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

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 3
DAY ELEVEN - April 19, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The jury is back after a break this morning in the trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West, charged with murder in the deaths of adopted sons Orrin, 4, and Orson, 3. #WestsTrial

Laura Aguirre has been called to the stand. She lives on Lotus Lane in Bakersfield, has been there 11 years. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith is questioning her. #WestsTrial

Near the end of 2020, she spoke with a woman who testified earlier today to seeing a couple throw something in the trash at the apartment complex where the Wests lived. #WestsTrial

Aguirre testified she told the woman maybe something from a party was thrown away. She said the woman was shook up. #WestsTrial

Aguirre said this woman was crying and panicking and said they heard a "really bad noise." #WestsTrial

Smith is displaying a diagram of Casa Loma Apartments on Lotus Lane and asking what building Aguirre lived in at the time. The Wests lived at the complex until moving to Cal City in September 2020. #WestsTrial

Aguirre testified she recognizes a photo of Trezell West, he lived somewhere behind her apartment. #WestsTrial

Aguirre said she didn't see him often, he was always walking with a stick, saw him throw diapers away. Shown a photo of Jacqueline West, Aguirre said she didn't really remember her. #WestsTrial

Aguirre said she remembers watching the news and seeing Orrin and Orson had been reported missing near the end of 2020. #WestsTrial

Aguirre said another resident called her and said the Wests were the people she had seen near the apartment trash bin. #WestsTrial

The Wests had a van, Aguirre said, and they parked it in a vacant spot, not their own parking space. #WestsTrial

Aguirre testified she saw Trezell sometimes while walking her dog but never paid much attention. #WestsTrial

Looking at an overhead image of the complex, Aguirre showed where she lived, the Wests lived and where the woman who reported seeing the Wests dump something in the trash lived. #WestsTrial

Aguirred testified the woman called her shaking and crying on Sept. 19, 2020, because she saw the couple dump something. #WestsTrial

Cross-examination is being conducted by Fatima Rodriguez, one of Jacqueline West's attorneys. #WestsTrial

She asked a few quick questions then ended, now Timothy Hennessy, lead counsel for Trezell, is questioning Aguirre. #WestsTrial

Aguirre confirmed the dumpster are big, metal, and can be loud when something is tossed in them. #WestsTrial

Until the Wests appeared on the news months later, the woman who contacted her didn't know who they were, Aguirre said. Aguirre has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 4
DAY ELEVEN - April 19, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Alfredo Bayaca, who began testifying yesterday, has been recalled to the stand. He works at the Kern Regional Crime Lab. #WestsTrial

During his testimony yesterday, Bayaca said he had been asked to process the Wests' white van for evidence. #WestsTrial

His main duty was to take photos, Bayaca said. #WestsTrial

Smith is displaying photos Bayaca took of the exterior of the van. #WestsTrial

Now Smith is showing photos of the van with the door open and its interior. Bayaca testified he wore gloves while taking photos. #WestsTrial

"I tried to photograph as much of the van as possible," Bayaca said. #WestsTrial

Among the items seen in the van are child car seats. #WestsTrial

There are 3 rows of seats behind the driver's seat. #WestsTrial

Bayaca said he didn't seize evidence when he did the initial vehicle exam. #WestsTrial

Bayaca also took photos of contents taken from each area of the van -- driver's side area, front passenger area, etc. There are bags, loose change, cups. #WestsTrial

Bayaca said he was instructed to look for pools of blood, evidence of foul play. #WestsTrial

Bayaca worked with another member of the crime lab going over the van. Chemicals were sprayed to look for blood evidence, he said. #WestsTrial

There was some positive reaction to one of the chemicals near the end of the van, but the spots were so small they didn't collect it. They were looking for large amounts of blood, Bayaca said. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning and Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead counsel for Jacqueline West, has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Bayaca said the other crime lab worker took notes and wrote a report about their examination of the van. #WestsTrial

The van came in at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2020, to be processed, Bayaca said. #WestsTrial

The van was driven to their location by a Cal City police officer, Bayaca said. #WestsTrial

Bayaca confirmed while processing the van they were given info about what was happening in Cal City. #WestsTrial

Bayaca testified if they get a vehicle and know the victims were in their earlier they look for evidence of foul play such as large pools of blood. An officer told him the van was the Wests' family van and used by all the children. #WestsTrial

The child car seats were removed but not the actual seats of the van, Bayaca said. #WestsTrial

