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

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 3
DAY SEVENTEEN - May 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Detective Jesse Perez has been recalled to the stand. #WestsTrial

Perez previously testified to the Facebook search warrant returns for Jacqueline West. He said video chats on Facebook provide general information. He reviewed records between West and Perla Martinez. Conversations were recorded. #WestsTrial

Smith is going to display the conversation. A video chat occurred Dec. 17, 2020, Perez said. It happened about 1:17 p.m. Another one followed on the same date, a few minutes apart #WestsTrial

Two more video chats occurred on the following days, Perez said. One happened Dec. 22, 2020, at about noon. Another took place the same day at 2:39 p.m. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Under cross-examination by Torres Stallings, Perez said he reviewed all the data between Jacqueline West and Martinez provided by Facebook. She's handing Perez some papers to look over and see if he recognizes them. #WestsTrial

Perez said they appear to be items he reviewed. Smith objected when Torres Stallings sought to have them moved into evidence and a sidebar has been called. #WestsTrial

They're back and Perez has been excused. The exhibit was not entered. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 4
DAY SEVENTEEN - May 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

BPD Sgt. Chad Garrett has been called to the stand. #WestsTrial

Garrett reviewed call detail records and Google accounts in this case. #WestsTrial

Garrett has identified files he reviewed and the information is being projected on a screen. The documents show account change history. #WestsTrial

The email account is for Jacqueline West. Another account change form has been shown for Trezell West. #WestsTrial

The Google information also shows location history, Garrett said. One of the Google accounts had more than 200 deleted location history files, he said. #WestsTrial

The deletion history being shown to the jury is for Jacqueline West, Garrett said.

Between September and December, the Wests had 5 different phone numbers between them, Garrett said. He reviewed call detail records for those numbers. #WestsTrial

Correction, the deleted location history was from Trezell West's email. #WestsTrial

Call detail records are being displayed. #WestsTrial

A call detail analysis report created by Garrett is now being viewed. #WestsTrial

One phone was changed on Dec. 5, 2020. Another was also changed on that date. #WestsTrial

Phones associated with Maria Martinez, Jacqueline West's mother, were also reviewed. #WestsTrial

Garrett is explaining the software used to examine the records, and what different things on the records stand for. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 5, Trezell made a 32-second call to a phone the owner of which was unknown. Later, Trezell called Jacqueline for a 78-second call. The phones connected to different towers, Garrett said, indicating the separation between them. #WestsTrial

These calls were on Dec. 5, 2020. #WestsTrial

At 12:44 p.m. that day Trezell made a phone call to Jacqueline, a 130 second phone call. #WestsTrial

The next call, made at 1:23 p.m., was an outgoing call from Trezell to Jaccqueline. It was a 74-second call, and the devices connected to the same tower, Garrett said. #WestsTrial

A phone number for Maria Martinez, Jacqueline West's mother, got an incoming call from Jacqueline West at 1:31 p.m., Garrett said. #WestsTrial

The next call, still from Dec. 5, was at 1:35 p.m. from Trezell to Jacqueline. It's a 52-second call, Garrett said. The phones connected to different towers. #WestsTrial

A number associated with Maria Martinez made a call to a number the owner of which isn't listed on the document. Then came a call at 2:07 p.m. from Trezell to Jacqueline, 22-second call. Two different towers #WestsTrial

The next call, both devices connected to the same tower during the transaction, Garrett said. The call from Trezell to Jacqueline didn't have any duration of call, Garrett said. #WestsTrial

Maria Martinez called Jacqueline at 2:41 p.m., then at 3:03 p.m., Trezell called Jacqueline. At 3:30 p.m., Trezell called Jacqueline, a 27-second call. Both phones connected to the same tower. #WestsTrial

The next record shows Trezell's phone is in cal City and makes a call at 5:15 p.m., then receives a call three minutes later, Garrett said. At 8:09 p.m., a phone associated with Maria Martinez calls an 877 number. #WestsTrial

Trezell and Jacqueline communicated with each other numerous times between noon and 3:30 p.m. that daylater Trezell's phone was in Cal City, Garrett said. The court is in recess for 15 minutes. #WestsTrial

The trial is back in session with Victor Nasser, an attorney for Trezell West, cross-examining Sgt. Chad Garrett. #WestsTrial

Nasser asked about deleting records and Google's proprietary data, then ended. Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead counsel for Jacqueline West, is asking about old and new numbers for the Wests. #WestsTrial

Garrett said he's aware the Wests' had several phones seized during the investigation and that they used the number associated with Maria Martinez afterward. Garrett has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 5
DAY SEVENTEEN - May 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

BPD Detective Thomas Hernandez, lead investigator of the West case, has been recalled to the stand. #WestsTrial

Hernandez testified he interviewed 70 to 80 people during the investigation. He documented the interviews. He interviewed Jacqueline on July 1, 2021. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith is going to play the interview. #WestsTrial

Smith said the interview is 1 hour, 23 minutes. He started playing it. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West enters the BPD interview room, called the "blue room." She wearing a blue T-shirt with NASA in white letters across the front. #WestsTrial

Again, this interview took place on July 1, 2020. West has an attorney with her. Asked by detectives, West says there is nothing new she's learned that could help the investigation. #WestsTrial

West says Orrin and Orson's biological family knew where they lived at the apartment complex in Bakersfield. She says they would come over and knock and she would not answer. #WestsTrial

An aunt named "TeeTee" watched the children for a week, Jacqueline West says. She says she doesn't know which side of the boys' biological family TeeTee is on. She said she had a contact for TeeTee on her phone but she threw the phone away because it was broken. #WestsTrial

