The FBI agents and the Bakersfield Police Department searched a field in Bakersfield for remains in March 2021. The two brothers reportedly disappeared from Bakersfield, California in December of 2020 while playing in their backyard. The Wests are being held without bail and were also each charged with two counts of willful cruelty to a child as well as one count of filing an emergency false report. The case of the disappearance of Orrin and Orson West seemed to have deteriorated for a year at this point. 4-year-old Orrin and 3-year-old Orson West were reported missing on December 21, 2020 by their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.According to KGET, authorities obtained a search warrant and have been gathering evidence from the family's home -- even digging up the backyard. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The boys' biological father, Charles Pettus, criticized the authorities for taking Orrin and Orson and placing them in the West's home and has filed a lawsuit against the county. Orrin (left) and Orson West. After my parents go, its just me and my kids., Grand jury hears evidence, Wests indicted. Orrin was 4 years old and Orson was 3 at the time they vanished. Orrin and Orson West's missing poster (Copy). Candlelight vigils were held in California City and outside Casa Loma Apartments in Bakersfield, where the Wests had previously lived. Its painful to the family, these kids didnt have a chance in this world, so Im just, said Keisha Stevenson, a biological family friend, as she began to sob. That amount included $30,000 offered by the adoptive family and $25,000 from the city. ", "It's difficult. Despite not having the boys' remains, Zimmer is confident she has a strong case against the Wests. Their adoptive parents, Trezell West, 35, and BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Orrin and Orson West were first reported missing from their home in California City on Dec. 21, 2020. Where are they? They And, prosecutors say, their killers were the two people trusted with their safety and well-being their adoptive parents. The District Attorney's Office says its investigation revealed the West boys, born Cincere and Classic Pettus, had died approximately three months before the couple reported them as missing. "They didnt ask to come into this world to be treated like this," the boys' grandmother said. Sacramento County Superior Court On Dec. 21, 2020, the Wests told California City police that Orrin and Orson had disappeared while playing in the familys backyard, Zimmer recounted. A statement attributed to the family said they had been inundated with threats and were lying low. Now, over a year after they were last seen, Trezell and Jacqueline have been arrested for their murders. Trezell told Knowing that Orrin and Orson West are actually dead is tugging at the heartstrings of many in the community. We now realize that the search for the boys began after the real tragedy had already occurred. I do suspect foul play. They don't know anything.Cal City Police Chief talks about private investigator involved in case of missing boys Orrin and Orson West.The search continues for two toddlers Orrin and Orson West from California City who went missing from their foster home. Hours before the arrest, Trezell West was tracked down by 17 News at a post office in Edison, witnesses report seeing him take-off in an RV that was found Tuesday evening about 17 miles west of Bakersfield, that is where the arrest took place. Already, however, some were becoming suspicious. "I knew something happened to them as soon as they were reported missing," the boys' biological grandmother Brenda Pettus exclusively told The Sun this week. I searched a bunch of corners, I searched and searched and I called their names, said Trezell West, the adoptive father. Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry also confirmed that the boys died prior to the search during a press conference. Some in the community turned on the Wests. The phrasing used by Zimmer saying the grand jury was convinced and it believed is not a legal standard used at trial, Hennessy said. Biological father of Orson and Orrin West remains hopeful 10 months after their disappearance from California City. Who is involved? pic.twitter.com/SFAztR0K54. Click to reveal Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry joined 17 News at Sunrise to discuss the case in the disappearance of 4-year-old Orrin and 3-year-old Orson West in California City, who have been missing since December. MAR 3, 2021. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call BPD at (661) 327-7111. 5. Orson West (pictured) and his brother were reported missing in December of 2020 Credit: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The adoptive parents thanked the community for the outpouring of support. "The people working on this and the people that are invested in this, that's something that never even factors into it, and it's hurtful on a personal level," Pair said. Police and volunteers searched the area using K-9s but came up empty. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. Days after the arrests, defense lawyers Timothy Hennessy and Alekxia Torres-Stallings, representing Trezell and Jacqueline West, respectively, held a news conference where they accused the district attorney of misleading the public and preying on emotions. The foster system clearly failed here and so that is really our main goal.. Authorities and the community are still searching for two missing boys in California City. Bakersfield Police Chief discusses case of two California City boys missing since December | KGET 17. BPD said they are working closely with experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, along with 'technical experts' from the FBI. The Wests were arrested and held without bail, a development that sent shockwaves through the community. 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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The sun had sunk below the horizon and temperatures were dropping when Orrin and Orson West were reported missing from their California City home Dec. 21, 2020. They don't know anything. However, according to Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, the evidence indicates that the boys were dead for approximately three months before they were reported missing by the Wests. 