CA - Orson & Orrin West (3&4), MEDIA, MAPS & TIMELINE - NO DISCUSSION

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY EIGHT - April 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West is back in session. It will only be in session until noon today. Paul Thomas has been called to testify and will do so via Zoom. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith is questioning Thomas, who is a special agent for Secret Service. #WestsTrial

The Wests are charged with murder and other crimes in the deaths of Orrin, 4, and Orson, 3, two of their adopted children. Their bodies have not been found. The Wests have pleaded not guilty. #WestsTrial

Thomas works on digital evidence extraction. He's explaining tools used for the extraction, how to bypass codes and get info from phones. #WestsTrial

Thomas testified he's not always able to bypass pins or passwords on cellphones. They can use "brute force" by attempting to use every password or pin they have available to try to unlock the phone. #WestsTrial

Thomas said he received two LG phones from Bakersfield Police Department in this case. #WestsTrial

The first phone, "item 1," had a pattern passcode on it, he said. Item 2 had a pin lock. #WestsTrial

The phones were taken to the lab where Thomas photographed them and used tools to get an extraction. He said they got a limited amount of data from each device. #WestsTrial

Thomas said it depends on the device, and for these models that's the best they could get. #WestsTrial

The data extracted was processed through software and a report generated for an investigator to go through, Thomas said. #WestsTrial

Thomas said he did identify email accounts for each phone. One email appears to have belonged to Jacqueline West, the other Trezell. #WestsTrial

The extractions were given to BPD for review, Thomas said. Smith ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Under cross-examination from Alekxia Torres Stallings, Jacqueline West's lead attorney, Thomas said it appears he had the pin code for item 2. #WestsTrial

He said they weren't able to unlock item 1, but the pin unlocked item 2. Torres Stallings asked if he was aware the pattern password for item 1 was provided to law enforcement at an earlier time. Judge Charles Brehmer sustained an objection from Smith. #WestsTrial

The objection was for lack of foundation. Torres Stallings ended her questioning and Victor Nasser, an attorney for Trezell West, is now cross-examining Thomas. #WestsTrial

Thomas said this was the best extraction that could have been done at the time on the 2 phones. He said they're always getting new, improved technology that could potentially help them get more information. Thomas has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 2
DAY EIGHT - April 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The next witness will also testify via Zoom. #WestsTrial

Scott Medlin has been called to testify. He's employed with the FBI, has been since 2007. He's a digital forensic examiner. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 28, 2020, Medlin received a number of items from an FBI agent in Bakersfield. #WestsTrial

Medlin received a thumb drive, 6 laptops, hard drive, Samsung Galaxy Note cellphone, 2 Amazon brand Tablets, a bag of 8 thumb drives, 3 micro sd cards, an LG phone, another LG phone. #WestsTrial

Medlin testified a number of tools were used to extract data from the devices. #WestsTrial

He's going over the tools used. #WestsTrial

Medlin was not able to extract data from the Samsung phone. The phone did not respond, screen was damaged, could not get it to boot up. #WestsTrial

He was not able to extract data from one of the LG phones. It was locked with a pin code, Medlin said. #WestsTrial

The other LG phone was also locked with a pin and he was not able to extract data from it. Medlin corrected himself after being question by Smith and said one of the phones was locked with a pattern. #WestsTrial

He was not able to extract data from a hard disk drive, Medlin said. He got data from 2 of the 3 micro sd cards, he said. #WestsTrial

Medlin was able to extract data from a thumb drive and from 8 usb devices. #WestsTrial

He got data from multiple laptops, Medlin said. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning and Torres Stallings has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Medlin was first contacted for this case on Dec. 24, 2020. He began examining devices four days later. #WestsTrial

He said on Dec. 28, 2020, he was told the evidence was ready to be picked up and examined. He's not sure what happened in the intervening days. #WestsTrial

Medlin testified he was later told to stop working on the items and doesn't know why. Torres Stallings finished and Timothy Hennessy, lead attorney for Trezell West, has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Medlin confirmed one of the LG phones was locked with a pattern. Hennessy asked if there were ways to still get into it but he just didn't have time. Medlin said he didn't get around to doing that before he was told to stop working on the devices. #WestsTrial

Medlin has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 3
DAY EIGHT - April 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

BPD Detective Antonio Orozco has been called to the stand. He's testifying in-person, Zoom testimony is over for now. #WestsTrial

Orozco said he was asked to download footage from a surveillance camera affixed to the northwest corner of the Bakersfield Police Department. It faces southwest, covering H Street south of Truxtun Avenue and a portion of the Strata Credit Union parking lot. #WestsTrial