Detective Hernandez asks if there is anything she can provide to identify who TeeTee is, butshe says she doesn't have any info. #WestsTrial

Hernandez asks about closing on the Cal City house, who was present beside the Realtor. She says just the Realtor, her and Trezell and the kids. #WestsTrial

Hernandez asks about getting couches purchased for the home, having pest control brought in. He asks how they paid, who delivered the couches and conducted the pest control. He wants to know everyone who entered the house. #WestsTrial

"Super sweet but then super grumpy," Jacqueline West says with a laugh when asked to describe the personalities of Orrin and Orson. She says they cried often. #WestsTrial

It's possible they were "slightly delayed" Jacqueline says when asked if the boys have disabilities. Orrin didn't like speaking to us, she says. He would go without talking for a while, she says. Same for Orson. #WestsTrial

Were they potty-trained? "Yes and no," Jacqueline says. They wore diapers if on the previous night they wet themselves, she says. #WestsTrial

Hernandez says during some of the searches they found diapers. He says they found diapers in searches out in fields and other areas where they heard the boys might be located. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says Orson wore diapers about once a week. Orrin sometimes wore diapers but hadn't recently. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 19, 2020, Jacqueline West says, they dropped the other kids off with Trezell's grandmother, then went to a grocery store and Dollar General. She says Orrin and Orson were sleeping in the back row of seats in the van. #WestsTrial

Hernandez asks where exactly the boys were seated, and she drew their location on a piece of paper. #WestsTrial

Asked if they returned to Bakersfield with the kids any time before Dec. 19, Jacqueline West says yes, on Dec. 5. Her moms's friend had shelving they were going to pick up but it didn't fit in the van, she says. #WestsTrial

Asked if anyone else helped them move to Cal City, Jacqueline says it was only her and Trezell. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says they didn't stop in any stores on Dec. 5. #WestsTrial

The children were wearing black Nike shoes the day they went missing, Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

Hernandez ask about sleeping arrangements at the Cal City house, and Jacqueline drew where each child slept. #WestsTrial

Another detective in the room is asking about the pest control guy again, how they found him, how often he was supposed to spray, if the children were there when he was at the house. #WestsTrial

Back to Aunt TeetTee, Jacqueline says she took Orrin and Orson for a week in June 2020. Jacqueline says it was only supposed to be for the weekend, but she kept the kids a week. Jacqueline says she thought about calling police, but didn't because they were returned. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says TeeTee would just show up. She says no other biological family showed up, just TeeTee. #WestsTrial

The detectives have left the interview room. It's just Jacqueline and her attorney in the room. #WestsTrial

The detectives have returned. Hernandez is asking about the diapers again. Jacqueline says Orrin and Orson and another of their adopted children sometimes needed them. #WestsTrial

Orrin and Orson wore the same size Luvs diapers, same size clothing, Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

Asked about Dec. 21, 2020, the day the boys went missing, Jacqueline says she was wrapping gifts. #WestsTrial

The video has been paused and court is in recess until 1:30 p.m. #WestsTrial

The jury will return to the courtroom at 1:30 p.m., but Judge Charles R. Brehmer said the audience will not be let in until 1:45. He said there is something the jury will be shown outside the presence of others. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 1
DAY SEVENTEEN - May 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

(Continued testimony of BPD Detective Thomas Hernandez, lead investigator)

The trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West is back in session with an interview being played that was held July 1, 2021 at BPD headquarters. Jacqueline West is being interviewed by Detective Thomas Hernandez and another detective. #WestsTrial

The jury was brought in 15 minutes before the audience. Judge Charles R. Brehmer said the jury examined the make and model of the U-Haul the Wests used when moving from Bakersfield to Cal City. #WestsTrial

The move happened Sept. 18-20, 2020, Jacqueline West says in the interview. #WestsTrial

Hernandez asks her to describe the move, what she did each day. Lots of cleaning and packing, Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

Hernandez says he's trying to figure out if she stayed with the kids, were Orrin and Orson present when the U-Haul was dropped off, her and Trezell's and the kids' movements from the 18-20th -- the days of the move. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says she's not good on dates, has trouble saying where the kids were when the U-Haul was taken back. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says Trezell takes the U-Haul back. She says Wanda West, Trezell's mother-- who was visiting during the move -- may have gone with him. #WestsTrial

Another detective asks if she stayed at home in Cal City the last time the U-Haul was taken. Jacqueline says the last trip they made involved items taken in the van. Who was in the van? Jacqueline can't seem to remember. "It's not that difficult?" a detective says. #WestsTrial

Wanda West has previously testified she never saw Orrin and Orson on the days during the move when she was in Cal City. She testified she thought the boys were with Jacqueline West's mother. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West, however, says in the interview all 6 of her children -- including Orrin and Orson -- were at the Cal City house. #WestsTrial

"Everybody is a suspect," Hernandez tells her. Her, Trezell, Wanda West, everybody. He asks when she got her new phone. Jacqueline West says on her birthday. #WestsTrial

Hernandez says he looked through "a ton of your stuff" and asks if there is some video or photo taken from when they moved to when the kids were reported missing. Jacqueline says she tried to transfer her photos from her old phone to the new one. #WestsTrial

She says she couldn't transfer the folder. She says she would rarely send photos to people. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West says when she fostered the boys she was told not to share photos of them. Hernandez tells her she adopted the boys a year ago. #WestsTrial

Hernandez says there is "a mountain of stuff that needs to be answered." #WestsTrial

He says the kids were gone before they were reported. He references what her other children have said about Orrin and Orson not being seen for weeks. He says there is all this info he's gathered "and it leads back to you and Trezell." #WestsTrial

