Still Missing CA - Orson & Orrin West (3&4), California City, 21 Dec 2020

[HayLouise]

I hesitate to be a total downer in this thread. I’ll throw this out there anyway. There must a reason the backyard was dug up so quickly. I believe these little ones will eventually be found buried somewhere. I can’t remember when I’ve ever felt so negatively this early in a child disappearance. I hope I’m not losing my faith in miracles. Please somebody, talk me out of this gloomy thought.

Agree.

I’ve never seen this happen in another case so quickly without reason..

 

[mcrazingwill]

Edit: this is a compilation of different members.

1. LE has said no-one has been ruled out so I would assume anyone close to the boys would be POI's.

2. They must have found solid evidence that points to the home since they were able to obtain warrants for the house and the vehicle so quickly.

3. They removed several brown bags and a large duffel bag from the house, while the father stated they only took their phones.

4. They also quickly carried out a second search and collected more evidence which indicates they found something incriminating after the first search of the home and property.

5. LE said the boys scent never left the home and they have not been able to make out how the boys left the house, even though the father implied they left through an open gate after playing in the yard.

6. Neighbors claim to have never seen the children since the family moved there in September.

7. Police say that although they are cooperating, they do not know where the parents are, but someone knows, and they hope they will come forward.

8. The remaining four children have been placed in protective custody.

9. LE are not searching the neighborhood or the desert but instead are concentrating on the home.

10. LE dug up their back yard, with the sound of what a neighbor said sounded like jackhammers.

11. LE showed up with guns drawn.

12. Adoptive parents never use their son's names.

13. AP's didn’t express concern for what their children are going through; no plea i.e.,-“if someone has Orrin and Orson please don’t hurt them, do the right thing and call the authorities, let them come home to their famiy."


There is more to add. I've been MIA for a few days so I know I have missed information.

Great write up, I missed that they police don’t know where the parents are. That’s an odd bit of information to give out.

 

[susiQ]

I hesitate to be a total downer in this thread. I’ll throw this out there anyway. There must a reason the backyard was dug up so quickly. I believe these little ones will eventually be found buried somewhere. I can’t remember when I’ve ever felt so negatively this early in a child disappearance. I hope I’m not losing my faith in miracles. Please somebody, talk me out of this gloomy thought.

RBBM
I wish I could help you out @imstilla.grandma but the miracles are few and far between and I don’t think this is one of them JMHO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I didn’t realize the FBI had begun interviewing the parents the next day.

According to California City Police Department, the FBI on Tuesday began interviewing the adopted parents of the two boys, Trezol and Jacqueline West. The couple adopted Orrin and Orson in April 2019.

The couple went willing with officers after a police cruiser came to pick them up. A search warrant was later served on Tuesday evening and evidence collected from their home.
FBI becomes involved in disappearance of Cal City children

This makes me even more nervous the boys lie in a hidden grave somewhere:

Authorities extensively dug up terrain in the backyard in recent days to make sure the boys weren't underneath, according to Walker. "We are just trying to dig up anything, any clues that we could possibly find, to find out where they have gone and also to confirm they are not in the backyard."
Authorities execute search warrant with guns drawn at home of missing California City boys

 

[SimplyCass]

In his interview TW stated the children went missing "just before it got dark," around 4:30 or 5:00.

Wouldn't it start getting dark before five pm there? If he searched at 5:30, why would he wait more than 30 minutes to look for them after he realized they were missing?

But yes, according to the timeframe they gave, it seems they didn't wait that long to call police.

According to a quick search, sunset on 12/21/20 in California City was at 4:44 PM. It would have been completely dark by 6:14 PM.

 

[MsMarple]

Question- why am I remembering 8pm for cop call? I thought that was reported early on and then someone here later posted some kind of call transcript that showed 8pm? So sorry if we already cleared this up and I missed it.

I think the firewood was integral to TW story for answering when/why/how because he anticipated lots of questions from LE and community.
Everyone knows how sketchy the “I woke up and they were gone, abduction!!” Sounds to LE. Leaving them in the unfenced front yard would have sounded neglectful and they likely thought of neighbor camera placement. He needed a reason for the back gate to be open without sounding neglectful.
With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was on camera collecting wood, as they rehearsed they likely knew they’d need some evidence to corroborate their story. I’d be interested though to see if he quick collected some wood during a completely different timeframe. Moo

I got confused over the times too earlier in the thread. Turns out that the parents called 911 around 6 and LE posted that the boys were missing around 8 pm. The poster who corrected me gave a link - if I find it I'll repost.

ETA: TIMELINE: California City boys Orson and Orrin West still missing | KGET 17

• Monday, around 6 p.m. — The boys’ adoptive parents report them missing.
• Monday, around 8 p.m. — California City police send out a news release that provides a description of the boys but not their names or photographs. That information is released hours later.

FWIW, I looked up the weather for Bakersfield on December 21 and saw that Nautical Twilight was at 5:49 pm. That's when it's dark enough to need a light to get around.
Bakersfield, CA Weather History | Weather Underground

Also, @Warwick7 your #7 is incorrect. Chief Walker said he didn't know exactly where the parents are staying but that LE has contact information. I think he said he didn't know where the boys were and hopes someone would come forward.

