TWO boys allegedly killed in a double murder looked skinny and one had a bruised neck before they disappeared, their grandmother claims. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Orrin West, 4, and Orson West, 3, went missing one year ago, Tuesday. For more than a year, the community prayed the boys would return home. We want answers! RELATED: Search continues for missing California toddlers who disappeared days before Christmas. I searched a bunch of corners, I searched and searched and I called their names, said Trezell West, the adoptive father. The fact that Trezell is charged with counts of murder indicates that Performance & security by Cloudflare. "To CPS, they need to take the proper precautions and getting the right parents to take care of the children," she said. The West boys, 3-year-old Orson and 4-year-old Orrin, have been on the minds of law enforcement officers and the community for over five months now. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Bakersfield police Sgt. Hennessy also pointed out defense counsel and the accused are not present during grand jury proceedings and have no opportunity to cross-examine witnesses or present evidence. They needed somewhere to stay but CPS doesn't care.". Judging from the video, it appeared the casually-dressed group was Kern Countys grand jury. The Bakersfield Police Department took over the investigation and in March about 50 officers and FBI agents scoured a dirt lot near Casa Loma Apartments. The couple originally announced the At that point, 44 search warrants had been served, 83 people interviewed and 170 items seized. Trezell and Jacqueline West filed missing persons reports on December 21, 2020 in California City, claiming the boys were last seen playing in the backyard of their home. According to BPD, in connection to this case, 83 people have been interviewed, 44 search warrants have been conducted on residences and electronic devices, 170 items have been seized, over 200 tips have been received, `16 mass area searches have been conducted and three searches have been conducted outside of California. The Wests, who adopted the boys, gave aninterviewafter they vanished. Statements that have been used by the Kern County district attorney in her press conference tend to invoke a tidal wave of emotion toward finding guilt, whether substantiated or not, and this will taint a local jury pool and could deny our clients a chance at a fair trial, Hennessy said. By seeking charges through an indictment, prosecutors could keep the proceedings confidential and have witnesses testify privately instead of in open court, as required in a preliminary hearing. On a daily basis theres case movement, theres interviews that occur, said BPD spokesman Sgt. It was announced this "The investigation has also revealed that they died three months before their adoptive parents reported them missing.". The little words that the biological family are left with are sending a strong message to Jaqueline and Trezell. Trezell told police that the boys wandered out of their California City, California backyard while he was gathering firewood. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Orrin and Orson West were first reported missing from their home in California City on Dec. 21, 2020. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.According to KGET, authorities obtained a search warrant and have been gathering evidence from the family's home -- even digging up the backyard. Their van was towed and inspected. Everyone is making their own conclusions. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Despite not having the boys' remains, Zimmer is confident she has a strong case against the Wests. ", "It's difficult. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. ", RELATED: Reward increases to $120K for missing CA toddlers; family says they're public targets. The two brothers reportedly disappeared from Bakersfield, California in December of 2020 while playing in their backyard. Since that initial investigation, Cal City PD, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Kern County Sheriff's Office and BPD have assisted in the investigation. Where are they? In a 2021 interview, Jacqueline West said: "Everybody's making their own conclusions. Orrin and Orson West were reported missing from the West's California City home in December 2020. Orrin and Orson, two toddlers were reported missing by their adoptive parents back in December 2020, at around the time of Christmas. No, Orrin and Orson West's bodies are not yet found but there is a rigid suspicion of death. The judge ordered they be held without bail. Orson The boys were reported missing on Monday, Dec 21st by their adoptive parents, Trezell West \u0026 Jaqueline West. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Some years pass with only one or even no killings. Many questions remain surrounding their disappearance. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Your IP: The boys were born to biological mother Ryan Dean, who lost custody after Orrin was found to have a severely broken and twisted femur bone. Orson West (pictured) and his brother were reported missing in December of 2020 Credit: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Orrin, 4, and Orson, 3, had been playing outside in the early evening, adoptive parents Trezell and Jacqueline West told police. A grand jury indicted the boys' adoptive parents this week, Kern District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer told reporters. Orrin West Missing Since: Dec 21, 2020 Missing From: California City, CA DOB: Aug 4, 2016 Age Now: 4 Sex: Male Race: Black Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown Height: 3'0" Weight: 35 lbs Orson West Missing Since: Dec 21, 2020 Missing From: California City, CA DOB: Jun 11, 2017 Age Now: 3 Sex: Male Race: Black Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown Dean took Orrin to Memorial Hospital, where it was discovered his legs were broken. Nine months later, they remain missing. The two were last seen on Dec. 21 in the California City area. Their four other children, two adopted and two biological, were placed into protective custody, police said in the beginning of the investigation. Orson West, 3, and Orrin West, 4. Police have undergone multiple massive searches for the boys. Pair says detectives conducted a search for the boys Thursday, but wouldn't provide details. Wednesday night, the community that searched and prayed directed anger at adoptive parents, Jaqueline and Trezell West, who cried wolf and remained silent for over a year. Orrin