He got footage from Dec. 19, 2020, from the afternoon. Smith is moving the footage into evidence. #WestsTrial

An image from that camera is being displayed in court and Orozco is pointing out the credit union, the department, and H Street. #WestsTrial

Smith said there is an issue with playing the video and asked that it be played at a later time. He finished questioning and Orozco has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 4
DAY EIGHT - April 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Phillip West has been called to the stand. He is the father of Trezell West. #WestsTrial

Phillip West said Trezell did a lot of special work after becoming an adult. Carpet, tile, landscaping. He confirmed Trezell worked at loss prevention at a mall. #WestsTrial

In 2020 Phillip West lived on Potomac Avenue with his wife and Josiah West, his other son. #WestsTrial

Smith asked where Trezell and Jacqueline lived after they married. Phillip West said he can't remember. But in 2020 they lived at the Casa Loma Apartments on Lotus Lane. #WestsTrial

When asked to name the Wests' biological children, Phillip Wet did so then said, "Don't do this to me," his voice breaking. Judge Brehmer told him to take a minute if he needs to. #WestsTrial

Phillip West took a sip of water and resumed testifying. He wiped his face with a tissue. He said in March 2020 he would see Trezell, Jacqueline and the children every other week or so. #WestsTrial

Phillip West said his wife told him Trezell had bought a home in California City. #WestsTrial

He said he didn't watch any of the Wests' children while they were moving. He said he thinks they did the move in one day. #WestsTrial

Phillip West said he never visited after they moved to California City. He said he was making plans to visit, wanted them to get everything situated. #WestsTrial

Phillip West said they're always together on Christmas. On Dec. 19, 2020, he said, all of the children except Orrin and Orson were dropped off at his home. #WestsTrial

He first found out Orrin and Oron were reported missing when an officer came from Cal City. Phillp West said he was present when CPS came to his home. #WestsTrial

Phillip West said he can't remember for sure what happened but believes a social worker spoke to the boys. He said they were taken from the home. He was provided visitations. #WestsTrial

Phillip West said the visitations happened in Shafter at a facility. #WestsTrial

He said they'd sometimes spend 3 hours with the children. A liaison would be present. "She wouldn't disturb us," Phillip West said. #WestsTrial

Sometime Trezell and Jacqueline were also there, Phillip West said. #WestsTrial

The visitations happened about four months or so, Phillip West said. #WestsTrial

Phillip West said he recalls telling officers the last time everyone was together was July 4, 2020. #WestsTrial

After the Wests moved to Cal City, Phillip West never saw Orrin or Orson, according to his testimony. #WestsTrial

Asked about his cane shop, Phillip West said he's a craftsman and makes canes out of wood. He held up his own cane for everyone to see. Judge Brehmer said, "That's a nice looking cane," and held it. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning after showing Phillip West a photo of a cane made from two pieces of wood duct-taped together. Phillip West said that's not a cane he made. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 5
DAY EIGHT - April 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Hennessy has begun cross-examination. Phillip West said he was concerned when covid began because of his age and his wife has asthma. He agreed that's why the kids would often stay in the van when Trezell or Jacqueline made a quick stop. #WestsTrial

"I know how many got out of the car and came into my house," Phillip West said when asked if sometimes he thought there were 4 children there instead of 6, and vice versa. #WestsTrial

Phillip West said he doesn't recall him getting "less close" with Trezell after Trezell got married. He said he gave them space because they were married, but they weren't less close. #WestsTrial

"I raised them to be fathers," Phillip West said of his sons. "I had no father. I know what it takes." #WestsTrial

Phillip West said Trezell is creative like him, thinks he got his creativity from him. #WestsTrial

On the morning when the Cal City police officer arrived Phillip West said he remembers an officer describing the Cal City house as a "compound." #WestsTrial

"I believe I was in denial," Phillip West said when he heard the allegations. He said he's still "mind-boggled." It doesn't reflect the Trezell he raised or knew, he said in response to Hennessy's questions. #WestsTrial

Phillip West has been excused. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess for 15 minutes. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 6
DAY EIGHT - April 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Detective John Ryan is back on the stand as the trial resumes. Prosecutor Eric Smith is playing another clip of a second interview conducted with Jacqueline West a day after Orrin and Orson were reported missing. #WestsTrial

An officer is speaking quietly to Jacqueline West during the interview, much of which was played yesterday. #WestsTrial

