Contained in the AJ Hadsell Homicide, The place Stepfather Poisoned School Scholar to Demise

It was imagined to be a soothing spring break at residence from her first 12 months at school, however the break from college became a tragedy for Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell, who was kidnapped and poisoned by one of many individuals closest to her in 2015.

The 18-year-old lady was lacking from her household’s Norfolk, Va., residence for weeks earlier than police finally discovered her physique disposed of in a ditch. She had been seemingly poisoned deliberately with a heroin overdose.

Investigators quickly turned their consideration to her stepfather, Wesley Hadsell, who PEOPLE beforehand reported had a prison historical past together with convictions for financial institution theft, breaking and coming into and housebreaking.

The stepfather lengthy maintained his innocence, and nonetheless does to at the present time, however an investigation into his involvement finally led a choose to say there was “overwhelming” proof towards him when he was convicted of his stepdaughter’s merciless killing. 

9 years after the 18-year-old’s homicide, PEOPLE is wanting again on the case.

AJ’s Kidnapping

AJ was a softball participant at Longwood College with a brilliant future, in accordance with authorities.

“She was an athlete. She was very outgoing,” Norfolk Police Detective David Benjamin stated throughout an episode of Dateline, which examined the case. “No points with medication or alcohol, actually was form of flying straight.”

She was going by way of a breakup on the time she returned residence for spring break, in accordance with Dateline, main her mom Jennifer Wright to imagine her daughter was blowing off steam when she went lacking after sending a textual content that stated she was “out with mates.”

Nevertheless, after AJ didn’t return residence and a longtime good friend, Corey French, discovered a bit of her bank card within the highway, investigators started to look extra urgently for the lacking teenager.

Investigators initially suspected French, who AJ’s stepfather had claimed had turn out to be “obsessive” over his stepdaughter, in accordance with Dateline. In response to investigators, the stepfather tried to border French for AJ’s killing.

Stepfather Claims Innocence

Wesley Hadsell appeared proactive within the seek for his lacking stepdaughter, at first. PEOPLE beforehand reported that the then-36-year-old man had even been arrested for breaking into the house of an individual, claiming he was suspicious that particular person had kidnapped AJ.

“I’d do something for my daughter, my spouse, my children, and so they make it sound like I’d do something to maintain myself out of my hassle,” he stated after his arrest for breaking and coming into, PEOPLE reported on the time. “I couldn’t sit a minute away from the place my daughter might have been.”

Nevertheless, the investigation started to focus on him.

Police Uncover AJ’s Physique — and Killer Is Revealed

AJ’s physique was finally found after police have been led to her final identified location by way of her stepfather’s GPS system on his automotive. After investigators found Wesley’s automotive had been tracked to an deserted home 60 miles away from the household’s residence, they found AJ’s physique hidden in a ditch. She had been poisoned with heroin.

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Wesley’s coworkers informed police he was visibly agitated and needed to take the remainder of the break day work on the day his stepdaughter went lacking, PEOPLE reported on the time. Police searched the stepfather’s Chevy Astro van and found a shovel, duct tape and work gloves behind the automotive. The person who stated he offered medication to AJ’s stepfather additionally testified in court docket, saying he had been promoting Wesley cocaine and heroin for years, in accordance with native information station WAVY.

Wesley was convicted of homicide and sentenced to life in jail in 2022, 13News Now reported.

However the stepfather continues to keep up his innocence, once more denying his involvement throughout a jailhouse interview with WTKR. “I swear to you, I didn’t damage my daughter,” he informed the outlet. “I don’t know who did. And if I did, I wouldn’t defend them.”