and Orson Wests new parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West, were captured by experts on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. The adoptive parents Trezell and Jacqueline West said the boys were playing with chalk in the backyard when they suddenly went missing. Here are some last-minute, Best last-minute Valentines Day gifts for him, Fiery train crash in Greece kills 16, hurts at least, Americans to learn about anti-smoking laws in Mexico, Motorcyclist killed in SR-94 crash identified, Medi-cal benefits set to expire for millions, Parents concerned over SD Unified discipline policy, Christina Applegates last red carpet appearance, $700K seized by Imperial County Border Patrol agents, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. WebA brief synopsis of what occurred: On December 23rd, Orrin, 4 and Orsin, West were reported missing by their adoptive parents. Bakersfield Police Chief discusses case of two California City boys missing since December | KGET 17. So I just need to be here right now.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Offers may be subject to change without notice. Sacramento County Superior Court On Dec. 21, 2020, the Wests told California City police that Orrin and Orson had disappeared while playing in the familys backyard, Zimmer recounted. For more than a year, worried people all over the country have asked: Where are the boys?, The question now is where are the boys bodies? said Rosanna Wills, Orrin and Orsons biological cousin. Two brothers, Orson West, 3, and Orrin West, 4, went missing days before Christmas, on December 21, 2020. Authorities dug in the backyard. Their adoptive parents, Trezell West, 35, and We want to bring them home to give them a proper burial.. Theres items of evidence that are searched.. CNN Almost 15 months ago, Orrin and Orson Wests adoptive I would think the same thing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. pic.twitter.com/tj9KKZFQV0. Many of the missing pieces in this case started to fall in place over the last 24 hours. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Orrin and Orson West were first reported missing from their home in California City on Dec. 21, 2020. Orson and Orrin's bodies have not been found. Follow the article till the end Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. The search continues for two toddlers Orrin and Orson West from California City who went missing from their foster home. He said the standard of proof at grand jury proceedings is much lower than the standard of being found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt required at trial. That proved frustrating to some, leading to arguments and even an arrest. "I don't believe the kids were ever here.". CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- Just days before Christmas, Orrin West and his younger brother Orson were reported missing from their home in California City. Police and volunteers searched the area using K-9s but came up empty. The Department of Human Services revoked Deans parental rights and denied Moorers requests. Investigators haven't released information about what led to the conclusion that the boys are no longer alive. Jacqueline and Trezell West, the adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, will be in court on Wed, March 1. Brothers Orson and Orrin West -- ages 3 and 4, respectively, were reported missing by their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. Trial of adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West to begin Photo by: 23ABC News Trezell and Jacqueline West, the adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, Jacqueline and Trezell West, the adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, will be in court again on Wed, March 1. BPD said a detective has been assigned as the full0time lead investigator along with a team of detectives and crime analysts. Police said this case "is not a cold case." Some in the community turned on the Wests. Zimmer said she could not comment on whether there would be any more arrests. Orrin and Orson West were reported missing on January 21st, 2020 by their adoptive parents and still haven't been found. The adoptive parents thanked the community for the outpouring of support. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The neighbor then put pictures of Hutton all over the Wests house along with a banner asking Doug Hutton, Where are the boys?. "It's one we don't want to mess up. What no one walking those neighborhoods or driving through the surrounding desert knew that morning and wouldnt until a shocking twist more than a year later is the boys were already beyond their help. It's heartbreaking and our whole community has been out searching for them and there's no trace of them," Plantz said. Some of her concerns stem from what she said appeared to be injuries to one of the boy's bodies. Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry also confirmed that the boys died prior to the search during a press conference. Then, on March 1, the adoptive parents were each charged with second-degree murder in connection with the boys' deaths. You have two missing kids and they're gone and you have to figure out what happened to them. "They didnt ask to come into this world to be treated like this," the boys' grandmother said. We havent been able to put together how the boys got out of the yard, or where theyve gone.. The answer to that is no,' Zimmer said. The stakes are too high.". Police said 16 mass area searches had been conducted, investigators had searched three locations outside the state and more than 200 tips were followed up. "There was a bruise around the neck. Further postponements are possible. Missing toddlers Orrin and Orson West are shown in undated family photos. Slovakia basks under NATO umbrella, sends Ukraine, Hwy 178 closed Wednesday due to rockslide, Head-on train crash in Greece kills 36, injures at, Kobe Bryant family settles photo lawsuit for $28.5, Jokic has 100th triple-double; Nuggets down Rockets, Giannis returns, Bucks beat Nets 118-104 for 15th, Rangers acquire star winger Patrick Kane from Blackhawks, With James injury, Lakers face challenge to reach, Browns could restructure Deshaun Watsons $230M contract, CAL CITY BOYS: DA said there is evidence Orrin, Orson West died before reported missing, CAL CITY BOYS: Both adoptive parents charged and in custody, A timeline of events in the case of the missing California City boys Orson and Orrin West, CAL CITY BOYS: Family relieved after hearing of murder charges against adoptive parents. The couple originally announced the disappearance of Copyright 2023 The Inquisitr. Their adoptive parents, Trezell West, 35, and Jacqueline West, 32, claimed that the two boys disappeared from the backyard while playing. I do suspect foul play. In June 2017, Dean gave birth to Orson. Many of the missing pieces in She said prosecutors requested the grand jury convene to hear evidence. It needs to be sharpened.". Local businesses began offering rewards in early January 2021; by mid-March they totaled $125,000. