Still Missing CA - Classic (Orson West, 3) & Cincere (Orrin West, 4) Calif. City, *parents charged* 21 Dec 2020 #7

[UrsulaWrenn]

That's not what the foster mother testified to. She said that her daughter's (who was 6 at the time) school reported that her husband had kicked her. She was investigated and all the foster children were removed.

My bad; thanks for the correction!

 

[cvaldez1975]

For a little boy playing with toys he looks depressed

This is what I was thinking and the pics from knox seem to me the boys look different. It is hard to tell but possibly thinner from what Knox said about depriving them of food/drink.
So one of the boys could have been sick from virus or malnutrition and then possible abuse.

BBM speculation, he wasnt allowed to play w it, it was a photo op.

 

[cvaldez1975]

Short sighted secret if their goal in adopting Orrin and Orson was financially motivated? Maybe in the beginning that wasn't it. But the boys proved to be more than they could tolerate as time went on.

i just fail to see how adopting or fostering can be easy. most of these kids are traumatized. i guess they didnt have the common sense to know that?

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY SIX - April 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Day 6 of the trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West is about to begin with Maria Martinez, Jacqueline West's mother, back on the witness stand. #WestsTrial

The Wests have pleaded not guilty and defense counsel has said they had nothing to do with the boys' disappearance in December 2020. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith is playing an interview Martinez had with authorities on Dec. 23, 2020, two days after the Wests reported the children missing. #WestsTrial

Martinez said Jacqueline West came to visit her after the Wests moved to California City. She said she didn't see the children and believed they were in the Wests' van. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West stayed with her a couple hours, she said. Trezell came back later to load wooden planks. Martinez said she still didn't see the kids and Trezell and Jacqueline left. #WestsTrial

Martinez in the video said Jacqueline told her the kids were with Trezell's mom. #WestsTrial

The video has ended. #WestsTrial

Smith is questioning Martinez. She said on the day referred to in the interview she's not sure how much time she spent with her daughter. She believes it was an hour. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she went to a friend's house that day. "The only one that I have," she said. She can't remember her friend's last name. #WestsTrial

Martinez said Trezell West had been trying to load wood into the van but it wouldn't fit. She said she was present with her friend. #WestsTrial

The Wests left and said they were going to pick up the children, Martinez said. That was the one time the couple visited her after moving from Bakersfield to California City, she said. #WestsTrial

Martinez said the FBI went to her house after Orrin and Orson were reported missing. She called Jacqueline West then went to see her at the Cal City home. #WestsTrial

Martinez isn't sure what day she visited. #WestsTrial

At some point she spoke with Bakersfield police detectives, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Smith has asked Martinez to identify Facebook messaging between her and her daughter in August 2020. Martinez said she doesn't recognize it. #WestsTrial

Smith displayed a photo showing two of the Wests' children, not Orrin or Orson, in Jacqueline West's home. Smith circled 2 chairs in the photo and Martinez said that's where "the babies" would sit. #WestsTrial

Smith is now displaying photos of the California City home and asking Martinez to identify different areas in it. #WestsTrial

When she went to the house before the children were reported missing she doesn't know if she went inside because she was on her way to San Fernando, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Martinez said the children were "all there" the one time but she didn't pay attention. They were playing with their father, she said. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she walked into the dining room and it was just her and Jacqueline in the dining room. She said Jacqueline had coffee ready for her, and she left shortly after. #WestsTrial

When Martinez left the dining room she said goodbye and they shouted goodbye, she said. She said she didn't focus on the children. #WestsTrial

The children didn't leave the room, they were playing games, Martinez said. She didn't stop and speak to each grandchild. She didn't look at their faces. #WestsTrial

After the Wests moved to Cal City Martinez visited them two times, she said. Asked if she "focused in" and saw Orrin and Orson, Martinez said she always saw them together in the living room. #WestsTrial

Smith asked for clarification, and Martinez said their backs were facing her and they were playing. Then she reiterated she never focused on any of the children. #WestsTrial

Martinez claims to have seen all the children, but admitted saying she didn't focus on them when visiting. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning and Fatima Rodriguez, one of Jacqueline West's attorneys, has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Martinez said two men from the FBI went to her home. They did not speak Spanish, and Martinez is a Spanish speaker. #WestsTrial

Martinez testified the agents used a cellphone to translate and speak with her. #WestsTrial

Martinez said her testimony to the agents was not that she didn't know Orrin and Orson's names, but didn't know how to pronounce them. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she was not able to clarify her answers during the interview, even after a BPD officer arrived and translated. #WestsTrial

When she visited the Wests at their home on Oct. 10, 2020, Martinez said she walked past them and said hi then had a cup of coffee with her daughter. She said all the children were there playing. #WestsTrial

Under questioning by Rodriguez, Martinez said nothing seemed out of the ordinary. #WestsTrial

Martinez testified the FBI examined her phone. She said she had Facebook video chats from her daughter on the phone. #WestsTrial