The officer tells her she's not going to get her other children back, and she says she and Trezell had nothing to do with the boys' disappearance. #WestsTrial

The officer tells her Trezell's parents and brother broke down and were "losing it" when told the boys were missing. He tells her to give him something. Jacqueline West says she left them in the backyard. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West makes a comment about areas that look like graves in the backyard. Ryan takes over the investigation and asks if they're buried there and she says, "I didn't bury them there." #WestsTrial

The yard was later dug up by the FBI and nothing was found. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West continues to say she doesn't know what happened as Ryan tells her this case is going to go national then worldwide and everyone will know her and husband's names. #WestsTrial

Ryan asks if she wants the whole world to think she's a bad person and a terrible mom. Jacqueline says people think that already. The detective keeps telling she's a good person and that something bad happened or she's covering for her husband. #WestsTrial

"I have no idea where they are, where they could be," Jacqueline West says. Ryan asks if she killed the boys. No, she says. Did her husband. No, she says. #WestsTrial

Ryan continues to tell her her story doesn't add up. The video surveillance captured nothing, he says. "I think they're inside somewhere," Jacqueline says. Ryan asks who would take them. She says it could be anyone. #WestsTrial

Ryan tells her he he thinks the boys have been missing so long that she's past the remorse, "the crying stage." He says someone's going to find out, no one can cover their tracks that well. #WestsTrial

Ryan notes she's had her new phone over a month and there are no photos of the boys on it. He says they're working backward to find out the last time anyone saw the boys. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says she got rid of her last phone because it was broken. She says she threw it in the trash, didn't save the sim card. She says she didn't need it. #WestsTrial

"If we find out foul play was involved this is going to go to court," Ryan says. He asks if she thinks any jury is going to believe her. He says they'll look at the evidence, how she was treated here and all the opportunities she had to tell the truth. #WestsTrial

She shakes her head when asked if something bad happened and she knows more than she's saying. #WestsTrial

"Well that's messed up right there," Jacqueline says when Ryan tells her she's going to lose everything: her children, her friends, family, house, everything. #WestsTrial

"You can't lie forever. Your stories don't match," Ryan tells Jacqueline. "There is no story," Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

Ryan tells her she doesn't want this on her shoulders the rest of her life. He says he can tell something is bothering her. "There's nothing," she says. #WestsTrial

"There's nothing," Jacqueline says again after Ryan keeps pressing her. He says he did what he had to do. He asks if she wants her card, she nods her head and he says he'll get one then leaves the room. #WestsTrial

Trezell West enters the room and sits next to her. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 7
DAY EIGHT - April 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

(Detective John Ryan is on the stand and Prosecutor Eric Smith is playing video of a second interview with Jacqueline West a day after the boys were reported missing.)

The video had issues playing at that point. Smith is trying to get it to play. #WestsTrial

Judge Brehmer said it will have to be fixed and the last few minutes of the recording will be played on Monday. #WestsTrial

Smith is questioning Ryan. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he contacted a resident on Aspen Avenue in Cal City to get surveillance footage. He asked to look at footage of a few days prior to when the boys were reported missing to see if they could see them in any footage. #WestsTrial

Ryan said they reviewed footage from Dec. 19, 2020. He said when the family left the home into the van only four juveniles and Trezell and Jacqueline entered the van. #WestsTrial

Ryan transported the footage to BPD and the crime analysis team. #WestsTrial

Ryan also went to an address on Rome Beauty Drive in Cal City. It had multiple cameras on it. He spoke to the homeowner and got permission to remove the DVR player and take it to headquarters for analysis. #WestsTrial

Ryan spent 6 or 7 days in Cal City for the investigation. #WestsTrial

Court has ended for the day. The trial will resume 9 a.m. Monday. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 14, 2023

West Boys Trial: Detective claims surveillance video conflicts with Wests' statements​

Detective John Ryan testified Friday that when looking for surveillance video of the Wests’ California City home, he found video of the day Trezell and Jacqueline West took their children to stay with Trezell’s parents on December 19, 2020. Ryan said in the video, he only saw four children get into the van.

... During the trial, the prosecution has argued that no one can specifically remember every seeing the boys in Cal City.

[...]

The prosecution also called Phillip West, Trezell’s father, to testify Friday.

[...]

After the couple moved to Cal City, Phillip said he didn’t see the boys. He testified that he hadn’t helped the couple in moving and told officers he believed the last time they were all together was around the 4th of July.

“Did you have plans to visit?” Prosecutor Eric Smith asked.

