day 2: AJ Hadsell's sister testifies | 13newsnow.com

More at the link.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Ali Weatherton 13News Now
@13AliWeatherton
DAY 4: The first person to testify today in the trial against Wesley Hadsell was Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Wendy Gunther. She performed the autopsy on AJ Hadsell in 2015. MORE: #13NewsNow

@13AliWeatherton
3h
Court is now in recess for a lunch break. Attorneys for the Commonwealth hope to have two to three more people testify today. #13NewsNow

Ali Weatherton 13News Now
3h
@13AliWeatherton
Dr. Gunther says AJ died from acute heroin poisoning and she had triple the amount of lethal heroin in her body. She also said AJ had several bruises on her body — including on her jaw, chest and around her eyes

It's been so long, but I think this is new info that we didn't have before. It's sickening but it almost sounds like someone beat the heck out of her before she passed.

 

[MsMarple]

Also, according to WAVY Wesley's drug dealer testified today. Looking for a link...

Ali Weatherton 13News Now@13AliWeatherton
4h
Jurors heard testimony today from Wesley Hadsell’s former boss. He called Hadsell a good employee. The day AJ Hadsell disappeared, his supervisor said Hadsell came back from lunch about an hour late.
Ali Weatherton 13News Now@13AliWeatherton
4h
A former Norfolk Police officer who is now an NCIS Agent said when she first interviewed Hadsell he had on muddy clothes and looked extremely tired. She said he told her — he had marriage problems with AJ’s mom because he started using cocaine again. #13NewsNow

Ali Weatherton 13News Now@13AliWeatherton
4h
At one point the officer said Hadsell told her that he became frustrated with Norfolk Police for not sharing enough information and told her he hired a private investigator. She said he also commented saying if I would do something, I would “fall off the grid.” #13NewsNow

 

[MsMarple]

Jurors also saw surveillance video of Hadsell withdrawing money at a credit union the day AJ disappeared. The prosecution pointed out that Hadsell looked back at his work van six times in about 30 seconds.

A man who said he frequently sold drugs to Wesley Hadsell also testified on Wednesday. That man received a plea deal as long as he testified in this case.

That former drug dealer said this trial is extremely hard because he considers Wesley Hadsell a good friend. He told jurors he sold Hadsell cocaine and heroin in the past for around $800 as well as the day after AJ Hadsell’s disappearance.

The last person to take the stand Wednesday was AJ Hadsell’s best friend, Andre Barr. He hung out with AJ just days before she disappeared from Norfolk. Barr told jurors he helped with several searches, made posters with AJ’s pictures, and said Wesley Hadsell was by his side.

Barr said Hadsell typically directed friends and family on where to look for AJ’s belongings. At one point, Barr said Hadsell told people, “If you want to find her, you need to say what I do.”

Barr said while spending time with Hadsell and some of AJ’s friends, Hadsell tried to intimidate them. Barr said Hadsell talked about the guns he owned and said he’s a part of the Aryan Brotherhood, which is a Neo-Nazi prison gang.​

Drug dealer, former boss testify in Wesley Hadsell trial | 13newsnow.com

More witnesses to come.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Jurors also saw surveillance video of Hadsell withdrawing money at a credit union the day AJ disappeared. The prosecution pointed out that Hadsell looked back at his work van six times in about 30 seconds.

A man who said he frequently sold drugs to Wesley Hadsell also testified on Wednesday. That man received a plea deal as long as he testified in this case.

That former drug dealer said this trial is extremely hard because he considers Wesley Hadsell a good friend. He told jurors he sold Hadsell cocaine and heroin in the past for around $800 as well as the day after AJ Hadsell’s disappearance.

The last person to take the stand Wednesday was AJ Hadsell’s best friend, Andre Barr. He hung out with AJ just days before she disappeared from Norfolk. Barr told jurors he helped with several searches, made posters with AJ’s pictures, and said Wesley Hadsell was by his side.

Barr said Hadsell typically directed friends and family on where to look for AJ’s belongings. At one point, Barr said Hadsell told people, “If you want to find her, you need to say what I do.”

Barr said while spending time with Hadsell and some of AJ’s friends, Hadsell tried to intimidate them. Barr said Hadsell talked about the guns he owned and said he’s a part of the Aryan Brotherhood, which is a Neo-Nazi prison gang.​

Drug dealer, former boss testify in Wesley Hadsell trial | 13newsnow.com

More witnesses to come.