Rodriguez is asking Martinez if she doesn't remember exchanging messages with Jacqueline Martinez about how Jacqueline and Trezell were looking at a house in Cal City. #WestsTrial

Testimony is focusing on interactions Martinez had with the Wests after they moved to Cal City, the few visits she had. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she was repeatedly interviewed by law enforcement and said she was told she'd be charged with a crime if she lied. #WestsTrial

CPS came to her home once and asked to check for bruising or marks on her own adopted children, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Fatima asked, when officers questioned Martinez regarding the boys' disappearance, if she was told she'd be charged with a crime if she covered for Jacqueline. Martinez said yes. It happened multiple times, she said. #WestsTrial

Rodriguez ended her questioning and now Victor Nasser, one of Trezell West's attorneys, is questioning her. #WestsTrial

Nasser asked a couple quick questions then ended, now prosecutor Eric Smith is again questioning her. Martinez said she hardly saw Jacqueline West in 2020. She said she simply doesn't like to visit. #WestsTrial

In 2020, Martinez said she didn't know the names of Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

Smith is showing Martinez video clips of her speaking with law enforcement. He's going to move the clips into evidence and provide transcripts to the jury. #WestsTrial

In one of the clips, Martinez said she doesn't know the children's names because they were changed. Smith asked if that referred to her knowing the names of Orrin and Orson, and she said, "Correct." #WestsTrial

In another clip, Martinez tells law enforcement she didn't like to visit her daughter when Trezell West was present. Martinez testified she couldn't talk to him and felt uncomfortable. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess for 15 minutes. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 2
DAY SIX - April 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Court is back in session with Maria Martinez back on the stand. Prosecutor Eric Smith ended questioning and Fatima Rodriguez, an attorney of Jacqueline West, asked her if her primary language is Spanish. She said yes. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she can't speak with Trezell West because he doesn't speak Spanish, but she likes him very much. #WestsTrial

Martinez has been excused. #WestsTrial

Latoya Spry Sanders has been called to the stand. #WestsTrial

Sanders said she has fostered children. She began doing that in 2008. The agency she went through was Safe Haven. #WestsTrial

There's a home inspection, interviews, training, Sanders said. #WestsTrial

There's training required every year to stay licensed, Sanders said. She currently has 2 foster children and 4 biological children. #WestsTrial

Safe Haven made contact with her once a week, and a county social worker once a month when fostering a child. #WestsTrial

After adoption, there are no check-ins on a regular basis, Sanders said. #WestsTrial

Smith showed Sanders photos of Orrin and Orson West. She said she recognizes them. "I fostered them," she said, becoming emotional. #WestsTrial

She fostered Orrin beginning Dec. 12, 2017, when he was almost 4 months. She fostered him until March 9, 2018. #WestsTrial

She fostered Orson when he was 11 days old, Sanders said. She fostered him also until March 9, 2018. #WestsTrial

Orrin was named Cinsere Pettus and Orson was named Classic Pettus at the time she fostered them. She said Orrin was a "happy little baby." When she first got him he finished therapy for an injury to his leg. #WestsTrial

Sanders said she fostered Orrin a little over a year. There were 4 other children in the home. "They were family, my children were accepting of him," Sanders said. #WestsTrial

The children loved him, Sanders said. He needed a little more care because of his injury but "I immediately bonded to him," she said. #WestsTrial

Orrin went to Harvey Hall School and learned ABCs, colors, shapes, she said. #WestsTrial

"I have thousands of pictures of them," Sanders said of Orrin and Orson. "Every picture that you see out there is from me." #WestsTrial

CPS came to Sanders' home after her eldest daughter went to school with a scrape on her leg and somehow her husband became accused of kicking her. She said she raised her voice to the CPS worker and Orrin and Orson were later removed. #WestsTrial

"I fought the county to have them returned to me until the day they were adopted out," Sanders said. Everything alleged about the girl being kicked was unsubstantiated, she said. #WestsTrial

Before that incident, the process of adopting the boys was about to begin, Sanders said. #WestsTrial

Sanders said she received a phone call the morning of Dec. 22, 2020, from the biological mother telling her the boys had been reported missing. "We had a thousand questions and we didn't know what to do," she said. #WestsTrial

"I was pissed off," Sanders said. She went to Cal City, knocked on the Wests' door and asked them what happened. What the Wests told her didn't hold any weight, she said. #WestsTrial

They told her they were sorry and didn't know what happened, Sanders said. She left after the Wests did an interview. #WestsTrial

"I was attached to them," Sanders said of the boys. "I needed them more than they needed me." #WestsTrial

Sanders said she had grown close with the boys' biological mother. They were like family, she said. #WestsTrial

Smith ended questioning, and Jacqueline West attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Sanders said she had just started the process of adopting the boys when they were removed. #WestsTrial

Regarding the incident with her daughter, the school made a referral to CPS, Sanders said. It had nothing to do with the other children in her home, only her daughter, she said. #WestsTrial

