FEB 24, 2021
KGET.com exclusive: Interview with the California City police chief on Orrin and Orson West disappearance | KGET 17
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Q: And earlier I know in our first interview, in front of the house on Aspen Avenue, you said that you suspected foul play. Do you still think that, why or why not?
A: Absolutely, I personally believe that those kids got out of that neighborhood with some sort of assistance. So, if there was an adult that assisted them or took them out of the neighborhood that would constitute foul play.
Q: So exactly, what constitutes foul play, it doesn’t necessarily means abuse?
A: Well foul play means that someone has taken the children and not divulged to their parents where they’re at. That’s just, we’ll start basic 101 right there. Somehow, someone had to have done that and has not reported to us. Everyone, I would at least say in the nation, knows we’re looking for these kids has not reported it. That would constitute foul play, because the only people those kids are supposed to be with are their parents
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Q: How certain are you that the boys are not in the Aspen Avenue house? I know when you first did the interview, you told us the K9s smelled the scent of the boys inside the house, they did not smell it leaving the house. It seems like that would imply that they are still there. How certain are you that they are not?
A: ... The dogs aren’t always 100% accurate. We’ve had the dogs in the house. that night they alerted inside the house but did not alert us outside, doesn’t mean anything. We use those as tools that maybe will point us one way or the other. Just like people keep asking about polygraph. Polygraph is not admissible as Court. Is it a tool? Sure. Can believe at some point that maybe you are being deceptive by the results of the tests? Sure. But it’s only tool to help us go in a certain direction. Right now we don’t have any of that, unfortunately.
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Q: Is it possible that the boys wandered into the desert that night? I know you suspect foul play, but is that also something you’re considering?
A: If I had to bet my house on it, I would say no. ...
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Q: Could you explain that infrared technology you just mentioned what was used?
A: Yeah we basically had a helicopter with what they call a FLIR. It will detect body heat, it’s pretty sophisticated. I did have the opportunity in my previous law enforcement career that I got to actually work in airship and it’s basically like a scope that’ll go over any territory, any land. It will pick up anything that has body heat and you know adults are generally 97°F it’ll pick that up in the dark. And it shows up like a beam basically.
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Q: So that was later on?
A: Yeah that was actually shortly after. That’s why I’ve tried to amend that multiple times. Initially, we couldn’t find anyone who has seen the kids but we did actually find other neighbors who had seen kids there. The West family had only been there three months. COVID all those things, cold weather, all that can attribute to that. They had a huge backyard with a fence and here in California City, you’ve been to the neighborhood, there’s large vacant lots between the properties.
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Q: So the adoptive parents are considered to have been the last people to see the kids. When and where was the last time someone besides them saw Orrin and Orson?
A: I believe the grandmother had seen them prior. I don’t know the exact dates, but the people that we have spoken to (in the neighborhood) had seen them other than the parents.
Q: So that was the relative they visited before, it was like recently before they went missing, correct?
A: Yes.
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Q: OK so you’re still in contact with them. Can I ask when was the last time they were interviewed?
A: Formally interviewed, I think it’s been several weeks.
Q: Are the members of the birth family cooperating as well?
A: Uhh they- yes. Yes.
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Q: Is there video footage of that shows the boys in California City? I know the neighbor across the street had a doorbell camera. I know the neighbor to the left of the house, if you’re facing the house to the left, also had surveillance footage of the house. I know police took that footage and analyzed it. Was there any footage that shows the two boys?
A: We have hours of footage and I cannot comment on any of those, on any of that.
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Q: Is there a reason why the department won’t release the 9-1-1 call? I tried to get it and didn’t receive it.
A: No because it’s still part of the investigation. It’s an ongoing investigation so we’re not going to release.
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Q: We talked about the evidence that you’ve recovered, searches of the home around the home. You had mentioned that none of it really came out with anything important. Could you mention any of the evidence that has been taken, including forensics, anything that was relevant or important?
A: You know the initial search warrant, we were able to take into custody (the adoptive parents’) the electronic devices, phones, computers, clothes, bedding, items from the backyard, items from the house, anything we thought that could possibly be relevant or lead us to a conclusion.
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Q: Yea it was the next day. I remember talking to them and they mentioned, ‘the police took our phones, we can’t share our contact information’. Jacqueline West had mentioned having photos of the boys on her phone that she couldn’t share because police had taken her phone. Did you find anything significant on those phones? Did you find any pictures of the boys?
A: Yeah we found pictures, but nothing else that I can disclose.
Q: Is there a reason why no more pictures of the boys have been released so far? I guess the police department doesn’t have access to those photos.
A: I no longer have access to those photos. No, those actually were taken by the FBI.
Q: But the parents have since gotten the phones back?
A: I believe they have new phones.
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Q: So you don’t have any access to more recent photos of the boys? Is there a reason why Jacqueline hasn’t released those photos to the public? I know a lot of people are looking for a more recent photos of Orrin and Orson.
A: I can’t speak to what her thought process is, what she’s choosing to do or what not to do.
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