67.205.29.114 He looked skinny like he didnt eat. In the meantime, the question remains: Where are the boys? Data was continuing to be extracted from cellular and electronic devices, and seized items were being forensically examined. Hutton removed the pictures then confronted someone at the neighbors house. The biological parents of Orrin and Orson have taken legal action against the county, saying negligence by the Department of Human Services contributed to the boys deaths. "It's one we don't want to mess up. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, 'Dark details' about boyfriend of US swim champ who mysteriously died, Disturbing red flags of Lindsay Clancy's psychosis before she 'killed 3 kids', Mysterious powder swamps US skies as residents report dust-covered cars, Manson Family member's death 'not a relief' to model who avoided Sharon Tate attack, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Orson West (pictured) and his brother were reported missing in December of 2020, Credit: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, It was announced this week that Orson and Orrin (pictured) are believed to be dead, Their adoptive parents, Trezell (left) and Jacqueline West (right), were arrested, were last seen playing in the backyard of their home. On June 1, 2021, police gave an update detailing efforts that had been made to locate Orrin and Orson. All Rights Reserved. 3 Kansas City officers shot while executing search warrant, chief says, Roof collapses at nonprofit South LA clinic, causing $500K in damage, Video shows group of sharks in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast. The Department of Human Services revoked Deans parental rights and denied Moorers requests. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Many more questions still remain. The boys were born to biological mother Ryan Dean, who lost custody after Orrin was found to have a severely broken and twisted femur bone. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Some years pass with only one or even no killings. RELATED: Search continues for missing California toddlers who disappeared days before Christmas. Orrin and Orson Wests new parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West, were captured by experts on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Ms. I saw them there, went into the house, came back out, didnt see them there.When his wife confirmed that she hadn't seen the boys either, panic set in.\"I realized that I left the back gate open and I panicked and came inside the house, searched the house, me and my wife. We want to bring them home to give them a proper burial.. Update on the #OrrinandOrsonWest case. Trezell told police that the boys wandered out of their California City, California backyard while he was gathering firewood. Over the past 24 hours, several charges were filed and both parents were arrested. This morning, Im saddened to announce that the investigation has revealed that Orrin and Orson West are deceased, she said. The couple originally announced the disappearance of Orrin and Orson West were reported missing from the West's California City home in December 2020. Orrin and Orson West were reported missing from the West's California City home in December 2020. Orrin was taken from Dean on Nov. 13, 2016, after she returned home from work and found the then-3-month-old crying uncontrollably, the claim says. In this episode, we talk about the arrest, go over the indictment and discuss what we've learned so far. Jacqueline and Trezell are accused of killing the two young boys in December 2020. Your IP: These are babies. Investigators haven't released information about what led to the conclusion that the boys are no longer alive. That proved frustrating to some, leading to arguments and even an arrest. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Everyone is making their own conclusions. (California City Police Dept.). The fact that Trezell is charged with counts of murder indicates that However, the search results were not made public. According to Trezell and Jacqueline West, the boys adoptive parents, "We've heard alien abduction, everything that you can think of," he said. Even with a larger group of volunteers and sunny conditions, searchers found nothing. Human Services ignored reports of suspected abuse by the Wests, according to the claim, resulting in their deaths. As authorities dug deeper, questions began to arise as to whether or not the boys had ever even set foot in California City at all. Why didnt CPS look into that?" The stakes are too high.". Dean took Orrin to Memorial Hospital, where it was discovered his legs were broken. However, Robyn says she finds it bizarre the kids turned up missing from their adoptive parents' backyard, yet she never saw children playing in the yard and never noticed any children living at the home. Orrin and Orson Wests new parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West, were captured by experts on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. We use affiliate links throughout this site and may earn money based on qualified purchases. He claimed in the lawsuit that Child Protective Services was negligent when they took his biological children away and placed them with a couple outside of friends and family. We want to bring them home to give them a proper burial.. Pair says they are keeping the case close to the vest, despite being accused of not working hard enough to find the boys because they are African American. "This morning, I'm saddened to announce that the investigation has revealed that Orrin and Orson West are deceased," said Zimmer. Just days before Christmas, Orrin West and his younger brother Orson were reported missing from their home in California City. The couple originally announced the Trezell and Jacqueline West, the adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, appeared in court Thursday morning to be arraigned on two counts of 2nd-degree murder in a case that's drawn national attention. Wednesday, December 21, 2022, marks two years since four-year-old Orrin and three-year-old Orson West were reported missing from their adoptive parents home She did not reveal how the boys were killed or other facts of the case. ", "Its a baby, he cant protect his little self.". "To be handed out to dogs, as a figurative of speech. During the question-and-answer portion of the press conference, two reporters asked two different questions about the three-month gulf between the brothers alleged murders and their formally reported disappearance. 