The Bluestar chemical sprayed to detect signs of blood was used all over the van, Bayaca said. They began processing the van at 4:30 p.m. and ended at 7:45 p.m., he said. #WestsTrial

Bayaca said Bluestar can reveal the presence of blood even if a person tried to clean it. #WestsTrial

Bayaca said he was also looking for receipts related to the incident but didn't find anything. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked about smudge marks on a window of the van. Bayaca said he didn't take any fingerprint evidence off the van. #WestsTrial

Bayaca said the smudge marks on the van's windows may have been made by a hand. #WestsTrial

One in the van was a diaper but Bayaca said he doesn't know if it was used. He said he did not seize it. #WestsTrial

Baby wipes in the van were not seized, Bayaca said. Torres Stallings ended her questioning. #WestsTrial

Hennessy has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Bayaca said the chemicals used in the van don't confirm there is blood, but that there may be blood present. If there's a positive reaction the evidence will be taken to determine if it is in fact blood. #WestsTrial

The chemicals can react to things that are not blood, he said. Hennessy finished his questionign and Bayaca has been excused. #WestsTrial

Court will not be in session this afternoon, tomorrow, Friday and Monday. The trial resumes Tuesday. #WestsTrial

The jury will be traveling to locations in Bakersfield this afternoon and in California City tomorrow. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 19, 2023

West Trial Day 11: Woman unsettled by September 2020 incident​

[...]

Laura Aguirre on Wednesday — the 11th day of trial — testified she has lived at the Casa Loma Apartments on Lotus Lane for over a decade. The Wests lived there until moving to a house in California City in near the end of September 2020.

Aguirre said she received a call from someone who had been at the complex who was “crying and panicking” about hearing a loud noise and seeing a couple near a large metal trash bin. The upset person described hearing a “really bad noise.”

After the Wests reported Orrin and Orson missing about, that person again contacted Aguirre. The person told her the Wests were the two she saw near the trash bin, Aguirre said.

[...]

The jury on Wednesday afternoon was scheduled to travel to sites of relevance to the case in Bakersfield, and on Thursday will spend the entire day in California City. The trial will resume Tuesday.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 19, 2023

Woman says sighting of Wests in September 2020 left her fearful​

While she was visiting, Salas testified she heard a loud noise outside and went to check. She then saw a couple walking away from the dumpster carrying an ice chest and assumed the noise she heard must have been something they’d thrown away.

Salas testified that she called her friend who lived at the apartments, Laura Aguirre. She said she did this because she felt fearful and that it “didn’t sit well with her.”

Aguirre also testified Wednesday, saying that when Salas called her that night, she was panicked and crying. She said she tried to comfort Salas and told her people are always near that dumpster.

The evening wasn’t brought up again until later, when Aguirre said Salas called her claiming she saw the couple on the news regarding Orrin and Orson’s disappearance. Salas testified Wednesday that when she saw Trezell and Jacqueline in the news coverage, she remembered they were the couple she saw back in September. She called the police to tell her was she remembered in January 2021.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 19, 2023

West Trial Day 11: A Casa Loma Apartments neighbor testifies about a loud noise she heard​

[...]

The defense tried to show Del Carmen’s testimony today was inconsistent with what she said back in 2022 during a police interview.

Rodriguez said, "Do you remember telling law enforcement you never saw her (Jacqueline's) face?" Del Carmen said she saw Jacqueline’s face. Rodriguez asked Del Carmen if she remembered telling law enforcement on January 7, 2021, that there wasn’t enough light to see the man and woman’s faces at the dumpster. She said she doesn’t remember telling them that. She said maybe the translator misunderstood her or translated it incorrectly. She said a light came on at the dumpster and she could see Trezell and Jacqueline very clearly. Rodriguez asked her why she lied to lane enforcement that she didn’t see the man’s and woman’s faces and that it was too dark. Del Carmen said maybe she was nervous.

[...]

Criminalist Alfredo Bayaca testified again. He described to attorneys the pictures he took of Trezell’s van, on December 23, 2020. He looked for blood or signs of foul play in the van, but didn't find any.