I'd sure like to know what the time stamp said on that credit union camera. During his extra hour long lunch? After work? Was AJ in his van the whole time?

Questions that will likely never be answered I'm sure. Ugh, I just hope he gets sent away for good this time.

 

[Kittybunny]

I'm so happy that this case is being retried, I hope it ends in much delayed justice for AJ! Thank you to all of you bringing news and tweets over.

 

[katydid23]

This is one trial I really wish I could watch. These tweets are not very enlightening. I hope things are going well but I cannot tell by the tweets so far.

 

[MsMarple]

Several people said Hadsell often referred to AJ in past tense before investigators found her dead in Southampton County. Hadsell’s attorney disagrees with officers.
...
David Lefleur, a Norfolk Police sergeant, said Hadsell laid on AJ’s bed during an interview and changed his story several times. He also said Hadsell referred to AJ in past tense, and told him AJ never did any drugs.

Another Norfolk Police Investigator, Brandon Shum, said every time he tried to talk to AJ’s mom, Jennifer, Wesley Hadsell would interrupt and talk over her.

Hadsell’s attorney, James Ellenson, disputed that testimony.
...
A cadaver dog trainer testified and said her dog, Sam, smelled human remains in Hadsell’s hotel room and in a blue mini van. (We don’t know who owned the van.)
...
On Thursday afternoon, a woman named Teresa and her daughter, Lexy, testified. Lexy used to date AJ’s Hadsell’s ex-boyfriend.

According to them, when AJ disappeared, Hadsell came to their home to get more information about the ex-boyfriend. Teresa said Hadsell made her so uncomfortable, she went and got her gun.
...
Teresa and Lexy both said Hadsell told them he'd broken into several homes looking for AJ. He also had surveillance video from the day she disappeared, but told the women he only gave one video to investigators.
...
Prosecutors plan to call several more witnesses, including AJ’s mother, Jennifer Hadsell. That's expected to happen on Friday.​

Trial of Wesley Hadsell, accused of killing stepdaughter, heats up | 13newsnow.com

 

[katydid23]

I hope this hapless idiot takes the stand in his own defense. I hope he blinks a lot, and the jury can see his eyelid tatts, which say GAME OVER........Those are the prefect tatts for this moron.

 

[Ontario Mom]

From your link above @MsMarple AJ's mom is scheduled to testify tomorrow.

This should be interesting, for sure.

Also, from the link above, we learned the cadaver dog handler said the dog alerted in Hadsell's hotel room. This seems like new information. Although, it has been 7 long years so I may be mis-remembering.

 

[MsMarple]

From your link above @MsMarple AJ's mom is scheduled to testify tomorrow.

This should be interesting, for sure.

Also, from the link above, we learned the cadaver dog handler said the dog alerted in Hadsell's hotel room. This seems like new information. Although, it has been 7 long years so I may be mis-remembering.

I don't remember a cadaver dog hitting in the hotel room either. All I remember was LE finding the ammo hidden in the air vent and the duct tape. I don't remember seeing anything about the bruises on AJ either and I did search back.

So... it looks like Wes took AJ to the hotel and that's where she died. Then he put her in his work van and took her to the abandoned house.

IMO no matter how loudly his attorney complains everything points to Wes. IMO he got AJ high, either by persuasion or more likely force. I believe his motive was sexual and to be honest I wouldn't be shocked to learn that he forced the heroin on her (causing the bruises) and heck, maybe even knew it was a lethal dose, in order to eliminate her telling on him. As a seasoned criminal he learned to clean up "loose ends." JMO though.

Wes is a reminder that some people can lie with ease. From March 25, 2015 (BBM):

“I’d do anything for my daughter, my wife, my kids, and they make it sound like I’d do anything to keep myself out of trouble,” Hadsell told WAVY.

Hadsell is positive AJ was taken—the reason he broke into the home of someone he believes took her against her will, leading to her disappearance.

“I couldn’t sit a minute away from where my daughter may have been,” said Hadsell.
...
“I want my daughter home,” said Hadsell. “That’s what I want and that’s all I want. Anybody who wants to say something about that or get in the way of that, then I’m sorry. So what some ways are unorthodox. I didn’t have anything to do with her disappearance. I don’t know where she’s at.”
Missing Longwood student Hadsell’s father arrested

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[MsMarple]

Wesley Hadsell’s ex-wife describes his bizarre behavior after her daughter disappeared

[Jennifer] Wright said that as she was leaving the house on the morning of March 2 with her three youngest daughters, Wesley Hadsell contacted her to let her know he was going to drop his truck at the house and take his work van, which was parked there. Wright then asked him to leave the keys to his truck in the mailbox so that A.J. could use it.
...
When Wright got home from work later that day, things didn’t seem right. A.J. wasn’t there, but her wallet and coat were. There was laundry on the couch, with only about half of it folded. A bluetooth speaker was playing music nearby.