Phillip responded that he had been planning to visit the home after they moves. Smith asked if they planned to visit for Christmas and Phillip said that he believed they discussed it.

During the video interviews between Jacqueline and investigators, Ryan claimed multiple times that he believes the couple reported the boys missing because they knew family would be arriving for Christmas and didn’t know what to say. Jacqueline, again, denied this in the recording.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 14, 2023

Family of adoptive Cal City brothers grapples with one of their own facing murder char​

[...]

Asked how many biological kids his son Trezell West has, Phillip West broke down Friday as he testified in a murder trial.

Phillip West slowly began ticking off Trezell West and his wife’s Jacqueline West’s children after wiping his face with a tissue and Superior Court Judge Charles Brehmer quietly told him he could take a break. The father’s emotions overtook him while grappling with allegations his son Trezell and Jacqueline murdered their adoptive toddlers, Orrin, 4, and Orson, 3, West, after both were reported missing in California City about two years ago.

Phillip West explained Trezell and Jacqueline West’s four children, aside from Orrin and Orson, were dropped off at his house Dec. 19, 2020 to babysit. The Wests reported to the California City Police Department that their kids were missing on Dec. 21, 2020.

[...]

Phillip West testified it might have been around July 4, 2020 that he last saw all the kids together. He also said he never saw Orrin or Orson after Trezell and Jacqueline moved to California City from Bakersfield in September 2020.

Trezell West was raised to be a father, Phillip West testified — he himself didn’t have a father and knows what it takes to be one.

So when he heard all these accusations, Phillip testified, he couldn’t wrap his mind around them. These allegations don’t reflect the Trezell he raised or he knows, he added.

“I am still just mind-boggled,” Phillip said. “I don’t understand.”

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 14, 2023

West Trial Day 8: Trezell's father testifies

The second week of the murder trial of Trezell and Jacqueline wrapped up Friday afternoon. They're the couple accused of killing their adoptive kids

bakersfieldnow.com

He looked at the surveillance video of the day Trezell and Jacqueline took their children to Bakersfield. Officer Ryan said they could only see four children going into the van. He said he and another officer were looking to see if they could see Orrin and Orson outside playing.

In the video of Officer Ryan interrogating Jacqueline from December 22, 2020, he told her we can’t go back in your phones. "You got new phones. You’re covering up. She said we didn’t want the bio family calling us. We didn’t want them to know our numbers," he said.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 16, 2023

West trial: Week 2 round-up of evidence from California City boys' adoptive parents' murder trial​

[...]

TESTIMONY​

[...]

Last week saw testimony from Maria Martinez, the mother of Jacqueline West, who often had conflicting testimony and couldn’t remember some answers. Martinez, whose primary language is Spanish, testified with a interpreter.

Smith attempted to show, through his line of questioning, that Martinez didn’t like Trezell West while defense attorneys elicited testimony softening this image.

[...]

Josiah West, the brother of Trezell West, testified this week he often babysat Trezell and Jacqueline West’s children when they dropped them off. Josiah lived with his parents, Wanda and Phillip West, in Bakersfield.

He testified he never saw Orrin or Orson after Trezell and Jacqueline West moved to California City.

Jesse Hightower, the chief of California City Police Department, testified he didn’t review his body-worn camera footage before coming and testifying last week. ...

Hightower also took part in questioning the Wests soon after Dec. 21. ...

[...]

A lighter moment happened during testimony by Phillip West, the father of Trezell West.

Smith asked to further understand Phillip's job. He explained he made canes and staff out of wood or metal. He held up a cane he brought for himself, looked to be made out of golden wood, wrapped with colorful ribbons.

"That's a pretty nice cane," said Judge Charles Brehmer, who's presiding over this trial.
That elicited a few laughs.

[...]

LOOKING AHEAD​

Prosecutor Smith finished playing footage lasting almost three hours of officers questioning Jacqueline West about her missing children.

[...]

Smith had begun questioning Ryan when the court recessed Friday. It’s expected Ryan will return to the stand and begin testifying about evidence which prosecutors allege shows the Wests lying about what happened to Orrin and Orson.