Jacqueline says what happened was very unfortunate but not their fault. Hernandez says he doesn't see how a 10 year old is going to come up with a story that doesn't differentiate from the details after telling it 4 times. #WestsTrial

Hernandez says something happened to those kids before they were reported missing, he knows it for a fact, and he wants to know what happened. He says maybe it was an accident. He tells her to tell him the truth. #WestsTrial

Hernandez says he knows for a fact on Dec. 19, 2020, Orrin and Orson were not in the van when she dropped the other children off at Wanda West's house. Jacqueline says the other kids didn't like Orrin and Orson, so she told them to pretend like they weren't there. #WestsTrial

"There is no way out except for honesty," Herndandez says. Both he and another detective say there are a number of things she has said, on today and other days, that don't match up. #WestsTrial

The unnamed detective tells her at this time everything is still pointing at her and Trezell. The video ends. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith is questioning Hernandez on the stand. Hernandez said 35 warrants were authored by him and other investigators in this case. #WestsTrial

Searches were conducted of the area around California City. There were several big searches. One was at Silver Saddle Ranch, which has manmade ponds and storage sheds. #WestsTrial

Desert areas were searched in the northern part of the town near Randsburg Road. A few different searches were held there, he said. They found no evidence of Orrin or Orson. #WestsTrial

Hernandez testified he wrote the warrants for the Google records for Trezell and Jacqueline West. He found no photos, videos or anything regarding Orrin or Orson after July 2020. #WestsTrial

There was nothing from September through December 2020 about the boys, he said. #WestsTrial

Hernandez is testifying to reports showing call records. #WestsTrial

The reports have been admitted as evidence and will be displayed. #WestsTrial

The messages are between Trezell and Wanda West. Trezell write a bunch of 'hahas" with a photo of his electric bill on Dec. 14, 2020. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 7, there are messages between Trezell and his brother Jamal, something to do with toys. #WestsTrial

A message from Jacqueline to Trezell occurred on Dec. 5 at 2:04 p.m. The message was an address on Oakdale Drive. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 16, 2020 Wanda West sends a message to Trezell and Jacqueline asking for a family photo of everyone. #WestsTrial

The next message was not sent. Then on Dec. 21, 2020, Trezell calls 911 and makes a call to another number that lasts about 4 minutes. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he found adoption information on Trezell's phone about their adopted children. #WestsTrial

Hernandez testified to photos of the Aspen Avenue residence and its interior. There were photos of the home and its inside on Trezell's phone, but no photos of Orrin or Orson. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he looked at the gate at the Wests' Cal City home. #WestsTrial

There was a difference to it last month from what he saw in 2021. There were some new bolts on the northern gate, he said. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he took photos of the gate. A 15-minute break has been called, trial will resume around 3:05 p.m. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 2
DAY SEVENTEEN - May 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

(Continued testimony of BPD Detective Thomas Hernandez, lead investigator)

Back in session. Hernandez said it took a "reasonable amount of force" to move the Wests' gate. It left a divot in the dirt as he pulled it. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith has shown Hernandez a copy of the rental agreement from U-Haul form when the Wests' moved in September 2020. #WestsTrial

Hernandez testified he has reviewed portions of surveillance footage. #WestsTrial

On Jan. 5, 2021, Hernandez listened to a phone call between the Wests and their eldest child. Smith is going to play a recording of the call. #WestsTrial

Jacqueline West tells her son not to worry, they're looking for the boys. The boy says he's about to start school. He speaks quietly, mostly saying "yeah." "We're trying really really hard to get you guys back," Jacqueline says. #WestsTrial

The Wests tell the boy he doesn't have to talk to anybody if he doesn't want to. Jacqueline says she knows people are asking him questions and says he doesn't have to answer them. #WestsTrial

"Don't let anybody tell you that you have to do anything, OK?" Jacqueline West says. "OK," be boy says. The Wests' voices tremble during the call, and Trezell West is wiping at his eyes in the courtroom while listening. #WestsTrial

The call ended. #WestsTrial

Hernandez testified he questioned Wanda West about whether she saw Orrin and Orson when she was in the Wests' van on Dec. 19, 2020. #WestsTrial

That interview is going to be played. #WestsTrial

Wanda West says she went with the Wests that day to the credit union. She says she didn't see Orrin or Orson, the Wests told her they were sleeping in the back of the van, but she didn't see them. #WestsTrial

Trezell and Jacqueline West were arrested March 1, 2022, Hernandez said. #WestsTrial

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

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Hennessy asked if the theory of the case changed at some point. He asked when Hernandez spoke to the Realtor, who placed 1 of the boys in Cal City. Hennessy said that conflicts with the interviews the boys gave a social worker. #WestsTrial

Judge Brehmer has called a sidebar. #WestsTrial

They're back, Hennessy resumed questioning. Asked how many children the pest control employee saw in Cal City home, Hernandez said he gave several figures. Another sidebar has been called after Smith said he doesn't think the pest control guy was subject to recall. #WestsTrial

They're back again. Hernandez said he spoke with the pest control guy in July 2021. He said the man gave a couple different numbers as to how many children he saw. Hennessy noted, & Hernandez confirmed, the man said he saw "6 to 7" then "5 to 6" children at the home. #WestsTrial

There is a number in the case for which an owner was not found, Hernandez said. #WestsTrial

Hernandez testified he was present when the Bakersfield apartment where the Wests lived was searched. Nothing relevant was found. He said the Dumpster was not forensically analyzed, but a landfill was searched. #WestsTrial

Smudges on the sliding glass door at the Wests' Cal City home were not tested, Hernandez said. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said the first resource parent for the children was present when he listened in on the call between the eldest child and the Wests. #WestsTrial