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call BPD at (661) 327-7111. Groups swarmed the area. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Further details on what happened to the boys likely wont become available until trial begins. That question has become a rallying cry in the case. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails to indulge in. Plantz says she only saw the man of the home coming and going at times. Their four other kids (two biological and two adopted) have been taken into protective custody by the authorities at this time.The couple adopted Orrin and Orson in April 2019, the Mojave Desert News reports.It's unclear why Dean lost custody of her sons but she told 23ABC she is working on getting her life back on track. After the update, you can listen to our original episode on Orrin and Orson's disappearance to get the full story and timeline. They Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry joined 17 News at Sunrise to discuss the case in the disappearance of 4-year-old Orrin and 3-year-old Orson West in California City, who have been missing since December. Adoptive parents, Jaqueline and Trezell West are charged with several charges including murder and are facing the possibility of 30 years to life behind bars. Where are they? West/Watkins Family "We offered a reward out of our own pockets," the missing boys' uncle, Jamal Watkins, told ABC News. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. They also face one misdemeanor count of making a false report of an emergency and could spend 30 years to life in prison, the district attorney said. Just days before Christmas, Orrin West and his younger brother Orson were reported missing from their home in California City. (California City Police Dept.). He was released into her care, according to the claim, but days later was taken from her. Dean was informed that Kern County Human Services was removing [Orson] from her home, because [Orrin] had been removed, and they remove siblings together, the claim says. It goes on to say Deans mother, Dana Moorer filed requests to have the boys placed with her. He said he briefly went indoors and when he came back out the children were missing. "On December 21, 2020, Orrin was four years old, Orson was 3 years old. Charles Pettus, the biological father of Orrin and Orson, spoke with KGET in October, 10 months after their disappearance. Respondent and its employees acted affirmatively and used their authority in a way that created a danger to the children or that rendered the children more vulnerable to danger than had the state not acted at all, according to the claim filed by San Francisco-based McCoy Law Firm. Orrin was 4 years old and Orson was 3 at the time they vanished. A video sent to the station showed a group of people in casual dress examining the yard while deputies and men in suits stood nearby. No information was released on new developments. The biological family has informed us that there will be a candlelight vigil in honor of the boys Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Liberty Bell Courthouse. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) The Bakersfield Police Department released a case update for the disappearance of Orrin and Orson West, who went missing on Dec. 21, 2020, in California City. Click to reveal The revelations about toddlers Orson and Orrin West come after the boys' adoptive parents were arrested on Tuesday. Days after the arrests, defense lawyers Timothy Hennessy and Alekxia Torres-Stallings, representing Trezell and Jacqueline West, respectively, held a news conference where they accused the district attorney of misleading the public and preying on emotions. The District Attorney's Office says its investigation revealed the West boys, born Cincere and Classic Pettus, had died approximately three months before the couple reported them as missing. CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- Just days before Christmas, Orrin West and his younger brother Orson were reported missing from their home in California City. Officers were called and Hutton was cited for outstanding misdemeanor warrants and released, police said. The case has been frustrating for detectives as they diligently work and try to follow up on possible credible tips while weeding out outlandish conspiracies. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The sun had sunk below the horizon and temperatures were dropping when Orrin and Orson West were reported missing from their California City home Dec. 21, 2020. Orrin was taken from Dean on Nov. 13, 2016, after she returned home from work and found the then-3-month-old crying uncontrollably, the claim says. On March 1, the grand jury indicted Trezell and Jacqueline West on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of child cruelty and falsely reporting an emergency. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Their bodies have never been found. "Nobody likes to be accused of that, but I think the product of the work when the truth comes to light is going to speak for itself. Its been 10 months and there are still no answers Violent crime is no stranger, but homicides remain relatively rare. Two brothers, Orson West, 3, and Orrin West, 4, went missing days before Christmas, on December 21, 2020. The appearance will be one year to the day since the two were arrested and charged with six felony counts, including two counts of second-degree murder, in connection with the boys' disappearance. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. She did not reveal how the boys were killed or other facts of the case. , Dana Moorer filed requests to have the boys were killed or other facts the! Released into her care, according to the claim, but would provide... An arrest Orson, spoke with KGET in October, 10 months and are. But came up empty but would n't provide details with only one or even no killings wandered out of California. For the boys ' remains, Zimmer is confident she has a strong message Jaqueline! 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