Only her foster children were removed. Her 6-year-old daughter -- the one with the scrape -- was allowed to stay, Sanders said. She said the CPS worker was responsible for that, had the kids removed 3 hours after going to her home. #WestsTrial

Sanders said the CPS worker thought she was overwhelmed with having 6 kids and taking the 3 foster children would decrease her stress. A BPD officer was at her home while CPS was there. She was never charged with a crime. #WestsTrial

Asked if she had other issues with CPS, Sanders said nothing to that extent. #WestsTrial

Anyone can make a CPS referral, Sanders said. They can be a complete stranger and ask for you to be investigated. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked if children can make a ridiculous statement that can lead to trouble with CPS. Sanders agreed that's true. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess until 1:30 p.m. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 1
DAY SIX - April 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West is about to resume with Latoya Sanders on the witness stand. She was the foster mother of Orrin and Orson before the Wests adopted them. #WestsTrial

Alekxia Torres Stallings, Jacqueline West's attorney, has resumed cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Sanders said she and Ryan Dean, Orrin and Orson's biological mother, became close during supervised visits. #WestsTrial

There were also "comfort calls" between the mother and children. #WestsTrial

Sanders said Dean reached out to her after the boys were reported missing. They got information from the news. #WestsTrial

When Orrin and Orson were taken from her home she wasn't allowed to see them anymore, Sanders said. She said CPS worker Fernando Rocha made that decision. #WestsTrial

Dean, the biological mother, could still visit the boys, but she could not, Sanders said. #WestsTrial

There is a process where a foster parent can tell the agency a foster child needs to be removed. Sanders said she has had to do that in the past. #WestsTrial

When her daughter had a scrape, Rocha interviewed both the daughter, 6, and her 14-year-old at the time, Sanders said. She said she didn't find out what she was accused of until she filed a complaint. #WestsTrial

Sanders testified she was never interviewed by law enforcement regarding the boys' disappearance. The first time she testified was about a year ago, that's the first time she spoke officially about the case. #WestsTrial

It appears that testimony would have been for the grand jury, which indicted the Wests about a year ago. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings finished her questioning. Sanders has been excused. #WestsTrial

John Ryan, a Bakersfield police officer, has taken the stand. He's a liaison officer with the FBI, working hand-in-hand with both agencies. #WestsTrial

Ryan has been a detective for almost 3 years. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 22, 2020, Ryan went to California City regarding Orrin and Orson going missing. #WestsTrial

Ryan testified he went to the Aspen Avenue, where the boys' home is located, and was there for about an hour. He canvassed the area, knocked on doors to try to turn up leads. #WestsTrial

He said he eventually worked with Officer Brian Hansen from Cal City PD. He was present when the Wests were interviewed at the police department. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he asked questions during the interview. He said he tried to build rapport with Trezell West by asking basic questions about his childhood, schooling, where he worked, etc. He wanted to get a baseline as to how Trezell communicated with him. #WestsTrial

With Jacqueline West, Ryan said he took over the interview, asking questions to get her side of the story and details from when the boys were reported missing. #WestsTrial

Shown video of his interview with Jacqueline West, Ryan has identified the other officers in the room, including an FBI agent. #WestsTrial

The video will be played. Transcripts are being provided to the jury. #WestsTrial

The transcript appears to be about an inch thick. #WestsTrial

Smith has begun playing the video. Jacqueline West and an FBI agent enter an interview room. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West sits in the interview room with her head in her hands. #WestsTrial

An officer enters the room and the FBI agent begins asking questions. Jacqueline gives the ages and names of her children. #WestsTrial

The interview appears to be an hour and seven minutes long. #WestsTrial

The agent asks her to walk him through the night the boys were reported missing. She says Trezell was gathering wood and came inside then they couldn't find the boys. She says she was wrapping gifts at the time. #WestsTrial

It was around 5 p.m. when the kids were playing outside. She said they were playing about 15 minutes before Trezell came inside. #WestsTrial

Trezell had been gathering wood for a fire in the fireplace, Jacqueline West says. #WestsTrial

She says they first started looking for the boys in the bedrooms, then cabinets and the garage and back and front yards. #WestsTrial

John Ryan enters the interview room, asks to speak with a Cal City police officer, and the two of them then leave the room. The FBI agent continues to question Jacqueline West. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says the kids are "stubborn" and give a little chuckle. The FBI agent asks about favorite toys, TV shows. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West speaks very quietly in the interview. It's hard to make out some of her responses. #WestsTrial

The boys are never let out in the front yard because there's no fence, Jacqueline says. The backyard is completely fenced in. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says the side gate in the backyard had been open because her husband was gathering wood. #WestsTrial

The other officer and Ryan come back into the room. The officer says she's not under arrest and is free to leave any time she wants. Ryan then begins asking questions. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says the boys were adopted April 2019. She says she and her husband have fostered and adopted children before. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says all 4 of her adopted children were adopted on the same day. #WestsTrial