Asked by Hennessy, the detective said he has taken training on interviewing and interrogating people, and knows how to build a rapport, use a ruse. #WestsTrial

Asked if there are things to avoid, Hernandez said on certain occasions, yes, he supposes. Like telling someone if you tell me what happened I'll set you free. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he and another detective Hennessy referred to have different styles, but he wouldn't say improper techniques were used. #WestsTrial

Hernandez agreed there is trust between detectives that they'll perform their jobs well. Hennessy is referring to certain people not being asked about security footage, certain things not being noted in reports. #WestsTrial

Smith has requested a sidebar. #WestsTrial

They're back. Hernandez said it was his understanding that Cal City police had contacted sex offenders. Not all of them were contacted, he said. He was unaware that at 1 place the sex offender who was listed as living there was no longer there. #WestsTrial

Hennessy is asking about the boys being reported seen in Arlington, Texas. Hernandez said he was made aware of the tip. He said the person providing the tip said one of the boys said his name was Orrin. #WestsTrial

Smith said this is all hearsay and he wants it stricken from the record. Judge Brehmer said the info can only be considered in regard to the actions or choices Hernandez made in the investigation, not the truth of the matter. #WestsTrial

In June of 2022 he corresponded with an FBI agent about the tip, Hernandez said. It was forwarded to Arlington PD. Hernandez said he never spoke to the woman who gave the tip or of any officer who spoke with her. #WestsTrial

Court is in recess for the day. Hernandez will resume testifying Monday and the prosecution will rest, then Torres Stallings will give her opening statement. She reserved her opening until after the prosecution rests its case. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 4, 2023

West Trial Day 17: Arlington man says his children were mistaken for Orrin and Orson​

Until a week-and-a-half ago, Alexander Kalaveris didn’t know a neighbor had reported seeing Orrin and Orson West, missing since 2020 and presumed dead, at his Arlington, Texas home.

The neighbor was mistaken, Kalaveris said Thursday. The children in question are his own.

[...]

Later Thursday, Bakersfield police Detective Thomas Hernandez, the lead investigator in the case, was recalled to the stand. He said a review of the Wests’ cellphones showed no photos or videos of Orrin and Orson from September through December 2020.

During an 83-minute interview played for the jury, Hernandez questioning Jacqueline West at the Bakersfield Police Department in July 2021 ...

But she [JW] was adamant all six of her children were at the California City home when they moved from Sept. 18-20, 2020. That conflicts with testimony given by Wanda West, Trezell’s mother, who visited at that time and said she never saw Orrin or Orson. Wanda West testified she thought they were staying with Jacqueline’s mother.

[...]

Hernandez will resume testifying Monday morning, after which Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead attorney for Jacqueline West, will present her opening statement. Torres Stallings reserved her opening until after the prosecution rests its case. Closing arguments are expected to be held in about two weeks.

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 4, 2023

Jaqueline West tells detectives about "paternal aunt" of Orrin, Orson​

[...]

In an interview recorded on July 1, 2020, Jacqueline told Bakersfield police that occasionally she would allow Orrin and Orson to be watched by their aunt “TeeTee”. ...

[...]

She said “TeeTee” would watch the boys for her sometimes, but after one occasion when “TeeTee” kept the boys longer than they agreed on, Jacqueline said she decided to limit the biological families’ interaction.

Jacqueline told detectives that “TeeTee” was a relative of one of the biological fathers, but she wasn’t sure which one. Prosecutor Eric Smith has previously called both men to testify in this trial. Each was asked if they knew a relative named “TeeTee”, even by nickname. Both man had no idea who that person might be.

Jacqueline also told detectives she changed her phone number because the family kept trying to contact her after they adopted Orrin and Orson. She said when she changed phones, she lost all the pictures she had of the two boys.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West is back in session. This is the 18th day of trial for the couple, charged with murder and other offenses in the deaths of Orrin and Orson West, who authorities say died 3 months before the Wests reported them missing. #WestsTrial

Detective Thomas Hernandez is back on the stand under cross-examination by Timothy Hennessy, lead attorney for Trezell West. He is discussing receiving a tip from a woman who says she saw the boys in Arlington, Texas. #WestsTrial

An address and license plate was given, Hernandez said. An Arlington man testified last week the woman was mistaken, the children are his own biological children. #WestsTrial

Hennessy is asking if another man, not the one who testified, also lived at that address. Hernandez said he would have to review the report. #WestsTrial

The detective is reviewing the report. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said an investigator looked into the matter and it was determined the children in question were not Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

Hennessy is continuing to ask about a Victor Rodriguez, another man who lived at the Arlington address. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith has objected, and the judge said there is no info Rodriguez lived at the address, but was associated with it through the tip made to the FBI. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he doesn't know what Rodriguez looks like. Hennessy asked about Rodriguez being investigated for drug smuggling and the judge sustained an objection and struck the question from the record. A sidebar is being held. #WestsTrial

Back from sidebar. Hennessy is asking about a tip from a Hector Rodriguez that led to a home being checked for the boys. Detective Hernandez said he doesn't recall the name but knows a home was checked. #WestsTrial