Ralph Mosely testified. He's the biological father of Orson, birth name Classic, the younger of the two boys. He said he visited Orson once in 2017 or 2018. He went to California City about three days after he saw on the news the boys were reported missing. He searched for the boys near the house with his wife and close friends. Mosely said he never talked to Trezell and Jacqueline and did not take Orrin and Orson from the Wests.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 19, 2023

West trial: Witness recalls late September 2020 night​

A loud sound startled Maria del Carmen Noriega Salas as she cleaned her daughter’s Casa Loma apartments very late at night nearly three years ago.

It sounded like someone threw something inside a metal dumpster, Salas testified in Kern County Superior Court Wednesday, while adding she saw Trezell and Jacqueline West, who are accused of murder, emerging from the trash cans on Sept. 19, 2020. This contention was heavily disputed by Jacqueline West’s defense attorneys, who sowed doubt about Salas’ recollection of this night.

[...]

Salas walked outside, she said, and saw Trezell and Jacqueline walking away slowly, carrying a blue chest with a white lid. They were laughing, she testified.

[...]

“I do recall that day very well,” Salas said. “I cannot forget it.”

The relevance of this evidence and what it may suggest remains unclear.

Jurors went to the Casa Loma Apartments for a jury view Wednesday afternoon. They will be in California City Thursday for another jury view.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

West Trial: The risks and rewards of jury views​

[...]

Taking jurors outside the courtroom for “jury views” is a relatively rare move, one that carries risks a judge must weigh and determine are worth taking to let the jury see in-person alleged crime scenes and other locations of interest, said local attorneys Kyle J. Humphrey and Jared M. Thompson, of Humphrey & Thompson, who are not connected to the case.

[...]

Jurors aren’t allowed to ask questions or even speak among themselves at a jury view, Thompson said. Doing so runs the risk of them deliberating over what they see.

Thompson said he thinks that’s why judges often deny jury views — there’s the risk of prejudice or error and other factors that can come up on appeal.

[...]

“Whoever is making the motion (for a jury view), it’s got to be detailed and it has to have pretty compelling reasons for a judge to grant it because no matter where it’s at you’re going to run into those kinds of security issues, geographical issues, difficulty in maintaining a secure perimeter,” Thompson said.

A judge may determine maps, photos, diagrams or other evidence will give the jury an accurate depiction of a scene.

[...]

Humphrey said there are times when talking about the dynamics of how something took place and where it happened is no substitute to seeing the location for yourself. In a case involving a shooting, for example, there may be walls or other obstructions at the scene that show a defendant could not have shot someone from the location a witness placed them at.

“Other times I think it’s scary for the defense to do it because you simply have no idea what the jury’s going to be looking at while they’re there,” Humphrey said. “You have an idea of what you want them to pick up from the scene, that you’ll argue later, but people form their memories for all kinds of reasons outside the control of the judge or the courts and they could walk away with something that had nothing to do with the dispute in the case and make a decision based on that.”

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 24, 2023

West trial: Testimony resumes Tuesday in Cal City boys' adoptive parents' murder trial​

After roughly a four-day break in witness testimony, jurors will resume hearing evidence Tuesday in the murder trial of the California City toddlers' adoptive parents' murder trial.

[...]

On Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, jurors conducted a jury viewing to see the locations prosecutor Eric Smith has presented in court. Jurors went to the Casa Loma Apartments in Bakersfield and spent Thursday in California City.

In eastern Kern, jurors visited the Wests' house, their backyard from where the defendants say the boys went missing, the neighborhood and the "surrounding area," according to a Superior Court spokeswoman.

[...]

The court is scheduled to hear testimony in the case only Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West resumes this morning with testimony from Apryl Brown, a criminalist at the Kern Regional Crime Lab. #WestsTrial

Brown helped process the Wests van in December 2020. She was told to look for blood stains in the vehicle. #WestsTrial

Brown testified she applied a chemical to the interior of the van to detect possible blood while another person photographed the van. There were very few, very tiny positive reactions on the bumper of the van, she said. #WestsTrial

There were four rows of seats and a total of five car seats in the van, Brown said. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith is displaying photos of the interior of the van. #WestsTrial

Smith gave Brown an exhibit and asked her to circle the car seats that were not properly secured in the vehicle. #WestsTrial

She circled a car seat on the passenger side of the rear of the vehicle and one on the third row seat. Smith ended his questioning and Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead counsel for Jacqueline West, has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Brown testified the positive reaction of the chemical on the bumper was smaller than a grain of rice. There were three or four spots of that size and they were not swabbed because they didn't appear significant, she said. #WestsTrial