She tells Detective Ryan she also has two biological children. They're the oldest of her six. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says her mom got her into foster care. Her mother got her into it. Jacqueline says she has moved around a lot but is from LA. #WestsTrial

"We wanted to get away from everybody," she says of moving to Cal City. She heard an ad about Cal City being a good place to live to start your own business. They also didn't want contact with the boys' biological family. #WestsTrial

Life was "great" when they moved to Cal City in September 2020, Jacqueline says. Her husband was working on is music. She says they get $1,000 a month for each of their 4 adopted children. #WestsTrial

The children are home-schooled then she cooks and cleans, is always busy, Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says the other 4 children were dropped off at their grandmother's on Saturday. All the kids were with them when the 4 were dropped off, according to her interview. #WestsTrial

"We don't ever really leave them," Jacqueline says of Orrin and Orson. She says the grandmother hasn't seen the two youngest for a while. #WestsTrial

The grandmother in question is Trezell West's mother. As to her mother, Jacqueline West says she's not really involved. Jacqueline says she doesn't really talk to her brother, and her sister lives in Oregon. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says she didn't call her mother the night the boys went missing because she wouldn't be able to do anything and she didn't wan to stress her out. #WestsTrial

Her mother sometimes video chats with the children but not often, Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

After dropping the 4 children off, they stopped at a gas station and went back to Cal City, Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

She's attempting to explain which gas station they went to but says she's not exactly sure where it is. She says Trezell knows streets better than her. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline provides more information about the gas station and says they went to McDonald's, too. They paid in cash. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says on Sunday they did the same thing they do almost every day. For her it appears to be a lot of cooking and cleaning and hanging out. She says she talked to her sister that day. #WestsTrial

On Monday, she got up and started making coffee, fed the pets, started washing, made breakfast. She says her other children had called from grandma's house but didn't talk with Orrin and Orson. She says those two don't like talking on the phone. #WestsTrial

At mid-day she sketched, Jacqueline says. The kids were playing in the play room, according to her interview. She says they don't take naps. #WestsTrial

Do you want to see them? Do you want your kids back?" Detective Ryan asks as he prods Jacqueline to provide more details about what happened the night they were reported missing. She replies in the affirmative, is speaking calmly. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline talks about searching for the boys, the areas she and Trezell went. "I don't know," she says when asked where she thinks they went. "They don't go anywhere." #WestsTrial

The boys can't get through the fence when it's locked but she says Trezell had left it open. Jacqueline says they believed the boys went out the gate. #WestsTrial

Ryan is pressing her on how long she searched, where she went, if she spoke with neighbors. Jacqueline says she looked everywhere in the house the children could be. #WestsTrial

She says after police arrived she and Trezell were told to stay in the house. She says she thinks someone has the boys in a house. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith has paused the video and court is in recess for 15 minutes. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 2
DAY SIX - April 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The trial has resumed with Detective John Ryan back on the stand and an interview he conducted with Jacqueline West being played for the jury. #WestsTrial

Trezell and Jacqueline West are reading a transcript of the interview held by defense lawyer Victor Nasser. #WestsTrial

Ryan asks Jacqueline what she'll say to her other kids. She says she'll tell them Orrin and Orson are missing. #WestsTrial

Ryan asks her to explain why her four other children say they haven't seen Orrin and Orson for months. #WestsTrial

Ryan says even her 10 year old son says they haven't seen the boys in months. Jacqueline says she doesn't know why they would say months, maybe something was misinterpreted. She says they see each other every day. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says she she has spanked her kids in the past for misbehaving but she doesn't like to do that. Usually discipline involves withholding a sweet snack or Trezell giving them a "tongue-lashing," she says. #WestsTrial

Ryan says the kids are telling authorities differently. He says he's not going to tell her what the kids said. #WestsTrial

"You're showing no emotion. You haven't even shed a tear," Ryan says. He raises his voice and says he wants answers because it's freezing cold outside and the boys are probably starving. He says he thinks there's more to this incident. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says her kids would lie, but she doesn't know why. "I don't know why they would say that," she says of them saying they haven't seen Orrin and Orson for months. She says they don't get along. #WestsTrial

"It sounds bad," Jacqueline says. "It sounds really bad," Ryan responds. #WestsTrial

"Are you trying to hide something for your husband?" Ryan asks. "No," she says. He asks if an accident happened and they panicked and did something to the babies. He says it sounds like they made up an alibi because Christmas was coming and people would find out. #WestsTrial

Ryan presses her for the true story, saying they will find out eventually. Jacqueline says she's not lying and gives them permission to search the house and van. Ryan says 4 children aren't going to lie and separately give the same story. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline blames the pandemic for people not seeing the two youngest. Ryan doesn't buy it, says he has kids too, and you can't keep 6 kids locked up in a home to the point where no one sees them. #WestsTrial

"Doesn't it look weird to you?" Ryan asks. He tells her what she's saying doesn't make sense. #WestsTrial