Hennessy asked if the person who made the tip said they had more info but were afraid of physical harm. Hernandez reviewed the tip. The judge reminded the jury this info is only being allowed for them to consider what Hernandez did in relation to the tips. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he followed up on the tip but did not contact the tipster. He said when it came to tips there were houses, vehicles and leads they looked in. In this case police went to the house and didn't find Orrin or Orson. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 2
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Hennessy finished questioning Hernandez and now Alekxia Torres Stallings, lead counsel for Jacqueline West, will question him. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he read the reports of Cal City Officer Brian Hansen but did not see the videos of their interviews until they were played in court. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 29, 2020, took part in a welfare check at Maria Martinez's home, where Jacqueline and Trezell were living at the time. Martinez is Jacqueline's mother and had foster children.#WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked about 2 refrigerators at Maria Martinez's apartment. Hernandez said he doesn't recall their being 2 refrigerators and said the apartment wasn't searched. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said they were at Maria Martinez's home for about an hour. He said he recalls Jacqueline West cried. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is asking about footage from different cameras in December. He said he didn't review footage to see the Wests traveling back and forth on Dec. 5 when they visited Maria Martinez on her birthday. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings has moved into evidence a Taco Bell receipt from Dec. 8, 2020. She asked if they checked the video footage to see the comings and goings of the Wests on that date. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said they did not. #WestsTrial

Moving to the interview of the Wests' eldest child, Hernandez said he was present for the boy's third interview. He doesn't know what info was provided to Sunya Barton, the social worker who interviewed the child. #WestsTrial

An updated police report written by Hernandez and other detectives runs to 2,000 pages. Since then, during the trial, supplemental reports have been written, Hernandez said. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he did not write a report about the first report made by the eldest child to his resource parent. He said he found out that info by second- or third-hand. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is attempting to show the eldest child may have seen certain things about the case online or on the news, or been told them. #WestsTrial

She has displayed a photo showing Hernandez with the boy's resource parent and the boy as they tried to get passwords for his parents' phones. #WestsTrial

The boys no longer live with that resource parent, they have lived with another woman since the end of January 2021. Hernandez said he went to that residence, too, to check up on the children. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked Hernandez if he was aware the eldest child said the first resource parent told him the boys were dead. She said the boy told his grandmother she had said that. A hearsay objection was sustained. #WestsTrial

Hernandez is reviewing a report to see if the woman's name is mentioned. He said she was mentioned during a pretext call with one of the other West children. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he wasn't present when the children testified before the grand jury, and doesn't know if their resource parent was present. #WestsTrial

Moving back to the apartment of Jacqueline West's mother, Hernandez reviewed photos and said there are 2 refrigerators there. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he contacted the neighbor who lived behind the Wests. Torres Stallings asked if he recalls her telling him the search parties took place a couple days after she saw a man in a red sweater and ski mask. He said he doesn't recall that. #WestsTrial

After reviewing a transcript, Hernandez said that's correct. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he has read the report of an interview with Perla Martinez, Jacqueline West's sister. He said he did not review records to see if there was a call made on Dec. 18, 2020. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked Hernandez if he came across a journal for Jacqueline. He said he went through it. It's from 2021. She asked if he was aware Orson and Orrin's birthday were in the planner. A hearsay objection was sustained. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings showed him copies of pages from the journal but he said they don't refresh his memory as to the birth dates of Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings has moved on to the interview on July 1, 2021, in which Hernandez questioned Jacqueline West. #WestsTrial

A pest control person told police he saw "6 or 7" children in the home when he went there, Hernandez said. He said he still focused on the Wests as behind the disappearance of Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is referring Hernandez to surveillance footage of the Wests' home on Dec. 19, 2020, the same day they dropped off their four oldest children in Bakersfield. #WestsTrial

She played a video of 2 people walking up the street who stop at an intersection by the Wests' home. Hernandez said those people were never identified. #WestsTrial

"You don't know what they were doing, is that fair to say?" Torres Stalling asked. "Walking," Hernandez said. #WestsTrial

There was an objection to showing a second video and Judge Charles R. Brehmer called a sidebar. #WestsTrial

The judge and attorneys came back and a 15-minute break was announced. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 3
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Court is back in session with Hernandez still on the witness stand being cross-examined by Torres Stallings. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he talked about sexual predators with Jacqueline West during a July 1, 2021 interview. He said he didn't follow up on the Texas lead until after Hennessy gave his opening statement. #WestsTrial

Hernandez said he was aware there was a list pulled of sex offenders living in Cal City at the time of the reported disappearance. He said he has not followed up on the other individuals on that list. She ended questioning. #WestsTrial

On redirect, Hernandez said the pest control guy gave multiple figures as to how many children he saw at the West home. On recross, Torres Stallings asked again about his interview with that man. #WestsTrial

Hernandez is done and the prosecution has rested its case. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings, who reserved her opening statement until after the prosecution rested, will present her opening in a few minutes. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 4
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Her opening will be recorded on camera but will not be shown live. The audiostream will remain live. #WestsTrial

Court is back in session with Torres Stallings presenting her opening statement. She has displayed a photo of Christmas stockings hung at the Wests' home. She's about to start. #WestsTrial

She said Jacqueline West was wrapping gifts for his 6 children when her 2 youngest were taken. "There are no confessions and there is no forensic evidence, all we have is the story of a 10 year old boy," she said. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings said the timeline is important. She said there was a separate investigation that was also occurring at the same time as law enforcement -- and that one was conducted by Child Protective Services. #WestsTrial

There was a "proof of life" call at Wanda West's residence, Trezell West's mother, who had the other four children, when Orrin and Orson were reported missing. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 22 the other children were interviewed by Officer Brian Hansen, who has admitted having no training in interviewing children. The boys were interviewed by Sunya Barton and at 3 p.m. that day the boys were detained by CPS. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 23, 2020, Barton and a social worker were involved in text communications. The FBI used ground penetrating radar and found no human remains. The Wests' van was forensically analyzed and no evidence found, Torres Stallings said. #WestsTrial