A.J. wouldn’t have left without finishing folding the laundry and turning off the speaker, Wright said.
...
A.J.’s younger sister, Justice, went into the room they shared and noticed some of her clothes and the bag she used to bring them home from college were missing. Later, the two found a note on a sticky pad in A.J.’s handwriting. It said, ‘Dear Madre, with everything that’s going on, it’s a lot to deal with.’”
...
But when asked by defense attorney James Ellenson if Wesley Hadsell had ever behaved inappropriately toward A.J. or touched her inappropriately, Wright said, “no.” A.J. was about 14 when Wright and Hadsell married, she said, and he adopted her later.

A.J. also had never reported any problematic behavior by Hadsell, Wright said. But when A.J. learned about his drug use, she didn’t want anything to do with him and had no plans to see him during spring break, Wright said.
Wesley Hadsell’s ex-wife describes his bizarre behavior after her daughter disappeared

Did Wes attempt to make it look like AJ became upset over something and abruptly left her chores mid way, packed some clothes and took off? If that isn't premeditation I don't know what is. What was his endgame? Surely he knew if AJ returned his *advertiser censored* would be in a big fat sling.

Did Wes think giving AJ a dose of heroin would work as some sort of amnesia-inducing drug? I tend to think not. Dosing her with three times the lethal dose, knowing she was not a drug user, implies he intended to murder her.

AJ's mom may not have seen inappropriate behavior but I bet dollars to donuts Wes had been thinking about inappropriate behavior for a long time. And he finally acted upon his sick desires. All MOO.

 

[MsMarple]

Ali Weatherton 13News Now
@13AliWeatherton
JUROR ISSUE: During the trial against Wesley Hadsell today, the judge excused a juror. The woman told both attorneys her job is not paying her while she does her civic duty, She said she can’t focus on the trial because she worries about paying bills. #13NewsNow

Ali Weatherton 13News Now
@13AliWeatherton
BREAKING: AJ Hadsell’s mom took the stand this morning. Jurors learned Wesley Hadsell tried renting a truck days before AJ’s disappearance and planned to rent it in someone else’s name. I’ll have more on [URL='https://twitter.com/hashtag/13NewsNow?src=hashtag_click']#13NewsNow[/URL]

Ali Weatherton 13News Now
@13AliWeatherton
Also — when AJ’s mom talked about Wesley Hadsell — she only would call him “the defendant” [URL='https://twitter.com/hashtag/13NewsNow?src=hashtag_click']#13NewsNow[/URL]

 

[MsMarple]

Wright did mention that AJ no longer got along with Wright’s ex-husband Zach, but didn’t know the reason why. Wright said Hadsell adopted AJ because AJ was getting her permit and she never used her biological dad’s last name.
...
A forensic specialist also testified Friday. She told jurors she found no worthy DNA on several items.

Wright’s ex-husband Zach testified that he was married to Wright for seven years. AJ was only about a year and a half old when they met, and Zach said he treated AJ like his own child. He taught her how to ride a bike and play sports.

When AJ disappeared, Zach made posters and even offered a reward to find her. He worked as a maintenance technician for a credit union and drove a blue Dodge Caravan. He told jurors he never transported a body in that van.
...
He said he and Hadsell started a business for about six months doing handy work. After not moving forward with the business, Zach said they were not friendly with each other.

The last person to testify was Norfolk Police Officer, Matthew Burnham. He was a forensic investigator in AJ’s disappearance. He was in charge of searching Wesley Hadsell’s hotel room and work van. In the room, he found heroin, duct tape, and ammunition.