An officer says other family members have been crying, but neither she nor Trezell have shed a tear. Ryan tells her not to fake cry in front of them. "You should feel guilty because something happened to these babies." He accuses her of withholding info. #WestsTrial

Ryan says each of her other 4 children gave them the same story: they haven't seen the boys in months. Jacqueline says she's feeling regret for calling the authorities because now she and Trezell are being blamed. #WestsTrial

Ryan leaves the interview room. Another officer keeps questioning her. Jacqueline maintains she's telling the truth. #WestsTrial

The officer tells her they've checked everything. "They weren't at the house," he says. He tells her she and Trezell had a good plan but there are always holes authorities will find. She says she knows how it looks but it's not what happened. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says her other children are little kids who will say anything. #WestsTrial

The FBI agent tells her this is her chance to tell the truth. He says what she's told them is not adding up. "I don't think you care about those 2 kids," he tells her. #WestsTrial

He asks why she won't show emotion. Jacqueline says she can't, not in front of them. Ryan has re-entered and asked if she adopted the children for the money. #WestsTrial

Ryan says he believes she's sticking up for her husband because of something he did. Jacqueline says she's not hiding anything. #WestsTrial

"You know something bad happened," he says. He keeps telling her to come clean and tell them what happened or go to jail. Jacqueline says the boys were in the backyard. #WestsTrial

"It is slim," Ryan says of the odds of a random person taking the children. None of the evidence supports what she's telling them, he says. #WestsTrial

"So everybody in your family is lying except for you and your husband?" an officer asks. Jacqueline says she doesn't know what they're saying. Ryan asks if her two oldest children are lying to a police officer. She says they have lied before. #WestsTrial

"It looks bad, it does," Jacqueline says. Ryan says she's the key to finding the children. "I don't believe you're telling me everything," he says. #WestsTrial

Ryan says two babies are missing and they have no clues, and what she has said is not making sense. "But you know what we truly believe? That you have answers to questions we have." #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith has paused the video. The rest will be heard beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 12, 2023

West Trial Day 6: Former foster mother testifies

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Latoya Spry Sanders became teary-eyed, her voice trembling as she identified a photo of Orrin and Orson West in court Wednesday morning. Sanders fostered the boys…

www.kget.com

[...]

During her testimony on the sixth day of trial, Sanders said her biological children accepted Orrin and Orson. She fostered Orrin from the age of 4 months, and Orson at 11 days.

Orrin, who arrived at her house Dec. 12, 2017, needed extra care because of an injury to his leg, Sanders said. Orrin was removed from his biological mother after suffering a broken leg, and when the mother gave birth to Orson he was removed too, according to reports.

Despite his injured leg, the other children immediately took to the “happy little baby,” Sanders said.

“They were family,” she said. “My children were accepting of him.”

And Sanders bonded with him. When Orson arrived she bonded with him, too.

“I was his mom,” she said.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 12, 2023

‘Do you want your kids back?’: Authorities press Jacqueline West for information in 2020 interview

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A day after Jacqueline West reported her two youngest children missing, a Bakersfield police detective pressed her for information, saying what she’d said s…

www.kget.com

[...]

... Jacqueline West said she didn’t have any answers. She didn’t know why her other children would lie. The other kids had seen Orrin and Orson just days earlier, she said.

She told Ryan and the other law enforcement present she believed the boys were being held in someone’s house.

“It is slim,” Ryan said of the odds of a random person taking the children.

The detective pointed out her lack of emotion. “You haven’t even shed a tear,” he said. Jacqueline West told them she has cried but can’t cry in front of them.

Asked about how she and Trezell West discipline the children, she said she has spanked the children in the past but doesn’t like it. Instead she chooses to punish them by withholding a sweet snack or toy, or Trezell West will scold them, she said.

At one point an FBI agent who had stayed quiet for most of the interview questioned her attachment to the boys.

“I don’t think you care about those two kids,” he said. Ryan shortly afterward asked her if she adopted the boys because of the money she received from the state. She denied that.

But she told them she did have a regret: She wished she hadn’t called law enforcement because now she and her husband were being blamed.

[...]

 

[TGIRecovered]

Short sighted secret if their goal in adopting Orrin and Orson was financially motivated? Maybe in the beginning that wasn't it. But the boys proved to be more than they could tolerate as time went on.