Days pass with nothing, she said. The Wests' eldest child had access to the internet. On Dec. 28, 2020, there is communication, a text message from Barton to officer Hansen. At 3:36 p.m. the eldest child is interviewed by Barton a 3rd time. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings said it's unknown who was present or why they were present, what info was given to the child and how that impacted him. The defense's expert witness, Dr. Susan Napolitano, will testify to how these things can impact a child's testimony. #WestsTrial

Napolitano will talk about the history of forensic interviews, the mass hysteria of child sex cases that happened in the 1980s as a result of forensic interviews and which nearly all defendants have been exonerated. #WestsTrial

Napolitano will talk about the importance of confirmation bias, she said. She said she'll look at Hansen's videos, all 3 of the eldest child's interviews -- and how Barton's second interview of him was very suggestible, "browbeating" child into saying what she wants. #WestsTrial

Napolitano will conclude, taking all of the data points she has evaluated, that there was implantation, coercive techniques that made the eldest child susceptible to false memories. #WestsTrial

Another expert witness, Christopher Armstrong, will testify to the videos of surveillance footage showing the Wests' home. She said Armstrong enhanced those videos and took a still from Dec. 19, 2020 she said shows someone carrying a child to the van. #WestsTrial

Armstrong will also testify to a car seen in another video that he will stay stopped, reversed and went forward again, Torres Stallings said. #WestsTrial

Armstrong will testify to contrast ratios, luminosity studies, she said. #WestsTrial

"At the conclusion of our case, it is still a tragedy," she said. "The outstanding question of where the boys are will still remain." She said, however, there will be reasonable doubt and the jury will find Jacqueline and Trezell not guilty on all counts. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings has finished her opening statement. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 5
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Christopher Armstrong has been called to the stand. #WestsTrial

He's an accident reconstructionist. He performed work on video and still images for the defense in this case. #WestsTrial

Armstrong is being paid $295 an hour for his testimony. He said he believes the county is paying his company. #WestsTrial

Armstrong reviewed the Bakersfield Police Department report, several surveillance videos taken from the home next to the West home, photographs and aerial views of the West home and surrounding area. #WestsTrial

Armstrong testified he enhanced video using similar techniques as to what an FBI witness testified to earlier in the trial. #WestsTrial

He enhanced videos from Dec. 19 and Dec. 21, 2020. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings has shown Armstrong an image and he's describing what he did to enhance it. She's going to play the video. #WestsTrial

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

 

[PommyMommy]

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[PommyMommy]

MAY 8, 2023

West Trial Day 18: Prosecution rests, Jacqueline West’s attorney gives opening statement​

Trezell and Jacqueline West’s eldest child, who last week testified to seeing one of his brothers die in 2020 and another disappear days later, was influenced by improper, coercive interview techniques that made him susceptible to false memories, a defense attorney said.

An expert witness who reviewed evidence in this case — including multiple interviews — will testify the social worker who interviewed the boy engaged in “browbeating” to make the child, then 10, say what she wanted him to say, said attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings. She said another witness enhanced surveillance images and footage taken of the West home and will testify to the methods used and what the enhanced footage reveals.

“There are no confessions and there is no forensic evidence, all we have is the story of a 10-year-old boy . . . ,” Torres Stallings said.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 8, 2023

West trial: Defense says improper questioning of children resulted in false answers​

There is no forensic evidence or any confessions by defendants Trezell and Jacqueline West for killing their adoptive toddlers, Orrin and Orson West, said a defense attorney in her opening statements Monday after the prosecution rested its case.

Alekxia Torres Stallings elected to postpone her opening statements until after the prosecution rested its case. She defends Jacqueline West, and began her opening statements Monday by quietly looking at jurors and beginning her case by painting a cheery, cozy scene unfolding two years ago in December before it all broke apart with the disappearance of Orrin and Orson.

Trezell and Jacqueline West have pleaded not guilty to two second-degree murder charges, involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy, willful cruelty to a child and falsely reporting an emergency in the deaths of Orrin and Orson West. Prosecutor Eric Smith has said the toddlers died three months prior to the Wests’ reporting them missing and their bodies have never been found.

Jacqueline West was wrapping Christmas presents in her new California City home on Dec. 21, 2020. Trezell West had gone to a lot neighboring their backyard to collect wood to get a fire started. That’s when their adoptive children were kidnapped, Torres Stallings said.

“Their two youngest children were taken,” Torres Stallings said, referring to Trezell and Jacqueline. “But, their four oldest children were taken by the system.”

The Wests have six children in total, including Orrin and Orson West.

There is one witness to the alleged killings of Orrin and Orson: A then-10-year-old son who divulged Orrin died while the Wests lived in Bakersfield, before moving to California City. Orrin was choking and vomiting before he died, the then-10-year-old son told forensic interviewers. The child is now 12 years old and testified in this case.

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 1
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Court is back in session in the trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West. Jacqueline West's attorney, Alekxia Torres Stallings, is questioning her first witness, Christopher Armstrong, who enhanced images and video for the defense. #WestsTrial

Armstrong testified one video of the West home on Dec. 21, 2020, shows lights in the background that in his opinion correspond with the motion of a car on the roadway. #WestsTrial

Armstrong said the video shows someone open the right door of the Wests' van but you can't see who it is. You can see the door open but can't see the person because they are wearing dark clothing and there is very little reflective light. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked what about someone 3 feet tall wearing dark clothing. If you can't see them in the video does that mean they're not on the video. No, Armstrong says, you can't say something isn't there just because can't see it due to the contrast in the video. #WestsTrial

He said two small children would be much harder to see than if an adult opened the door. The clothing and the color of their skin could also make it more difficult to see them. The darker the clothing and skin color, the more difficult to see in video taken at night. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings ended her questioning. Smith has begun cross-examination and is asking Armstrong what software he used. #WestsTrial

Smith asked what happens when you zoom in to the footage. Armstrong said it makes it larger. Smith said the quality diminishes the more it's zoomed in. #WestsTrial

Armstrong testified he saw no one else in the backyard, even on his enhanced footage, other than a person in the backyard previously pointed out by the prosecution. #WestsTrial

"Did you observe two small children at any point?" Smith asked. "No," Armstrong said.