No DNA or fingerprints were taken on the van because they weren't asked for, Brown said. She said it's the family's van so it wouldn't be surprising to have the family's fingerprints or DNA on it. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is going through different methods to secure a car seat. Brown testified she did not determine whether there was a latch system for the car seats or ask law enforcement why the car seats were situated as they were. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings ended her questioning and Victor Nasser, an attorney for Trezell West, has begun cross-examination. Brown testified a color change from the chemical she sprayed on the van doesn't necessarily mean there is blood. It's a screening tool. #WestsTrial

There would have to be followup tests. Nasser ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Smith, on redirect, asked Brown to look at her notes regarding the car seats. On Dec. 23, 2020, she wrote seat on passenger side not secured. She said she meant it wasn't in place, properly in the seat. #WestsTrial

She also wrote middle row car seat was not properly in place, was leaning forward. Smith ended his questioning and Brown has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 2
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

David Loyo has been called to the stand. #WestsTrial

Loyo lives on Lotus Lane, has for the past 5 to 6 years. That's in the same apartment complex where the Wests lived before moving to California City. #WestsTrial

In January 2020, he was aware of Trezell and Jacqueline West living near him, he said. He believes they were already living there when he moved in. #WestsTrial

Loyo testified he had brief contact with the Wests while walking in or out of the apartment complex. He doesn't know how long they lived near him. #WestsTrial

Loyo said he saw three or four kids with the Wests. His kids would wave hello to the West children. #WestsTrial

"They never went outside," Loyo said of the West children. #WestsTrial

Loyo said his children would play outside during the summer. They never played with the West children because they were indoors, he said. This was pre-COVID. #WestsTrial

The Wests' van was always parked near the back of the complex instead of in the assigned spot, Loyo said. #WestsTrial

Loyo said he became aware they had moved because saw the blinds open and the apartment was empty. "I didn't see them moving out." He said he remembers one day they were there and then they were gone. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. Torres Stallings is asking about his employment at Bolthouse. His hours in 2020 were midnight to 8 a.m. He slept during the day, four to five hours, from 8 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. #WestsTrial

Loyo acknowledged he went on a podcast to talk about this case. He went there first to give his statement and didn't talk to law enforcement until March 2022. #WestsTrial

Loyo testified he told law enforcement he saw four to five kids. He said he wasn't aware Jacqueline West's mother lived in a nearby apartment, and didn't see that apartment with any children. #WestsTrial

"Can you even give us a time frame?" Torres Stallings asked of when he noticed the Wests had moved. Loyo said he's not good with times. Regarding his YouTube interview, he was asked about how often he saw the kids, etc. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings ended her questioning and Nasser has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Nasser asked a couple quick questions and ended. Loyo has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 3
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

David Hunter has been called to the stand. He's employed by the FBI, has been there 12 years. He's a special agent in the Bakersfield field office. #WestsTrial

Hunter primarily conducts investigations regarding crimes against children. He said he assists local agencies on occasion. #WestsTrial

Cal City in December 2020 asked for assistance from the FBI's evidence response team to collect evidence, Hunter said. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 23, 2020, Hunter went to the Wests' home to search the backyard. "We conducted a search of the ground of the property," Hunter said. They used "probes," to poke into the soil for depressions or hollow areas in the ground. #WestsTrial

There were 2 locations that had loose soil or hollow areas, Hunter said. Flags were placed there and they were excavated, he said. They obtained soil samples. No human remains were found. #WestsTrial

The FBI took digging tools from a shed on the property and gave them to local law enforcement for analysis, Hunter said. #WestsTrial

Eight items were seized and turned over to Cal City police. Smith ended his questioning and Timothy Hennessy, lead counsel for Trezell West, has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

The FBI by May 2021 was in a secondary role, and Hunter said he recalls receiving a report of a sighting of the boys in Texas. #WestsTrial

The location was Arlington, Texas, Hunter said. The information was passed on to Bakersfield law enforcement, he said. #WestsTrial

Hennessy asked about a license plate and Hunter said he didn't personally follow up on that but provided it to the Bakersfield Police Department. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is now questioning Hunter. #WestsTrial

Hunter said he was on the evidence response team on Dec. 23, 2020. Torres Stallings said the search warrant was issued at 8 p.m. and gave him a copy. Hunter said the warrant indicates the time the warrant was executed, not obtained. #WestsTrial

Hunter said he was provided info that a K-9 had been at the location but doesn't recall that an officer disturbed the ground before they got there. #WestsTrial