The jury is also scheduled to go on a jury view Wednesday afternoon and Thursday to separate locations, including California City. Brehmer told jurors to wear comfortable shoes as they may be walking in desert-like areas.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY NINE - April 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Trial has resumed in the case of Trezell and Jacqueline West, charged with murder in the deaths of their adopted sons Orrin, 4, and Orson, 3. Bakersfield police Detective John Ryan is back on the stand. #WestsTrial

Ryan is being questioned by prosecutor Eric Smith. #WestsTrial

Ryan has identified an item shown to him as a warrant for bank records for the Wests. It's from Strata Credit Union. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning and Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead counsel for Jacqueline West, is about to cross-examine him. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is going over his training. She asked how many missing persons cases he worked in the gang unit. "I don't recall any in the gang unit," Ryan said. When he was on patrol there were "numerous" cases involving missing people, maybe 1 or 2 with children. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he's a liaison with the FBI, but works for BPD. He said any training he had in that job is on the job training with them. #WestsTrial

He's the terrorism liaison officer, but it's not necessarily all terrorism cases, there are ones involving drugs and sex trafficking, whatever they give him. Only this one involved missing children, he said. #WestsTrial

Under questioning by Torres Stallings, Ryan said he was called to Cal City on Dec. 22, 2020, for a missing persons case, not a homicide investigation. #WestsTrial

Through questioning by Torres Stallings and followup by Judge Charles R. Brehmer, Ryan acknowledged human trafficking occurs through Interstate 5. #WestsTrial

Ryan testified he arrived Dec. 22 and was on the street but not in the Wests' house. Before he interviewed Jacqueline West, he didn't go into the home, he said. #WestsTrial

He searched fields, drove around looking for surveillance video, Ryan said. He did not speak with anyone from Cal City, he said. He said he did not review any video before interviewing Jacqueline West. #WestsTrial

Ryan said his initial canvassing of the area involved looking for the children, clues where they had been. He spoke with Cal City police once going to department headquarters. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked if there was a meeting with other law enforcement. Ryan said yes, a small meeting with other officers. He said the meeting occurred possibly around 7 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2020. #WestsTrial

Under further questioning, Ryan said he doesn't remember the exact time of the meeting but it was before the interview. He said he spoke with Cal City Officer Brian Hansen about interviews Hansen had with the other West children. #WestsTrial

Ryan testified he didn't review the video or transcripts of Hansen's interviews with the children before interviewing Jacqueline West. #WestsTrial

He said he did not review video or transcripts of initial interviews police had with the Wests before interviewing Jacqueline West. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he does not know if Jacqueline West slept or ate anything before the second interview. He gave the same answers for Trezell. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he has "zero" formal psychological and neurological training when it comes to interrogating people. He said there are differences when it comes to interviewing witnesses as opposed to suspects. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he knows what a ruse is. Torres Stallings asked if a story he told Jacqueline West regarding his sister was a ruse. Ryan said no, it's a true story. #WestsTrial

Ryan agreed the story was a way to connect with Jacqueline West. Torres Stallings asked if it was an intimidation factor to say Jacqueline's children would be taken away. Ryan said no, the kids had already been removed. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked if he recalled telling Jacqueline West she would also lose her house, car, family, friends and her husband. Ryan said yes. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he's not aware if any of the West children have cognitive difficulties and did not review school records. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked Ryan if he was aware 65,202 kids were reported missing in California in 2020. Smith objected, and she said she'll move on to Kern County statistics. In 2020, 4,227 kids in Kern County were reported missing in 2020, she said. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is using statistics from the Department of Justice. #WestsTrial

4,401 children were reported missing in Kern County, Torres Stallings said, correcting her earlier figure. 14 dealt with parental abduction. 8 were under suspicious circumstances related to stranger abduction, she said. Ryan said he wasn't aware of those numbers. #WestsTrial

Ryan testified all the other missing children cases he has investigated involved runaways. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is asking Ryan about surveillance footage he said he reviewed on Dec. 27, 2020, which showed ony 4 children entering the van on Dec. 19, 2020, with the Wests. The Wests had 6 children. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he could not identify the faces or ages of the children who entered the Wests' van. Torres Stallings is showing him a portion of the video he reviewed. She has asked to admit it into evidence and Brehmer admitted it. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is about to play the video. #WestsTrial

The camera points toward the West home and the white van is visible. It's from across a yard, at a distance at which it's difficult to make out clothing or distinguishing characteristics. #WestsTrial

"Do you know if any of the individuals were carrying children that day?" Torres Stallings asked. Ryan said it didn't appear so. She asked if he knew for sure. He said no. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked Ryan if he contacted a neighbor who is seen in the video after the van pulls away. Ryan said he doesn't know if anyone asked that neighbor if they saw 6 children enter the van. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is going to show a second video. Ryan said he watched this one, too. It's from the same camera, same angle. #WestsTrial