 

[Dawookie]

It sounds like she did have lots of support. Where were they when she was losing the children...?

It's confusing on who had the kids after they were taken away from her but before the the APs. Not sure if it was a family.member or a friend

 

[SeattleStew]

If AP's know more than what they're saying, what would be the reason to call 911 on that day, at that time, especially if neighbors hadn't seen the children since September?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Has it been stated how long the other children had been on “vacation”

 

[Edinlass]

Great write up, I missed that they police don’t know where the parents are. That’s an odd bit of information to give out.

This wasn’t said in the presser. Chief said he doesn’t know where the boys are at this time, but someone knows...

 

[fcavanaugh]

My apologies if this has been discussed and I missed it, but I wonder if DCFS has a previous and/or still open file on this Family, and maybe the reason the other children are in protective custody.
I don’t remember in other missing children’s cases I’ve followed, the siblings being removed from the home so expeditiously, at least not that I can recall atm. I believe AJ Freund’s little brother was eventually removed from the home but iirc, he was not immediately removed. Orrin and Orson’s siblings being removed practically on day one and LE focus on the home, digging up their yard especially so early on, really makes me wonder if there’s been previous calls/history/documentation of any DCFS involvement with this family. Although, I’m assuming they wouldn’t have been allowed to adopt any children in the first place, as surely any DCFS involvement showing up during the adoption vetting process would have disqualified them? But maybe DCFS involvement, if any, didn’t happen until after they adopted the children, in the past year and a half. But they have other adopted children and not sure of their ages or when the other children were adopted.

These are some of my rambling thoughts, just trying to figure out possible reasons why LE focusing in so intently on the home/haven’t left the home and branched their search out. But I guess it could be attributed to the parents story just sounded sketchy and off to LE, plus other concerning things like neighbors not having ever seen the children, not on video surveillance etc., is why LE has zeroed in/focused on the home.

Things that make you go hmmmmm.

Hoping against hope for a miracle, but I’m afraid it’s not looking good for these precious little boys.

IMHO

 

[Knox]

In other cases like this, there have been sudden moves to a different house, later tied to the child's death. I'm going to guess the moves are to get away from people in their former community who would notice and ask where the boys were.

IMO, these boys never left Bakersfield. And dogs picked up the boy's scent, inside the new house, because of items brought from the old house.

This is exactly what I feel too. It perfectly explains the direction the investigation is taking.

 

[SuziQ]

If AP's know more than what they're saying, what would be the reason to call 911 on that day, at that time, especially if neighbors hadn't seen the children since September?

Christmas was coming up. They would have explain where the boys were. In cases where kids were reported missing but never were missing in the traditional sense, the missing reports were prompted by an upcoming event. Family demanding to see the kids or exercising their custodial rights. Time has simply run out and the child's absence has to be explained.

 

[rosesfromangels]

One will rat out the other...

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[imstilla.grandma]

One will rat out the other...

Amateur opinion and speculation

A rat only needs a tiny hole of opportunity. It’ll probably happen sooner than later.

 

[Kimpossible31]

If AP's know more than what they're saying, what would be the reason to call 911 on that day, at that time, especially if neighbors hadn't seen the children since September?

It would be interesting to know what was planned for their family in the week after they became missing. Were the other kids scheduled to come home? Getting together with family? Any upcoming appointments.. things like that.

 

[Ontario Mom]

I started following this thread from the beginning, and was firmly in the parent's corner.
I didn't want to let the whole Watts Affect influence the way I thought about dad's folded arms, or mom's rocking back and forth, so I gave them the "they're in auto-pilot" benefit of the doubt.
I think though, many of us will forever associate that kind of body language with a big neon sign in our minds that reads "GUILTY!", whether it's fair or accurate or not.

I was still in the parents corner until I learned LE was digging their back yard.
I mean, when you report your children missing and the local LE do not immediately launch a search but instead... start digging up your own back yard, it's a good indicator LE just isn't buying what the parents are selling.

 

[floridamomma]

@Ontario Mom yes! I'm not sure I've ever heard of such a thing.

 

[susiQ]

I started following this thread from the beginning, and was firmly in the parent's corner.
I didn't want to let the whole Watts Affect influence the way I thought about dad's folded arms, or mom's rocking back and forth, so I gave them the "they're in auto-pilot" benefit of the doubt.
I think though, many of us will forever associate that kind of body language with a big neon sign in our minds that reads "GUILTY!", whether it's fair or accurate or not.

I was still in the parents corner until I learned LE was digging their back yard.
I mean, when you report your children missing and the local LE do not immediately launch a search but instead... start digging up your own back yard, it's a good indicator LE just isn't buying what the parents are selling.

The almost immediate digging in the backyard is truly worrisome. Would the parents be THAT stupid? I know, many before them have done it, whether child, spouse or friend. But, what if LE weren’t looking for the boys remains and rather a stash of cash? I get this won’t be a popular idea but usually they don’t dig unless they know earth has been disturbed. If the AP’s trafficked the boys and had a wad of $$ they certainly couldn’t deposit it into their bank account.

Maybe I’m just losing my mind and getting a touch carried away but I think at this point everything is on the table. JMHO.

 

[Knox]

We are road tripping today, investigating good camping/off-roading spots. We'll be in the Cal City area. If we see something I'll let you know.