The pole used to prove the ground is made of fiberglass and T-shaped and it's pressed into the ground. It's just to find if the ground was disturbed, any hollowness under the surface, Hunter said. #WestsTrial

"Nothing that appeared to be a human remain to the visual eye" was found, Hunter said. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 29, 2020, the FBI did not "stop" investigating the case, but a report handed him by Torres Stallings indicates they stopped investigating electronic evidence, Hunter said. The FBI was in a secondary role. #WestsTrial

Hunter said he has investigated missing children cases before, but couldn't give Torres Stallings an exact number or how much of his job is taken up with that. #WestsTrial

Hunter acknowledged they can investigate crimes across state lines. Torres Stallings ended her questioning and he has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 4
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Ryan Hulse has been called to the stand. He's an officer with California City police. #WestsTrial

He went to the Wests' home on Aspen Avenue on the night they were reported missing, Dec. 21, 2020. #WestsTrial

Hulse testified he drove around the area to see if there were any children matching the boys' description. He spent a couple hours doing this. #WestsTrial

Hulse said he found no signs of Orrin or Orson West. #WestsTrial

Hulse said he wrote search warrants for the home, van and DNA samples from Trezell and Jacqueline West. #WestsTrial

Smith has displayed photos of the envelopes of the DNA swabs taken from the Wests. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. Torres Stallings asked if he spoke to any residents regarding the disappearance. Hulse said he didn't, nor did he look for homes with surveillance cameras. #WestsTrial

Hulse said he didn't write a report of his actions on Dec. 21, 2020, nor did he tell anyone where he was driving as he looked for the boys. He said he doesn't remember what streets he drove. #WestsTrial

Hulse testified when he first arrived he got a quick story about what happened then drove around looking for the boys in the southeastern portion of the city. "Most of 'em," he said when Nasser asked if he drove up and down every street. #WestsTrial

Hulse has been excused. #WestsTrial

The next witness will testify remotely. The court is taking a 15-minute break to get set up. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 5
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Court is back in session. Megan Silverlake is testifying via Zoom. She's a field photographer with the FBI. #WestsTrial

She also receives and can enhance video and audio. #WestsTrial

Silverlake testified she received video related this case. There were 3 videos she was asked to enhance. #WestsTrial

She received the videos April 13, 2021. #WestsTrial

Silverlake said she changed the contrast and lightening and added a sharpening filter for all 3 videos. #WestsTrial

Silverlake sent the files back to the agent who requested them. #WestsTrial

The videos Silverlake worked on have been admitted into evidence and prosecutor Eric Smith ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Alekxia Torres Stallings is asking about the work done on the videos. Silverlake said they're taught to look at the image and, if they can make it clearer, save that image. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked if there were other methods used to enhance a darker image as daylight went to dusk. Silverlake testified she used more intense levels for that, to potentially see any objects. #WestsTrial

Silverlake enhanced 2 videos from Dec. 19, 2020, and one from Dec. 21, 2020. Torres Stallings ended her questioning and Victor Nasser is questioning Silverlake. #WestsTrial

For brightness and contrast she uses the software manually to make it as clear as possible, she said. Silverlake has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 6
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Austin Huynh has been called to the stand. He's a forensic lab technician at the Kern Regional Crime Lab. #WestsTrial

Huynh currently works in the DNA unit. #WestsTrial

Huynh was shown photos he took of a sealed evidence bag. He said the bag was properly sealed when he received it. #WestsTrial

One of the items was a diaper. Huynh said he photographed it and swabbed it for DNA. He swabbed on the inner linings. #WestsTrial

The swab was cut and placed in a tube and labeled with a lab number for later DNA analysis, Huynh said. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Huynh has been excused. #WestsTrial

The court is taking a brief break to set up for the next witness. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 7
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Ryan Dean, Orrin and Orson's biological mother, is testifying via Zoom. #WestsTrial

She named the children Cinsere and Classic, and the Wests renamed them Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

Dean said Cinsere (Orrin) lived with her for 3 months, until he was taken. Classic (Orson) was taken from her after a few weeks. #WestsTrial

Dean said she came to know a foster parent named Latoya who gave her access to the children through visitation at an office. She had visitations 2 to 3 times a week, she said. #WestsTrial

Dean testified the visitations lasted about 8 or 9 months. She said Orrin was happy, smart, funny, loved music. Orson also was happy, she said. #WestsTrial