There is no excuse for anyone to be cruel to a child, ever. I don't care how difficult those boys were or weren't. There isn't a child born who can be so perfect that an evil adult will treat them well. Unfortunately, our society accepts cruelty as a way of life. Our laws protect the adult instead of rescuing the child. MOO

 

[cuffem]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY SIX - April 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Day 6 of the trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West is about to begin with Maria Martinez, Jacqueline West's mother, back on the witness stand. #WestsTrial

The Wests have pleaded not guilty and defense counsel has said they had nothing to do with the boys' disappearance in December 2020. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith is playing an interview Martinez had with authorities on Dec. 23, 2020, two days after the Wests reported the children missing. #WestsTrial

Martinez said Jacqueline West came to visit her after the Wests moved to California City. She said she didn't see the children and believed they were in the Wests' van. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West stayed with her a couple hours, she said. Trezell came back later to load wooden planks. Martinez said she still didn't see the kids and Trezell and Jacqueline left. #WestsTrial

Martinez in the video said Jacqueline told her the kids were with Trezell's mom. #WestsTrial

The video has ended. #WestsTrial

Smith is questioning Martinez. She said on the day referred to in the interview she's not sure how much time she spent with her daughter. She believes it was an hour. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she went to a friend's house that day. "The only one that I have," she said. She can't remember her friend's last name. #WestsTrial

Martinez said Trezell West had been trying to load wood into the van but it wouldn't fit. She said she was present with her friend. #WestsTrial

The Wests left and said they were going to pick up the children, Martinez said. That was the one time the couple visited her after moving from Bakersfield to California City, she said. #WestsTrial

Martinez said the FBI went to her house after Orrin and Orson were reported missing. She called Jacqueline West then went to see her at the Cal City home. #WestsTrial

Martinez isn't sure what day she visited. #WestsTrial

At some point she spoke with Bakersfield police detectives, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Smith has asked Martinez to identify Facebook messaging between her and her daughter in August 2020. Martinez said she doesn't recognize it. #WestsTrial

Smith displayed a photo showing two of the Wests' children, not Orrin or Orson, in Jacqueline West's home. Smith circled 2 chairs in the photo and Martinez said that's where "the babies" would sit. #WestsTrial

Smith is now displaying photos of the California City home and asking Martinez to identify different areas in it. #WestsTrial

When she went to the house before the children were reported missing she doesn't know if she went inside because she was on her way to San Fernando, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Martinez said the children were "all there" the one time but she didn't pay attention. They were playing with their father, she said. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she walked into the dining room and it was just her and Jacqueline in the dining room. She said Jacqueline had coffee ready for her, and she left shortly after. #WestsTrial

When Martinez left the dining room she said goodbye and they shouted goodbye, she said. She said she didn't focus on the children. #WestsTrial

The children didn't leave the room, they were playing games, Martinez said. She didn't stop and speak to each grandchild. She didn't look at their faces. #WestsTrial

After the Wests moved to Cal City Martinez visited them two times, she said. Asked if she "focused in" and saw Orrin and Orson, Martinez said she always saw them together in the living room. #WestsTrial

Smith asked for clarification, and Martinez said their backs were facing her and they were playing. Then she reiterated she never focused on any of the children. #WestsTrial

Martinez claims to have seen all the children, but admitted saying she didn't focus on them when visiting. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning and Fatima Rodriguez, one of Jacqueline West's attorneys, has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Martinez said two men from the FBI went to her home. They did not speak Spanish, and Martinez is a Spanish speaker. #WestsTrial

Martinez testified the agents used a cellphone to translate and speak with her. #WestsTrial

Martinez said her testimony to the agents was not that she didn't know Orrin and Orson's names, but didn't know how to pronounce them. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she was not able to clarify her answers during the interview, even after a BPD officer arrived and translated. #WestsTrial

When she visited the Wests at their home on Oct. 10, 2020, Martinez said she walked past them and said hi then had a cup of coffee with her daughter. She said all the children were there playing. #WestsTrial

Under questioning by Rodriguez, Martinez said nothing seemed out of the ordinary. #WestsTrial

Martinez testified the FBI examined her phone. She said she had Facebook video chats from her daughter on the phone. #WestsTrial

Rodriguez is asking Martinez if she doesn't remember exchanging messages with Jacqueline Martinez about how Jacqueline and Trezell were looking at a house in Cal City. #WestsTrial

Testimony is focusing on interactions Martinez had with the Wests after they moved to Cal City, the few visits she had. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she was repeatedly interviewed by law enforcement and said she was told she'd be charged with a crime if she lied. #WestsTrial

CPS came to her home once and asked to check for bruising or marks on her own adopted children, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Fatima asked, when officers questioned Martinez regarding the boys' disappearance, if she was told she'd be charged with a crime if she covered for Jacqueline. Martinez said yes. It happened multiple times, she said. #WestsTrial

Rodriguez ended her questioning and now Victor Nasser, one of Trezell West's attorneys, is questioning her. #WestsTrial

Nasser asked a couple quick questions then ended, now prosecutor Eric Smith is again questioning her. Martinez said she hardly saw Jacqueline West in 2020. She said she simply doesn't like to visit. #WestsTrial

In 2020, Martinez said she didn't know the names of Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

Smith is showing Martinez video clips of her speaking with law enforcement. He's going to move the clips into evidence and provide transcripts to the jury. #WestsTrial

In one of the clips, Martinez said she doesn't know the children's names because they were changed. Smith asked if that referred to her knowing the names of Orrin and Orson, and she said, "Correct." #WestsTrial

In another clip, Martinez tells law enforcement she didn't like to visit her daughter when Trezell West was present. Martinez testified she couldn't talk to him and felt uncomfortable. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess for 15 minutes. #WestsTrial

Is it just me or does it seem like everyone involved so far with this trial has odd behavior with the situation and to each other?
From the police officers to JW's mother, they seem disassociated with what is happening.