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As CrimeOnline previously reported , Orson and Orrin West, ages 3 and 4, were last seen on December 21, 2020, at a home in the 10700 block of Aspen Avenue, in California City, at around 5:45 p.m., according to what their parents told police. It goes on to say Deans mother, Dana Moorer filed requests to have the boys placed with her. Orson West, 3, and Orrin West, 4. Orrin and Orson West were reported missing on January 21st, 2020 by their adoptive parents and still haven't been found. Where are they? Theres items of evidence that are searched.. The Bakersfield Police Department took over the investigation and in March about 50 officers and FBI agents scoured a dirt lot near Casa Loma Apartments. Their bodies have never been found. Jacqueline and Trezell are accused of killing the two young boys in December 2020. Since that initial investigation, Cal City PD, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Kern County Sheriff's Office and BPD have assisted in the investigation. The District Attorneys office then presented information to the grand jury and the grand jury found there was sufficient evidence to hold Trezell and Jacqueline West responsible for these murders and they returned what was called a true bill, Zimmer said. Orrin was taken from Dean on Nov. 13, 2016, after she returned home from work and found the then-3-month-old crying uncontrollably, the claim says. The little words that the biological family are left with are sending a strong message to Jaqueline and Trezell. The California City Police Department originally investigated the case, as the last place the boys were seen was at the home of their adoptive parents in Cal City. It needs to be sharpened.". Missing toddlers Orrin and Orson West are shown in undated family photos. Orson The boys were reported missing on So while news of two missing children was certainly alarming, searchers remained hopeful. Follow the article till the end to learn more. Search continues for missing California toddlers who disappeared days before Christmas. No, Orrin and Orson West's bodies are not yet found but there is a rigid suspicion of death. 4-year-old Orrin and 3-year-old Orson West were reported missing on December 21, 2020 by their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. Groups swarmed the area. That question has become a rallying cry in the case. In November 2018, the claim said, Dean wrote a letter expressing her concerns about what she perceived as improper care her children were receiving while in the care of the Wests. This is not the outcome, that we and so many have hoped and prayed for in this case and there will not be a resolution in this case until those boys are brought home, added Chief Greg Terry of the Bakersfield Police Department at the conference. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Plantz lives directly behind the home the missing boys apparently shared with their adoptive parents. Multiple searches were performed, but no trace of the boys were found. Further postponements are possible. Orson West, 3, and Orrin West, 4, appear in images released by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Wednesday night, the community that searched and prayed directed anger at adoptive parents, Jaqueline and Trezell West, who cried wolf and remained silent for over a year. "The investigation has also revealed that they died three months before their adoptive parents reported them missing.". Brothers Orson and Orrin West -- ages 3 and 4, respectively, were reported missing by their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. Respondent and its employees acted affirmatively and used their authority in a way that created a danger to the children or that rendered the children more vulnerable to danger than had the state not acted at all, according to the claim filed by San Francisco-based McCoy Law Firm. Slovakia basks under NATO umbrella, sends Ukraine, Hwy 178 closed Wednesday due to rockslide, Head-on train crash in Greece kills 36, injures at, Kobe Bryant family settles photo lawsuit for $28.5, Jokic has 100th triple-double; Nuggets down Rockets, Giannis returns, Bucks beat Nets 118-104 for 15th, Rangers acquire star winger Patrick Kane from Blackhawks, With James injury, Lakers face challenge to reach, Browns could restructure Deshaun Watsons $230M contract, CAL CITY BOYS: DA said there is evidence Orrin, Orson West died before reported missing, CAL CITY BOYS: Both adoptive parents charged and in custody, A timeline of events in the case of the missing California City boys Orson and Orrin West, CAL CITY BOYS: Family relieved after hearing of murder charges against adoptive parents. [] This is not a resolution in this case and there will not be a resolution completely in this case until these boys are brought home. "This is a hard one," he said. The couple said they scoured the neighborhood after noticing the boys were missing. Orrin and Orson West were reported missing on January 21st, 2020 by their adoptive parents and still haven't been found. The boys were declared dead by the Kern County District Nine months later, they remain missing. "They dont need to hand out children to any old people to get rid them. Robert Pair. It alleges the department unlawfully took the children and put them in harms way. I would think the same thing. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails to indulge in. Two brothers, Orson West, 3, and Orrin West, 4, went missing days before Christmas, on December 21, 2020. Knowing that Orrin and Orson West were reported missing on December 21, 2020 by their adoptive parents reported missing! December 2020 that question has become a rallying cry in the case old and Orson Disney California Food! 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New parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West we talk about the Grinch sequel, plus the best books your can. To learn more December 2020 dead is tugging at the Disney California Adventure Food and Festival. Family and $ 25,000 from the West 's California City are deceased, she said, a development sent! Moorers requests shockwaves through the community what you were doing when this came! Chief discusses case of two missing boys in December of 2020 Credit: National Center for missing California who. In the case to call BPD at ( 661 ) 327-7111 the couple said they scoured the neighborhood after the... Children to any old people to get rid them efforts that had made... Mother, Dana Moorer filed requests to have the boys ' remains, Zimmer is confident has.
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