Dean said she did not become aware the children were being adopted. "After all of this" she learned they had been adopted. #WestsTrial

Dean said she never went to the Wests' apartment or had any visitations outside the ones with Department of Human Services. She had no contact info for the Wests. #WestsTrial

Dean said she met attempts to get the boys back. She took parenting classes and other steps. #WestsTrial

She learned the boys were missing after hearing from someone then seeing it on the news. Their photos were on the news, Dean said. She hadn't realized their names had been changed. #WestsTrial

Dean went to Cal City to get answers. She asked the Wests what happened and they "lied to me" Dean said. That comment was stricken from the record. #WestsTrial

Dean said she had never been to Cal City before that day. #WestsTrial

She helped search the area, Dean said. She had contact with Cal City police. #WestsTrial

Dean testified she provided a DNA swab to Bakersfield police detectives and gave them a cellphone number. #WestsTrial

The BPD eventually became the lead agency on the investigation. #WestsTrial

Asked if she took the boys or asked someone else to, Dean said no. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. Hennessy has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Hennessy asked Dean if she remembered telling Latonda the boys went missing early the morning after the disappearance. Dean was unsure at first, then confirmed that and said she learned the address of the Wests from the news. #WestsTrial

Dean said she's "back and forth" from Texas. She lives at an apartment in Arlington, Texas. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is now questioning Dean. She said Orrin was taken from her because he had a broken leg. #WestsTrial

Dean testified she was not aggressive or confrontational with Jacqueline West during a visitation. #WestsTrial

"Have you ever lied to law enforcement?" Torres Stallings asked. Yes, Dean said. #WestsTrial

Through redirect, Dean testified she wasn't home at the time Orrin's leg was broken. Dean has been excused. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess until 1:30

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 1
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Court is back in session with another witness testifying via Zoom. This witness is the sister of Jacqueline West. She now lives in Oregon, where she went to escape an abuser, she said. #WestsTrial

When she moved to Oregon the Wests had only their first two children, she said. #WestsTrial

The sister said she became aware her mother was fostering children, and she also became aware Jacqueline and Trezell became foster parents. #WestsTrial

The sister said she only came back once to Bakersfield to visit after moving to Oregon. It was in 2017. #WestsTrial

The sister said she never met in person any of the children the Wests adopted. #WestsTrial

She and Jacqueline exchanged messages on Facebook. When it came to photos, Jacqueline mostly sent her photos of their dogs. #WestsTrial

The sister identified a photo of multi-colored wooden blocks as something she bought for the children. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 17, 2020, the sister called Jacqueline West for a video chat. She recalls seeing the eldest child and "a lot of little heads." She was singing happy birthday to someone but wasn't paying attention to everyone in the video call. #WestsTrial

The sister said she and her children were singing happy birthday to the Wests' eldest child. Smith ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Fatima Rodriguez, an attorney for Jacqueline West, has begun cross-examination. #WestsTrial

Rodriguez is asking about a call the sister had with law enforcement which was recorded. A BPD officer asked her questions about Orrin and Orson, including the last time she saw them, Rodriguez said. The sister said she can't remember the conversation. #WestsTrial

Rodriguez asked if she remembered telling the officer she had a video chat on Dec. 17, 2020 and that she saw 6 kids. The sister said she remembers seeing small children. #WestsTrial

The sister said she became aware Jacqueline was moving in September 2020 because she told her through Facebook. #WestsTrial

Rodriguez ended her questioning. #WestsTrial

On redirect, the sister is saying she's having trouble remembering what she told the grand jury when she testified. #WestsTrial

To almost every question posed by Smith, the sister responds, "I don't remember." She said she can't remember specifically asking for photos of the Wests' children before they were reported missing. #WestsTrial

"Had you ever seen photos the adopted children?" Smith asked. "I saw them afterwards," the sister said. #WestsTrial

The sister said she's been in chemotherapy treatments and "it's really not helping" with her memory. #WestsTrial

The sister has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 2
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Detective Jesse Perez has been called to the stand. He's with the Bakersfield Police Department. #WestsTrial

Perez said he was assigned to look for video and witnesses in the West case, among other things. He focused on the date of the reported disappearance. #WestsTrial

Perez went to Lancaster, Calif. to three major retailing businesses to look for video evidence. The dates were specific to when the disappearance was reported. The businesses were Lowe's, Winco and Costco. #WestsTrial