The video shows a van pull up, people get out. Torres Stallings asked again if he knows if anyone was carrying a child. Ryan said no. #WestsTrial

Ryan testified he watched those two videos on Dec. 27, 2020. He said he didn't know the first video Torres Stallings played had been digitally enhanced by the FBI, and doesn't know if other videos were enhanced. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 2
DAY NINE - April 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

(Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead counsel for Jacqueline West, continues the cross-examination of Bakersfield police Detective John Ryan)

Torres Stallings is going to play video from Dec. 21, 2020, the day the boys were reported missing. It's loading now. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he went to another residence where he got access to security footage but was not able to view it on Dec. 27, 2020. He doesn't know if it was continuous footage. He said the homeowner was not able to access it because he wasn't home. #WestsTrial

It wasn't until later that they got access. Ryan said he doesn't know if anyone else received a statement from the homeowner, Robert Avelar, saying a Black woman had driven through the desert area that night. #WestsTrial

At the West home, Ryan said he saw fingerprints on a sliding glass door in the back. He said he doesn't know if anyone grabbed that evidence. #WestsTrial

Asked if he knows of any other smudge marks around the home, Ryan said no. He said it was less than a week from the reported disappearance he saw the marks on the glass door. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he saw the children's rooms, very few toys. He said he didn't see toothbrushes. He said he was told a used diaper was found a year later at the home. He said he saw children's clothes of various sizes, 1 or 2 Christmas presents for Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

Moving back to the surveillance footage from Dec. 21. It's taken from the same camera as the footage shown from Dec. 19, 2020. Torres Stallings is going to play it now. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings has pointed to a shadow in the backyard of the West home, an individual who has popped up. The video continues to play. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings has paused the video. "You can clearly see someone, or something, moving back there, correct?" she asked. "Yes," Ryan said. The video has resumed. #WestsTrial

Ryan agrees, under questioning, that the individual moves to an area where you can't see them, then comes back. He agrees there is a light that turns on in the West house. He said he doesn't know if that light was a motion sensor light. #WestsTrial

A vehicle is seen leaving a nearby residence. Ryan said he doesn't know whose vehicle that is. #WestsTrial

Some lights are seen flickering and a car drives by. "Whose car is that?" Torres Stallings asked. "I have no idea," Ryan said. #WestsTrial

The video has been paused as it's time for the court's 15-minute break. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 3
DAY NINE - April 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Back in session with Torres Stallings continuing to show the video and Detective John Ryan back on the stand. #WestsTrial

There is movement by the front door near the van, Ryan confirmed. #WestsTrial

The van's lights turn on and it leaves the house. #WestsTrial

The video has ended. #WestsTrial

Ryan confirmed he watched these videos on Dec. 27, 2020. This is the first day he's watched them since that day, he said. #WestsTrial

When he interviewed Jacqueline West and mentioned surveillance video, he went off a statement made to him by Officer Brian Hansen, Ryan said. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he did not review that video or go to the home where it came from to see how far it was from the West home. He did not ask to see it. #WestsTrial

Ryan testified he has never watched the video from that home. #WestsTrial

"Obvious differences" in the Wests' statements were that one said the grandma had been transported by them, the other said they didn't, Ryan said. Regarding the disappearance he said their statements about closing the back gate were different. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked if he was keeping an open mind while interviewing Jacqueline. Ryan said he was, then said the first interview was to lock her into a statement. #WestsTrial

Ryan said there were times he left the interviews. He left the room because he needed more details before going back in, he said. After those 5 minutes getting briefed, he then tried to lock Jacqueline into a statement. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith has asked for a quick sidebar before the next video is played. #WestsTrial

They're back. Torres Stallings asked if part of the 5-minute conversation he had with Hansen included what the plan was when they went in to interview Jacqueline. Ryan said yes. He said they didn't discuss interrogation tactics. #WestsTrial

Ryan said he's aware Hansen touched Jacqueline on the leg and small of her back. He said he didn't tell Hansen to do that. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings said Ryan stormed out of the room when Jacqueline said she regretting calling police. Ryan said he walked out. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked Ryan if he remembered telling Jacqueline he would apologize if he was wrong about her. Ryan said yes. "I'm going to hold you to that," Torres Stallings said, ending her questioning. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith objected, arguing Torres Stallings was argumentative, and there was no question pending. Judge Brehmer sustained the objection. #WestsTrial

Smith is again questioning Ryan. #WestsTrial

Ryan said, other than calling 911, the Wests said they didn't call anyone else. Ryan has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 4
DAY NINE - April 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Jeffery Cecil has been called to the stand. He's the crime lab supervisor for the Bakersfield Police Department. He's been with the department 23 years. #WestsTrial