Under redirect, Armstrong testified to what could be sign behind the height of the fence given the measurements he was given. #WestsTrial

Armstrong has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 2
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Pamela Castillo has been called to the stand. She is in the adoption unit in the Department of Human Services. She was assigned to the West case on Dec. 23, 2020. #WestsTrial

On that day she got a paper with names and began doing background checks. She said her first point of contact was the FBI. She said the boys were most likely at the Jamison Center or a foster home at that point. #WestsTrial

Castillo testified she had a couple conversations with social worker Sunya Barton on the morning of Dec. 23. She said she hadn't yet communicated with the resource parent with whom the children were staying. #WestsTrial

On Dec. 24, 2020 she went to a hearing to file a petition to keep the children in custody while the investigation continued. Then over the weekend she talked with a lieutenant at the California City Police Department. #WestsTrial

Asked if she followed the case at all on the news or Facebook, Castillo said, "I think I tend to follow all cases." #WestsTrial

Castillo, questioned by Torres Stallings, said she's aware her text messages and emails regarding this case have been provided to attorneys. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked if Castillo examined the emergency response referral in this case. She said yes, but hasn't seen it in a long time, and Torres Stallings handed her a copy. #WestsTrial

Castill confirmed the referral form only related to Orrin and Orson, not the other West children, and it was for general neglect. #WestsTrial

Castillo said on Dec. 22, 2020, she became aware she would be assigned the case. Torres Stallings asked who she heard about it from. Castillo said not from social worker Sunya Barton, but she started speaking with her about it that day. #WestsTrial

Castillo said it's a small office, they talk about different cases when they come in. #WestsTrial

"To the best of my knowledge, yes," Castill said when asked if the children were detained at 3 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2020. #WestsTrial

"I did, I do and the judge thought so as well," Castillo said when asked if she thought she had enough evidence to detain. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings asked Castillo if she was aware if there was an issue with the initial contact with the children. She said no. A sidebar has been called. #WestsTrial

The judge and attorneys are back. Castillo said she has not reviewed the emails from DHS that were provided in this case. #WestsTrial

Castillo said she believes corrections were later made to documents provided to the court. She said county counsel suggested it. #WestsTrial

Castillo testified she contacted Officer Brian Hansen at 11:05 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2020, because she received info about what may have happened to Orrin and Orson. She couldn't reach him, followed up with the FBI. #WestsTrial

On that same day, she contacted Sunya Barton to schedule a forensic interview. Torres Stallings asked if Barton was "panicked." Castillo said she was "a little nervous." #WestsTrial

Court is in recess for 15 minutes. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 3
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Court is back in session with Castillo on the stand being questioned by Torres Stallings. #WestsTrial

Castillo said she spoke with Sunya Barton after the children were interviewed. #WestsTrial

Barton said "he's lying," according to a message sent between Barton and Castillo. #WestsTrial

Torres Stallings is going over messages the two social workers sent each other. #WestsTrial

Castillo said she was present during the third interview of the eldest child. Barton left twice during the interview to speak with law enforcement, she said. #WestsTrial

Law enforcement was telling her which topics to cover. She said she doesn't know if they told her about a real estate agent. #WestsTrial

Castillo said the interview was conducted at the request of and guidance of law enforcement. "They're the experts," she said. Torres Stallings finished and Smith is questioning her. #WestsTrial

Castillo is going over the hearing where a judge determined there was enough evidence for CPS to continue its investigation. She confirmed no one from the DA's office was at the dependency hearing. #WestsTrial

Smith ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Castillo has been excused. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Afternoon Testimony, Part 4
DAY EIGHTEEN - May 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Sunya Barton, who has previously testified, has been called to the stand by Torres Stallings. She's the social worker who interviewed the other West children. #WestsTrial

Barton had 2 interviews with the Wests' eldest child on Dec. 22, 2020, and Torres Stallings is going to play the second interview. Transcripts are being handed out to the jury. #WestsTrial

The video is playing. #WestsTrial

Barton is asking about discipline in the house. The boy said his father will either give them a "tongue-lashing" or make them sit in the corner. Barton asks about being forced to take cold showers. #WestsTrial

The boy said he's never had a cold shower as a form of punishment, and he thinks sometimes the showers were turned on cold but just needed to warm up. #WestsTrial

Barton tells the boy all his other brothers talk about the cold showers. The boy says Orrin and Orson took cold showers too. #WestsTrial

Barton reminds the boy he said he would tell the truth and asks if he doesn't see anything going on inside the house, or not hear it, or what. The boy denies being spanked with a belt and bleeding. #WestsTrial

The boy says he thinks his brothers exaggerated the punishment. #WestsTrial

The boy says there is nothing that's gone on at his house that he's concerned about. #WestsTrial

The video is over. Torres Stallings ended her questioning and now Timothy Hennessy, lead attorney for Trezell West, is questioning her. #WestsTrial

Barton confirmed she conducted forensic interviews of all the boys. It was on Dec. 28, 2020, that the eldest boy said he saw Orrin die. Prior to that he didn't say that. #WestsTrial