He observed Trezell West making purchases from Lowe's and Winco and Jacqueline West making purchases from Costco. This was in October 2020. No one was with the Wests. #WestsTrial

Records showed Trezell West in the area of Yokuts Park and he tried to find video to place him there, Perez said. The time frame he looked for didn't have any video available. That was also in October 2020. #WestsTrial

Perez testified he also viewed video from Union and California at what was then a FoodMaxx. #WestsTrial

Perez reviewed Facebook and Instagram data for the profiles belonging to Jacqueline West. She primarily had contact with her sister, Perla Martinez, and her mother Maria Martinez. #WestsTrial

Smith is showing Perez some Facebook records which the detective identified. #WestsTrial

Judge Charles R. Brehmer has called a sidebar. #WestsTrial

The judge and attorneys are back and two exhibits have been admitted. They're Facebook records. #WestsTrial

Perez said the records were for Jacqueline West's account. #WestsTrial

A profile photo for Jacqueline West's account in 2019 shows her with four of the children. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 23, 2020, Jacqueline West sent a message: "Please tell them we love and miss them. The boys need to ask for a lawyer if they want to talk to them again i don't want them twisting whatever they are saying." #WestaTrial

The message was sent to Trezell West's mother and had to do with law enforcement questioning the Wests' four other children, Perez said. #WestsTrial

There were conversation in Spanish on Facebook between Jacqueline West and her mother, Perez said. #WestsTrial

Another photo sent on 2019 on Christmas Day shows Jacqueline West and four children -- Orrin and Orson aren't pictured. #WestsTrial

A photo on Feb. 4, 2020, shows the entire West family, including Orrin and Orson. That photo was sent to Perla Martinez, Perez said. #WestsTrial

On May 22, 2020, Jacqueline West told her sister about an incident with the youngest children in which Orrin ate Orson's food. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West then sent a gif of a woman with her hands up and teeth clenched "as if she was angry or frustrated," Perez said. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West in other messages that day says she believes Orrin and Orson had certain characteristics from their biological parents, Perez said. #WestsTrial

On June 8, 2020, Jacqueline West refers to the "little one's" birthday. "He is a little weird one," she wrote. She says he stands or sits all day. Perez said he found it odd that Jacqueline didn't use the child's name. #WestsTrial

On Sept. 12, 2020, Jacqueline West sent a photo showing four of the children, not Orrin or Orson, according to the records. #WestsTrial

Perez testified he reviewed digital devices for this case. #WestsTrial

In one device he found photos and videos of the children, some from Orrin and Orson in 2020. The date was July 25, 2020. #WestsTrial

The videos appeared to have been taken by the eldest son, showing the children playing with toys. They appeared to have been taken at the Lotus Lane apartment in Bakersfield, Perez said. #WestsTrial

Smith is moving videos into evidence and is going to play them for the jury. #WestsTrial

The first video shows Orrin West playing. It's about 6 minutes long. #WestsTrial

The video was taken on July 25, 2020. #WestsTrial

Perez has identified 3 still images taken. One shows Orrin from the video that was just seen showing Orrin with a toy tow truck. The next photos show Orson West in a diaper. They were all taken July 25, 2020. #WestsTrial

Smith played another video, this one from July 26, 2020, and Orrin and Orson can be seen in the van. #WestsTrial

One of his goals was to find the most recent photo or video of Orrin and Orson, Perez said. #WestsTrial

Perez testified he reviewed several digital devices, there were about 17 or 18. #WestsTrial

On usb drives there were photos of some of the other children but not Orrin or Orson, Perez said. #WestsTrial

Perez testified he was involved in a wiretap during the investigation. #WestsTrial

The wiretap occurred Feb. 24, 2021 to March 14, 2021. #WestsTrial

Perez is explaining how the wiretap works to intercept telephone calls and listen in. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. A 15-minute break has been called by Judge Brehmer. #WestsTrial

The trial is back in session with Jesse Perez back on the stand. He's being cross-examined by Timothy Hennessy, Trezell West's lead attorney. #WestsTrial

Referring to the Facebook records, Perez said the Facebook report is about 4,000 pages. Only a small portion was relevant to the investigation, he said. #WestsTrial

Hennessy asked some clarifying questions about when certain photos were taken then finished. #WestsTrial

