AJ’s Disappearance
It’s been slightly more than a year since Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell went missing during spring break last year.
AJ was a freshman at Longwood University and involved in the club softball team.
AJ was last seen on Mar. 2, 2015, during spring break and was pronounced missing by Norfolk police the next day. A week later, Longwood University released a statement regarding their role in the situation and the family offered a $3,000 cash reward for any information regarding her disappearance and whereabouts.
Police reported that before she disappeared, AJ sent unusual text messages to her parents, and AJ’s debit and credit cards were later found cut up. Police searched several areas, including the Chesapeake, trying to find any trace of her.
During the investigation, Wesley Hadsell, AJ’s stepfather, was arrested on six charges: four felony obstruction of justice charges, possessing ammunition as a convicted felon and felony breaking and entering. Hadsell had broken into the home of someone he stated he thought might be involved in AJ’s disappearance and claimed he found AJ’s jacket rolled up behind a cushion on the couch in the home. Hadsell was later denied bond.
AJ was missing for a total of 38 days until April 9, when her body was found in the backyard of a house in Southampton County after Norfolk police received a tip.
A few days later, a softball tournament was held in memory of AJ, and her funeral service was held in Norfolk on April 18.
Longwood University held a candlelight vigil in memory of AJ two days after her funeral. Students who knew AJ spoke at the vigil which was also attended by members of AJ’s family.
In June, AJ’s cause of death was announced to be acute heroin poisoning and her manner of death was yet to be determined.
AJ’s Stepfather and the Mystery surrounding her Death
On October 7, AJ’s stepfather, Wesley Hadsell was charged with possession of heroin. Police had initially found drug residue in Hadsell’s hotel room in March and the substance was later confirmed to be heroin, reported WAVY News.
As part of a plea agreement, Hadsell pleaded guilty to a federal ammunition charge on Nov. 6.
On Mar. 10, 2016, a new attorney was appointed to Hadsell after his attorney, Keith Kimball, withdrew from his case due to a conflict of interest involving a new witness.
The witness has not been confirmed, but has been speculated to be Amin Garcia with the use of anonymous sources, according to a report by NewsChannel 3.
According to NewsChannel 3, Garcia has been “telling jail inmates that he cut a deal with authorities where he will agree to talk about an alleged conversation he had with Wesley Hadsell while the two served time at Western Tidewater Regional Jail.” Garcia claims that Hadsell had told him he was involved in AJ’s death, according to the report.
Garcia is currently convicted of raping a former army officer in Kuwait, as well as raping a woman and her teenage daughter in Norfolk in 2008.
When Kimball dropped Hadsell’s case, NewsChannel 3 reported that the attorney cited it was due to a “conflict of interest.” and that the attorney also held representation for Garcia which might possibly be the conflict of interest in the matter.
According to a report by ABC 13, Kimball claims that “...his other client is cooperating with the government in hopes of receiving a reduction for ‘substantial assistance’ in the case.”
Hadsell’s new counsel has been announced to be Jason Dunn. Hadsell is currently scheduled for sentencing for one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon on June 24, 2016.
Continue to follow The Rotunda for any new information which may arise in the case.