 

[Laughing]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY SIX - April 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/KGETnews

hen she went to the house before the children were reported missing she doesn't know if she went inside because she was on her way to San Fernando, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Martinez said the children were "all there" the one time but she didn't pay attention. They were playing with their father, she said. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she walked into the dining room and it was just her and Jacqueline in the dining room. She said Jacqueline had coffee ready for her, and she left shortly after. #WestsTrial

When Martinez left the dining room she said goodbye and they shouted goodbye, she said. She said she didn't focus on the children. #WestsTrial

The children didn't leave the room, they were playing games, Martinez said. She didn't stop and speak to each grandchild. She didn't look at their faces. #WestsTrial

After the Wests moved to Cal City Martinez visited them two times, she said. Asked if she "focused in" and saw Orrin and Orson, Martinez said she always saw them together in the living room. #WestsTrial

Smith asked for clarification, and Martinez said their backs were facing her and they were playing. Then she reiterated she never focused on any of the children. #WestsTrial

Martinez claims to have seen all the children, but admitted saying she didn't focus on them when visiting. #WestsTrial

rsbm bbm

So Grandma/Abuelita visits twice.

But Grandma/Abuelita, who has foster children, does not interact with her grandchildren?

Color me confused....

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[PommyMommy]

Is it just me or does it seem like everyone involved so far with this trial has odd behavior with the situation and to each other?
From the police officers to JW's mother, they seem disassociated with what is happening.

It's not just you!

Jacqueline said the boys were in the backyard. She looked for them in the house. She didn't call her mother; didn't want to stress her out.

WTH?

MOO

 

[cuffem]

It's not just you!

Jacqueline said the boys were in the backyard. She looked for them in the house.

WTH?

MOO

The part where JW states she wishes she had not called LE about her 2 sons being missing because her and her husband are being blamed?
Who says something like that? Your kids are missing and you wish you did not call 911?

 

[mickey2942]

Thank you @PommyMommy for the excellent work, following this trial, and letting us know what is going on. We appreciate you!!!

I am so worried that the defense will completely undermine the children's testimonials, and that there won't be enough to disprove the zero sum story that the kids just "disappeared".

Although, the video evidence from the neighbors house across the street is helpful in supporting the fact that the kids were never on the video.

The Grandmother's story is pretty sketchy to me, she can't tell if there are 6 kids or 4 kids? Grandmas are always spoiling toddlers, because they are so much fun to play with...so, this is strange to me. Just saying.

 

[UrsulaWrenn]

i just fail to see how adopting or fostering can be easy. most of these kids are traumatized. i guess they didnt have the common sense to know that?

I suspect most of them start with the best of intentions. They think they can offer a stable life, teach them the right way to do things, treat them like family and they will respond by blossoming into normal, well-adjusted children in a few months.

But...the damage and scars and trauma just doesn't heal -or even respond, but instead causes behavior problems that just wear everyone down and causes some of them to lash out with horrific results.

 

[UrsulaWrenn]

Is it just me or does it seem like everyone involved so far with this trial has odd behavior with the situation and to each other?
From the police officers to JW's mother, they seem disassociated with what is happening.

No; not just you at all. I had that impression during the very first interview. Trezell just standing there hugging himself and Jacqueline just...standing there. So, I figured they had either completely "othered" the kids so they didn't feel any connection, or they were so panic-stricken they seemed almost catatonic.

For a study in contrasting affect, watch Gannon Stauch's biological mother. We know she didn't have any part in what happened to him; and when he was missing she was animated and talkative. She didn't shed any tears, but was visibly creeped out, freaked out, and scared for him.

Here's a youtube link to her interview with mainstream media channel Fox31 Denver:

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[Frodosdojo]

I suspect most of them start with the best of intentions. They think they can offer a stable life, teach them the right way to do things, treat them like family and they will respond by blossoming into normal, well-adjusted children in a few months.

But...the damage and scars and trauma just doesn't heal -or even respond, but instead causes behavior problems that just wear everyone down and causes some of them to lash out with horrific results.

I disagree. Anyone who abuses or murders their foster children is not a person who had good intentions and became overwhelmed. They are abusive people to begin with. Some people do it for the money and are able to fool whoever they have to so they can be approved. There are people in this world who work with children, the elderly, hospital patients just so they can have access to vulnerable populations to abuse or kill them. They seek positions of power over the vulnerable to do what they want. You will find them everywhere - priests, boy scout leaders, teachers, nurses, doctors, you name it.