He takes photos of crime scenes, collects evidence. #WestsTrial

He went to the West home to help with the search and collect evidence, Cecil said. They had ground-penetrating radar that can see anomalies in the ground. He said it's like a lawnmower that's pushed over the ground. #WestsTrial

"I did seize any items of evidence," Cecil said. Smith ended questioning. #WestsTrial

Under cross-examination by Torres Stallings, Cecil said "anomalies" could mean disturbances in the ground, or human remains. It can find pipes, rocks, old plants. #WestsTrial

Cecil said he doesn't believe he fingerprinted anything that day. He doesn't recall anyone asking him to lift fingerprints from a glass sliding door. Torres Stallings ended her questioning. #WestsTrial

Cecil said the ground penetrating radar was also used at another location. Nothing was located there either, he said. He's now being questioned by Victor Nasser, an attorney for Trezell West. #WestsTrial

Nasser ended questioning. Cecil has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 5
DAY NINE - April 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Destinie Martinez has been called to the stand. She's a police lab technician at BPD. #WestsTrial

Her primary duties are to document crimes scenes. #WestsTrial

She takes photos of the scene first, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Smith is going to show photos Martinez took on Dec. 29, 2020. #WestsTrial

The first photos are of the Wests' white van. #WestsTrial

The next photos are of the Wests' home, both exterior and interior. #WestsTrial

She's going over each of the photos she took, of the living room, bathroom, bedrooms, closets. #WestsTrial

Martinez took multiple photos of the backyard, which is mostly dirt. #WestsTrial

There were presents with tags identifying them for Orrin and Orson, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Fluid used to detect the presence of blood was applied in multiple areas, including bedrooms and bathrooms. Nothing was located, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess until 1:30, when Martinez will resume testifying. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 17, 2023

Day Nine of West Boys Trial opens with detective on the stand

Day nine in the trial of Jacquiline and Trezell West got underway Monday morning. Detective John Ryan took the stand to continue his testimony from last week.

www.turnto23.com

Detective John Ryan took the stand to continue his testimony from last week. On Friday, Det. Ryan testified that when looking for surveillance video of the Wests’ California City home he found video of the day Trezell and Jacqueline West took their children to stay with Trezell’s parents on December 19, 2020. Ryan said in the video, he only saw four children get into the van.

West Trial Day 9: Defense tears into detective over Jacqueline West interview

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — After establishing Bakersfield police Detective John Ryan had never conducted a missing child investigation that didn’t involve a runaway and hadn’t r…

www.kget.com

After establishing Bakersfield police Detective John Ryan had never conducted a missing child investigation that didn’t involve a runaway and hadn’t reviewed video or transcripts of earlier interviews with a California City couple who reported their children missing, a defense attorney honed in on his interrogation technique.

Attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings, focusing on how Ryan questioned Jacqueline West, her client, during an interview at California City police headquarters, ripped through a series of questions: Did he tell Jacqueline West she would lose her family, friends, husband and house? “Yes,” Ryan said.

Raising her voice, Torres Stallings asked if he repeatedly told West her other children would be taken away, and that jurors would find her guilty at trial? “Yes,” Ryan said.

One last question: Did he promise to apologize to West if he was wrong? “Yes,” Ryan said.

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Torres Stallings said as she spun away, telling the court she had no further questions.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 1
DAY NINE - April 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

New thread for the afternoon session of the West trial. Destinie Martinez, police lab technician, is back on the stand being questioned by prosecutor Eric Smith. #WestsTrial

Martinez said she took swabs from a steering wheel and car seat to try to get DNA evidence. #WestsTrial

Five car seats were seized from the Wests' van, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Smith is displaying photos of the car seats. #WestsTrial

Swabs were taken of the car seats and were tagged for evidence. #WestsTrial

In this line of questioning, Martinez is identifying each car seat and giving the tag number for the swab taken of each seat. #WestsTrial

Receipts were seized from inside the van, Martinez said. One is from Superior Grocers, another from Dollar General. #WestsTrial

Mattress pad covers and blankets were seized from the bedrooms, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Martinez is identifying the items from the evidence numbers they were given. #WestsTrial

More photos were taken and other items seized on a subsequent visit, Martinez said. This was on Jan. 5, 2022. #WestsTrial

A diaper was seized in the classroom part of the residence and booked as evidence, she said. #WestsTrial