Barton said she's aware the purpose of forensic interviews is to make sure the children tell the truth and aren't improperly influenced. #WestsTrial

Between Dec. 22 and 28, Barton said, she came to the conclusion the parents were lying after seeing the interview the parents gave to the news and interviewing the children the first time. #WestsTrial

Hennessy is asking about Facebook stories Barton shared with another social worker that weren't true and how Barton kept "falling for" them. She confirmed that's true. #WestsTrial

Hennessy asked if she said "these kids just need to spill the beans already." Barton confirmed that's true. #WestsTrial

Hennessy asked if it's true that, when the FBI asked for fingerprints of the children, she sent a text to another social worker saying, "How many bodies of a 3 to 4 year old could they have?" and used the shrug emoji. Barton said that's correct. #WestsTrial

Barton confirmed this message was sent before the eldest child's interview on Dec. 28, 2020. Barton said some of her text messages with another social worker were just conversation. Hennessy ended his questioning. #WestsTrial

Under questioning by Torres Stallings, Barton said she and the other social worker did not discuss the alternate theory that Orrin and Orson were kidnapped. Barton was excused and court is in recess until 9 a.m. tomorrow. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Morning Testimony, Part 1
DAY NINETEEN - May 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

We're on the 19th day of trial in the case against Trezell and Jacqueline West. The entire grand jury testimony of the Wests' eldest child is going to be read into the record, with attorneys and the judge reading different parts. #WestsTrial

Attorney R. L. Hutchison is reading the responses of the child, while Fatima Rodriguez, one of the attorneys representing Jacqueline West, is reading the responses of the interviewer. #WestsTrial

The boy said he went to 1st grade and then was home-schooled. He identified a photo of Jacqueline West as his mother and said she taught him. He identified a photo of his father and said he's "nice, and smart." #WestsTrial

The boy listed his other brothers, including Orrin and Orson. The interviewer asked about his brothers getting into trouble and how they were disciplined. #WestsTrial

The boy said they had lived in an apartment in Bakersfield near Casa Loma Elementary. #WestsTrial

The boy said Orrin and Orson would be in the room where all the boys slept together while the other children were home-schooled. #WestsTrial

The boy said "we all had a bed on a floor," a mattress with a pillow. They all slept on the mattresses on the floor except for Orson, who slept in the crib, he said. #WestsTrial

The boy identified photos of Orrin and Orson. He said Orrin would cry a lot for no reason. He said his parents would place him in a room in "time out" when he cried. #WestsTrial

He said he doesn't remember how long they lived in Bakersfield. He said he doesn't know why they moved, but they went to California City. #WestsTrial

The boy identified photos of rooms in the Cal City home. He talked about how he and his brothers with the exception of Orrin and Orson would go to a school room where they were home-schooled. #WestsTrial

A video was played for the boy and he said he made it using Zoom and some of his other brothers were in it. #WestsTrial

The boy said he watch used to be his dad's but he gave it to him. He said he thinks it's at his grandmother's house now, he doesn't have it. #WestsTrial

The boy described the bunk beds put together by his father, Trezell West. He said he made them after they moved in. He described the bunks used by him, another child and Orson. #WestsTrial

The boy said another room is for two of his other brothers and Orrin. He said "all of us" moved to the house -- including Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

He said all of them were there when the pest control guy sprayed. #WestsTrial

"No," the boy said when asked if he knows where Orrin and Orson are. He said they were both in the van when the rest of the children were dropped off at their grandmother's a few days before Christmas (according to previous testimony this was on Dec. 19, 2020). #WestsTrial

Asked about previously saying he saw Orrin was sick, the boy said he heard gagging one night from Orrin. He said he went to bed, then the next morning he and 3 of his brothers went to their laptops. #WestsTrial

The boy said his parents went and checked on Orrin. They were there a while then came out and spoke with him, he said. He said he doesn't remember what they told him. #WestsTrial

He said he forgets what happened but didn't see Orrin later and thinks he went to his grandmother's house. #WestsTrial

The boy said they moved to Cal City "a little while after Orrin was dropped off." He said he next saw him a few days before Christmas. #WestsTrial

The boy said they brought Orrin back a few days before Christmas. He said he thinks his dad went to pick him up. He said Orrin was at his grandmother's (Jacqueline's mother's) for a while. #WestsTrial

He said he found out the boys were missing a few days before Christmas. He said he doesn't remember what he told police. #WestsTrial

The boy said he doesn't remember what he previously said about Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

A video of the boy's interview with Cal City police Officer Brian Hansen was played for the boy. He said he told Hansen he hadn't seen Orrin or Orson for weeks because they got dropped off at grandma's house. #WestsTrial

The boy talked again about hearing Orrin gagging one night. He said his parents never talked with him about it and he doesn't know about Orrin being sick. #WestsTrial

They played the video of the boy telling a social worker his parents told him Orrin had died. He said they asked him if they should tell anyone. He said Orrin was on the floor. #WestsTrial

Asked about when his grandmother on his father's side watched them in Cal City as they moved, the boy said only he and the three other boys were present, not Orrin and Orson. #WestsTrial

The interviewer asked how he felt about having a bed for Orson in his room even though he knew he wasn't there. "Like he would come back," the boy said. #WestsTrial

The boy told the grand jury he heard a bump in the night in the Cal City home and Orson wasn't there the next day. #WestsTrial

The boy talked again about Orrin, and how his color was "fading," his skin seemed dry, the night after he heard him gagging. He said there was vomit. #WestsTrial

Orrin was motionless, according to the boy's testimony. He said Orson disappeared about a week and four days later. #WestsTrial

They're done reading the transcript and court is in recess for 15 minutes. #WestsTrial