It almost sounds like you are blaming the children. That is not even how trauma works. A traumatized child needs specialized healing and foster parents have not had the years of training that psychologists and psychiatrists have. Love and a good home does not magically heal trauma. The foster parents are provided free medical care for the children. It is their responsibility to see to it that the children get what they need to heal and thrive physically, socially and mentally. There are zero excuses for not doing the basics.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 12, 2023

West Trial Day 6: Former foster mother of Orrin and Orson testifies

On day six of the West trial, three people took the witness stand. Maria Martinez, Jacqueline's mother, Latoya Spry Sanders-Orrin and Orson's foster mother

bakersfieldnow.com

On day six of the West trial, three people took the witness stand.

Maria Martinez, Jacqueline's mother, Latoya Spry Sanders, Orrin and Orson's foster mother before the Wests, and Bakersfield Police officer John Ryan.

The day started, how it ended yesterday, Maria Martinez at the stand. The prosecution was trying to show Martinez hadn't seen Orrin and Orson for months.

Two mothers take the stand in sixth day of West trial

Two mothers took the stand Wednesday morning in the West trial. The first: Jacqueline's mother Maria Martinez. The second: Latoya Spry Sanders, the former foster mother of Orrin and Orson.

www.turnto23.com

Smith focusing on Martinez's visits, asking if she saw the children inside the home. Martinez said she saw children in the living room but did not focus on any of them. She said she went immediately to the dining room to see Jacqueline and left shortly after.

Smith asked about Jacqueline coming to visit Martinez after they moved. Martinez asked where the kids were and Jacqueline stated they were with Trezell's mother.

Foster mother of 2 California City children testifies in murder trial

The path two missing California City toddlers took through the foster care system became the focus of emotional testimony Wednesday in the continuing murder trial of the brothers’ adoptive parents.

www.bakersfield.com

The CPS worker came to her house at 2:30 p.m. to investigate her daughter’s injury, and by 5:15 p.m., a worker said all three foster kids were going to be taken away, Sanders added.

She testified the CPS worker felt Sanders was “overwhelmed” with six kids, and that taking away the three children would help her manage the stress.

“The entire investigation … lasted less than three hours?” asked defense attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings, who represents Jacqueline West.

“Yes,” Sanders responded.

“For two children you had in your home for over a year?” Torres Stallings asked.

“Yes,” Sanders said.

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY SEVEN - April 13, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West is about to resume. This is the seventh day of trial. They're charged with murder and other crimes in the deaths of their adopted sons Orrin, 4, and Orson, 3. Their bodies have not been found. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith has resumed playing an interview authorities conducted with Jacqueline West on Dec. 22, 2020, the day after the Wests reported the boys missing. Prosecutors say the boys died 3 months before reported missing. #WestsTrial

Bakersfield Police Detective John Ryan has been in charge of the interview, more than an hour of which was played yesterday. He tells Jacqueline she's withholding information. She says she loves the boys but it's not the same emotion as with her biological children. #WestsTrial

She said that in response to Ryan telling her that if his kids were missing he'd be going crazy. She has shown little emotion during the interview and has been called on it. #WestsTrial

Ryan tells her he can see it in her face that she wants to tell them something. He says she's trying to save her husband from something he did. The children should be all she cares about. #WestsTrial

"This is the time to tell us, right now," he says. "If you're going to lie for some lowlife who did something crazy to a kid, you're not going to take care of your own kids," Ryan says. He tells her her other children are in protective custody. #WestsTrial

"Are you serious?" Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

Ryan keeps working on her. He says she needs to tell the truth. He says he doesn't know 100 percent if she had any involvement in this but he thinks she's a good person. "He's not worth you lying for," Ryan says of Trezell. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline denies lying, saying she's told them everything. "You're telling us what you want us to know," Ryan said. "You're not telling us everything." #WestsTrial

Ryan asks who she's protecting. Trezell? An uncle? A cousin? "Somebody has these two babies," he says. Another officer notes she told them they cried a lot and were a lot to handle. She's asked if she gave them away. #WestsTrial

"People sell babies," Ryan says. "People put babies in the sex trade." He said there are all sorts of things people do. He says there are hundreds of people searching California City to find the boys. He asks if they're looking pointlessly. #WestsTrial

Ryan asks if the boys are buried in her yard or somewhere else. "Nothing like that happened," Jacqueline says. She says they were alive when she saw them at the house. Officers tell her the boys weren't at the house. #WestsTrial

"I can live with myself," Jacqueline says. She says she's fine, she's OK with them looking through her phones and investigating her. #WestsTrial

Ryan again tells her surveillance footage picks up her husband leaving, police showing up but no children. He asks if she thinks that's odd. She says yes but she doesn't have answers. #WestsTrial

Ryan points out she said if her two biological kids went missing she'd be freaking out. Jacqueline says she didn't mean that she doesn't care about the other children. #WestsTrial

"Everything I said is getting twisted," Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

The video has frozen. Prosecutor Eric Smith is working to fix it. #WestsTrial