On redirect examination, Perez said he was present when DNA swabs were taken of Charles Pettus, the biological father, and others. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning and Perez has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 3
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Bakersfield police Detective Carlos Arvizu has been called to the stand. #WestsTrial

He is a certified Spanish translator with the BPD, Spanish is his first language. #WestsTrial

In December 2020 he went to Maria Martinez's home. She's the mother of Jacqueline West. There was a search warrant for her phone. #WestsTrial

Trezell and Jacqueline West were also at the home, Arvizu said. He was there with several other detectives. #WestsTrial

Arvizu assisted in translating Facebook message between Jacqueline West and her mother. #WestsTrial

On Sept 18, 2020, Jacqueline West tells her mother they're now in California City, Arvizu said. On the same day, she tells her mother they're going to get a U-haul and will clean the apartment because it needs paint. #WestsTrial

Also on the same date, Jacqueline West sends a message to her mother saying they're waiting for Trezell's mother so they can go and do the rest of it. #WestsTrial

On Sept. 19, 2020, Jacqueline wrote "saying that he wants to go to the house but he's not going to sleep," Arvizu said. On the same day she gives the area of the Cal City home.

Later that day she wrote, "We've arrived," Arvizu said. #WestsTrial

On Sept. 20, 2020, Jacqueline West wrote, "We're leaving now," to her mother. Later than days she wrote, "We've arrive," Arvizu said. #WestsTrial

Arvizu testified he listened to wiretapped calls. One appeared that they were trying to get out of Bakersfield pretty quick, he said. #WestsTrial

Arvizu said he recognized the voices involved. He said he had spoken to both Maria Martinez and Jacqueline West. #WestsTrial

Smith is going to play a wiretapped call for the jury. #WestsTrial

The call is dated March 12, 2021. Transcripts will be provided to the jury. The call is in Spanish and the transcript has been translated to English. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. Audience members do not have a copy of the transcript. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked about the call. Arvizu said West was at first speaking to a male in English then in Spanish to her mother. #WestsTrial

Regarding the Facebook messages, Arvizu said he uses a time zone calculator to determine the time when messages were sent. Torres Stallings, asking about the Pacific time, said she's only asking him to do basic math. #WestsTrial

She is asking questions to determine the time the Wests arrived in Cal City on the date in question. #WestsTrial

UTC time is about 7 hours ahead of California time. Torres Stallings ended her questioning. #WestsTrial

Arvizu has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 4
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

BPD Senior Officer Jaime Orozco has been called to the stand. #WestsTrial

One of his duties is to help with wiretap intercepts. He has participated in 4 wiretaps while at BPD and assists in Spanish-English translation. #WestsTrial

He listened to a wiretapped call between Jacqueline West and Maria Martinez. #WestsTrial

The call was pertinent because there was a joke about missing children and people laughed during the call. Either the mother or daughter talked about missing socks and one of them said, "Maybe they will pop up like the missing children," and they laughed, Orozco said. #WestsTrial

This call will now be played for the jury. The call is in Spanish. #WestsTrial

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

Orozco agreed there were 3 topics going on in the conversation. He said he translated the transcript she's holding. #WestsTrial

On page 6 line 3 it says transcribe NetTranscripts. Orozco said that's not him. Torres Stallings said she has not further questions. #WestsTrial

Smith on redirect asked Orozco if he assisted with the translation. He said yes, he's not the only person who reviewed it, but he reviewed it for accuracy and it appeared to be accurate. #WestsTrial

Orozco has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 5
DAY TWELVE - April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

BPD Detective Thomas Hernandez has been called to the stand. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 28, 2020, he went to the Jamison Center to listen to an interview. He was later assigned lead investigator. #WestsTrial

Hernandez has identified certification letters for T-Mobile records. #WestsTrial

He authored warrants for numbers for Maria Martinez, Ryan Dean, and a number they never identified the owner of. #WestsTrial

One number was for Jacqueline West, Hernandez said. #WestsTrial

Hernandez testified he reached out to a company regarding paternity tests for the children and he authored a warrant to obtain those DNA profiles. The profiles were booked into evidence and submitted to the Department of Justice. #WestsTrial

During any missing persons investigation the DOJ asks for DNA samples to compare to any remains that may be found, Hernandez said. He also gave the profiles to the Kern crime lab. #WestsTrial

The DNA results were obtained from a North Carolina company called Labcorp. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess for the day. The trial resumes 9 a.m. tomorrow. #WestsTrial