In Hadsell’s work van, Burnham said he found a hair scrunchie and a picture of AJ.
AJ Hadsell's mom testifies in Wesley Hadsell murder trial | 13newsnow.com

 

[arkansasmimi]

WOW, I so remember following this case so hard and heavy back then. Had to pull out my notes. Glad to see there is a new thread to follow.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Wesley Hadsell’s ex-wife describes his bizarre behavior after her daughter disappeared

[Jennifer] Wright said that as she was leaving the house on the morning of March 2 with her three youngest daughters, Wesley Hadsell contacted her to let her know he was going to drop his truck at the house and take his work van, which was parked there. Wright then asked him to leave the keys to his truck in the mailbox so that A.J. could use it.
...
When Wright got home from work later that day, things didn’t seem right. A.J. wasn’t there, but her wallet and coat were. There was laundry on the couch, with only about half of it folded. A bluetooth speaker was playing music nearby.

A.J. wouldn’t have left without finishing folding the laundry and turning off the speaker, Wright said.
...
A.J.’s younger sister, Justice, went into the room they shared and noticed some of her clothes and the bag she used to bring them home from college were missing. Later, the two found a note on a sticky pad in A.J.’s handwriting. It said, ‘Dear Madre, with everything that’s going on, it’s a lot to deal with.’”
...
But when asked by defense attorney James Ellenson if Wesley Hadsell had ever behaved inappropriately toward A.J. or touched her inappropriately, Wright said, “no.” A.J. was about 14 when Wright and Hadsell married, she said, and he adopted her later.

A.J. also had never reported any problematic behavior by Hadsell, Wright said. But when A.J. learned about his drug use, she didn’t want anything to do with him and had no plans to see him during spring break, Wright said.
Wesley Hadsell’s ex-wife describes his bizarre behavior after her daughter disappeared

Did Wes attempt to make it look like AJ became upset over something and abruptly left her chores mid way, packed some clothes and took off? If that isn't premeditation I don't know what is. What was his endgame? Surely he knew if AJ returned his *advertiser censored* would be in a big fat sling.

Did Wes think giving AJ a dose of heroin would work as some sort of amnesia-inducing drug? I tend to think not. Dosing her with three times the lethal dose, knowing she was not a drug user, implies he intended to murder her.

AJ's mom may not have seen inappropriate behavior but I bet dollars to donuts Wes had been thinking about inappropriate behavior for a long time. And he finally acted upon his sick desires. All MOO.

I just have to wonder if any of those missing clothes were among the ones curiously called into Wes as an "anon" tip. Him and a couple of AJ's friends went to retrieve them, but I'm not sure if we ever learned anymore about that.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Wright did mention that AJ no longer got along with Wright’s ex-husband Zach, but didn’t know the reason why. Wright said Hadsell adopted AJ because AJ was getting her permit and she never used her biological dad’s last name.
...
A forensic specialist also testified Friday. She told jurors she found no worthy DNA on several items.

Wright’s ex-husband Zach testified that he was married to Wright for seven years. AJ was only about a year and a half old when they met, and Zach said he treated AJ like his own child. He taught her how to ride a bike and play sports.

When AJ disappeared, Zach made posters and even offered a reward to find her. He worked as a maintenance technician for a credit union and drove a blue Dodge Caravan. He told jurors he never transported a body in that van.
...
He said he and Hadsell started a business for about six months doing handy work. After not moving forward with the business, Zach said they were not friendly with each other.

The last person to testify was Norfolk Police Officer, Matthew Burnham. He was a forensic investigator in AJ’s disappearance. He was in charge of searching Wesley Hadsell’s hotel room and work van. In the room, he found heroin, duct tape, and ammunition.

In Hadsell’s work van, Burnham said he found a hair scrunchie and a picture of AJ.
AJ Hadsell's mom testifies in Wesley Hadsell murder trial | 13newsnow.com

Yeah, the pic of AJ (and probably her scrunchie too) in Hadsell's work van isn't creepy at all.

I still think this was sexually motivated on his part, and when AJ likely freaked out and fought back, he beat the hell out of her (facial bruising) then doped her up. I hate to think this is what happened but nothing else makes sense.

jmo

 

[Hoosgirl]

Yeah, the pic of AJ (and probably her scrunchie too) in Hadsell's work van isn't creepy at all.

I still think this was sexually motivated on his part, and when AJ likely freaked out and fought back, he beat the hell out of her (facial bruising) then doped her up. I hate to think this is what happened but nothing else makes sense.

jmo

Agree! And the fact that they only found a picture of AJ, none of the other daughters.

 

[MsMarple]

Corey French testified today about that jacket Wes claimed to have "found" in his house buried in a couch. Also a detective who testified Wes was caught on video muttering to himself "I'm screwed" when he was left alone during an interrogation.