Surveillance video was obtained from the Dollar General listed on the receipt in the Wests' van. #WestsTrial

The dates of the video requested were from four days in September 2020 from the Dollar General on Cottonwood Road, Martinez said. Smith ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead counsel for Jacqueline West, has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 29, 2020, when Martinez was at the home seizing evidence, there were at least 4 or 5 other officers with her, she said. #WestsTrial

Before arriving at the home, Martinez knew there were 2 missing boys and BPD had taken over the case and search warrants were going to be served. She said her job was to seize items they thought could be important. #WestsTrial

Martinez said they were at the home at least an hour to 90 minutes. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is asking about spraying the Blue Star solution -- the chemical that reveals traces of blood -- in the home. Martinez said she sprays it all over the carpet, floors, countertop, pretty much everywhere. #WestsTrial

Martinez did not spray the chemical in the van. #WestsTrial

A diaper on the floor of a bathroom and trash in a small receptacle were not seized Dec. 29, 2020, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

No blankets in the laundry room were seized by her, Martinez said. No fingerprints were taken that day, she said. #WestsTrial

The case was being treated as a homicide investigation as early as Dec. 29, 2020. A red sticker saying "homicide" was placed on bags containing evidence. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 2
DAY NINE - April 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

(Cross-examination of Destinie Martinez, police lab technician, continues by Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead counsel for Jacqueline West.)

Martinez is describing transfer DNA -- skin cells left behind when a person touches something. The car seats and other items were swabbed for transfer DNA. #WestsTrial

All of the car seat handles, straps and areas where the head and legs would be were swabbed, Martinez said. She did that for all 5 car seats seized that day. #WestsTrial

The swabs are placed in a cold area for preservation, Martinez said. #WestsTrial

Martinez testified she doesn't know what type of air regulation or if there was any contamination to a diaper seized from the home a year later. #WestsTrial

Martine went to the house three times. Once for the search warrant, a second time when pruning shears were located and a third time when the diaper was seized. #WestsTrial

Martinez testified the pruning shears had not been seized prior to her taking them in January 2021. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings has finished and Victor Nasser, an attorney for Trezell West, has begun questioning. #WestsTrial

Martinez testified she took a series of photos before the search and then after. He finished questioning and Martinez has been excused. #WestsTrial

Martinez testified she took a series of photos before the search and then after. He finished questioning and Martinez has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 3
DAY NINE - April 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Tammie Sullivan has been called to the stand. She works with Kern County search and rescue. She trains with the K-9s. #WestsTrial

One dog does human remains detection and "any human scent" searches. It's an Australian Shepherd named Sadie. #WestsTrial

Sullivan is testifying to the training the dog undergoes for human remains searches. #WestsTrial

On the evening of Dec. 21, 2020, Sullivan went to Cal City. She believes she got the call around 7 p.m. She went with other people, there was another dog handler. #WestsTrial

Sadie showed no interest in the white Chevy van, the side yard -- a vacant lot -- and the desert area during a 2-mile search. Sadie located no human scent of significance. #WestsTrial

She returned to the home on Dec. 23, 2020. Sadie started searching in the backyard then in the house. She "showed no interest" when in the house. #WestsTrial

Sadie showed interest in the side gate into the backyard. In two other areas of the backyard she showed no interest. Two inches were scraped off of two mounds in the backyard and Sadie showed interest then, too, Sullivan said. #WestsTrial

Smith is now going to play video of the search conducted Dec. 23, 2020 by Sullivan and Sadie. Transcripts are being handed to the jury. #WestsTrial

The video has been played. Sullivan said the way the wind was blowing, it took the scenet and blew it into the corner of the house and up. Sadie smelled something but couldn't locate where it was coming from, she said. #WestsTrial

In the second video, Sadie lays down on the dirt in the yard. That's an "alert," Sullivan said. "When she laid down on the mound, that's her alert when she locates something," Sullivan said. "Something" means human remains. It could be blood, bones or fluid. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. The FBI dug up the yard but didn't find human remains. #WestsTrial

Timothy Hennessy, lead counsel for Trezell West, noted Sadie in the second video got distracted by another dog barking. Sullivan said that's correct. #WestsTrial

Sadie isn't trained to identify the scent of a particular person, can only identify if a person was present, Sullivan said. #WestsTrial

Sadie can't tell when traces of blood, bone or fluid were left, Sullivan said. #WestsTrial

The first night she was there, there were so many people in the backyard it was "very possible" the scent could have been contaminated, she said. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess for 15 minutes. #WestsTrial