“Though the weight of this horrible prospect has loomed, today extinguishes our hope of AJ’s safe return and confirms our worst fear. Our thoughts are profoundly with her family. These past weeks, they have endured unimaginable anguish and uncertainty, and now they must confront the terrible grief of this loss.”
These words came from an email sent out to students Friday evening from President Reveley.
After 38 days of her disappearance, AJ was found.
The search for AJ began after she was last seen on Monday, March 2 at her home in Norfolk during spring break. The last time she was heard from was early Tuesday morning.
After initial searches began, AJ’s credit card was found cut up in the street of her neighborhood. Following this discovery, Norfolk police received a tip of a possible sighting of AJ on Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus. This tip led nowhere.
Billboards went up on March 9 with a notice of AJ’s disappearance and a physical description accompanying her photo. A Facebook page titled ‘Bring AJ Home’ was created on March 5 and provided any updates to followers. The page now has more than 14 thousand likes.
AJ’s father, Wesley Hadsell, remains behind bars after being arrested on six charges – four obstruction of justice charges, a charge of possessing ammunition following a felony and one charge of breaking and entering. Hadsell’s court date is set for April 29.
Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, human remains were found in the backyard of a house in Southampton County after Norfolk police received a tip. After the remains were medically examined, they were confirmed to be AJ’s on Friday, April 10. Norfolk police said that the FBI
are now involved with the investigation.
Events have already begun to be planned and held in memory of AJ. Just two days after the remains were confirmed to be AJ’s, a softball tournament was held on Sunday in memory of her. According to The Virginian-Pilot, family and friends gathered together to play the sport which AJ had played both in high school and college.
“It (softball) was something she did and she loved. We know she’s with us right now and we want to see her smile,” Joshua Campbell, AJ’s boyfriend, told The Virginian-Pilot.
The tournament was attended by at least six teams and also helped raise money for funeral costs. The family’s team wore shirts with No. 6 surrounded by angel wings. The number was AJ’s jersey number.
“She made others strive to do better. Softball is AJ’s sport and we just thought this would be the perfect thing,” Cassie Wright, one of the tournament’s organizers, told The Virginian-Pilot.
Moments of silence were held at all Longwood sports games this weekend, as well as at the beginning of Bandfest and the Citizen Leader Banquet on Sunday.
A group of students met on Monday to discuss formal plans for a commemoration of AJ. This group included the SGA, Club Softball, Sports Club Council and Larry Robertson, dean of students. Dr. Tim Pierson, the vice president for Student Affairs, said that the event would mostly likely take place early next week.
“I think it’s going to be an opportunity for those that are closest to her to make some statements. I suspect we’ll hear from the university president, and more of just an opportunity for reflection and time to think about that. We all think that, you know, that life just goes on, and life is full of changes and surprises. We don’t know from day to day, right? I mean, we hope and we expect we’ll be here, but things happen. I do think that’s the thing that really does touch everyone…” said Pierson.
Pierson said that AJ’s residence hall plans on meeting together for a time of reflection as well, and that counseling staff would most likely be present for the meeting. Counseling services have been offered to students who were closely associated with AJ.
“I think the bigger thing for the campus is that she was part of this community….every student matters,” Pierson said.
Students from the Club Softball team, as well as students from AJ’s residence floor plan on attending her funeral service on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m.. A post on the Facebook page ‘Bring AJ Home’ requested that those planning on attending AJ’s funeral to wear bright and colorful clothes. “She was never one for dressing up, nor dark clothes,” the post stated.
AJ’s family set up a memorial fund to cover funeral costs and said that any remaining funds would be donated to a charity in AJ’s honor.
If you have any information regarding the investigation, contact Norfolk Crime Line at 1-800-LOCK-U-UP.
