If you can't catch the show life, come back to the blog and listen anytime during the week until next Sunday.
If you can't catch the show life, come back to the blog and listen anytime during the week until next Sunday.
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The day after Valentine's Day -- Don't miss 'The Casanova Killer'
If you can't catch the show life, come back to the blog and listen anytime during the week until next Sunday.
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Feb. 22nd Podcast: Justice for Dylan Redwine!
From the desk of Chelsea Hoffman
Las Vegas, NV 89122
Live event: Elaine Hatfield – mother of slain teen Dylan Redwine – to give live exclusive interview on “Case to Case with Chelsea Hoffman” (the podcast). Elaine wants to discuss the push to have Dylan’s father charged with his murder.
Date/Time: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 @6:00 p.m., PST
Location: Online by visiting either WWW.ChelseaHoffman.Comor by going directly to the “Case to Case” podcast page on Spreaker (click here).
Share the details of this show with the hashtag #DylanRedwine
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March podcast schedule **Bookmark this page**
March 1, 2015:
Current events discussion
March 8, 2015:
The Murder of Jessica Chambers
March 15, 2015:
TBD
March 22, 2015:
TBD
March 29, 2015:
TBD
Current events discussion
March 8, 2015:
The Murder of Jessica Chambers
March 15, 2015:
TBD
March 22, 2015:
TBD
March 29, 2015:
TBD
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Don't miss 'The Murder of Jessica Chambers' on Sunday!
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| Tune in on Sunday, March 8th, @6:00 p.m., PST The Case to Case podcast will be about the murder of Jessica Chambers -- the MS teen who was burned to death. Her case remains unsolved, and questions remain unanswered. Let's talk about it! |
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#JessicaChambers unsolved murder -- The podcast and what you missed
I also intend on doing followup posts like this after every week's show, like I used to before the reboot.
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Coming up on Sunday: So many missing women!
As always, the line will be open and I will be taking calls live during the broadcast. If you want to discuss a missing person's case or have any other questions or comments, feel free to call in during the show on Sunday.
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#BringAJHome -- The podcast and what you missed
No outside sources were discussed, so there aren't any links to share in this post. However, I encourage all of you who are reading this to listen to the archived podcast by clicking here.
Key points mentioned by Wesley Hadsell about AJ's case:
- AJ's jacket may have been found in someone's possession, but police have not 100% confirmed this with the public.
- Someone may have planted the bits of credit/debit card belonging to AJ that were found over the course of the search for her.
What do you think happened to Anjelica Hadsell?
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Sahray Barber case profile -- Foul play apparent
So what do I think happened to Sahray?
I think by now it's becoming obvious that she is not missing voluntarily. Her laptop and cellphone were found in some bushes in her apartment complex, which indicates to me that she never made it away from her complex the morning she was last seen -- when she reportedly left on foot for work a week ago. Two persons of interest could mean that a couple -- male & female -- are behind her disappearance. Of course, it could mean the opposite as well. These persons of interest haven't been identified, but if Sahray never left her apartment complex (as evidence shows me) then this could mean that the persons of interest either live in or near the same complex.
There aren't any more details available in this case, so there isn't much room left for speculation -- aside from the obvious fear surrounding recent Cal State campus attacks. There have been at least one report each of an attempted sexual assault and attempted abduction of coeds on the campus -- which is just across the street from Sahray's apartment complex.
Officials in San Bernardino have their work cut out for them in this disappearance.
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My thoughts on the Anjelica Hadsell disappearance
In fact, Wesley provided more than I could have ever hoped for in a live interview. Even though he couldn't reveal a lot of sensitive information -- such as names -- he was able to reveal information that had never been addressed in the media. He revealed that AJ's jacket has allegedly been found in the possession of a person that Wesley feels is a person of interest in her disappearance. He also revealed that pieces of credit card that were found looked suspiciously clean -- insinuating that someone had planted the evidence.
During the interview with Wesley -- which lasted approximately 30 minutes -- I paid extra attention to his speech patterns, his breathing and his other audible behaviors. One thing that stood out to me immediately was his constant sniffing, which can be explained by recent crying (given the current situation with his daughter this would be a rational explanation). His voice broke while speaking about Anjelica -- an indication of fighting back tears, or choking on the tightening of one's throat brought on by anxiety.
I am fully aware of Wesley Hadsell's criminal record. I'm also more than aware that a person's past isn't always an indicator of their present or future behavior. In other words, I'm not convinced that Wesley's prior run-ins with the law have anything to do with the disappearance of his daughter Anjelica Hadsell. I believe that it's dangerous and unhelpful to set my sights on one aspect or element in this case that may or may not be related. Tunnel vision isn't helpful when this young woman is missing under circumstances that are still, frankly, very shaky and hard to decipher and piece together definitively.
My first impression of Wesley Hadsell was that of a parent who is worried and in grief, because he deep down suspects that he knows what happened to her. Having had more than one discussion with Hadsell, I was able to determine that he suspects someone in particular in AJ's disappearance and even though he wishes he can share all the details, he can't because of the investigation. He seemed really offended that people on the internet were bringing up his criminal past in connection to his daughter's disappearance, and rightfully so. Some of the comments made about him online are going beyond mention of his past, crossing into very personal territory. This is why he seemed dedicated to clarifying his story and sharing as many details as he could.
Until I'm shown something different, I'm going to believe that Wesley Hadsell is a grieving parent who is struggling with the attention this case is getting while trying to push for answers and/or justice. I know this may come as a disappointment to some of the folks out there who believe that Wesley Hadsell is somehow responsible for his 18-year-old daughter's disappearance, but I'm simply choosing to reserve full judgment until I am shown more details in this case. In particular, I'd really like law enforcement in the area to come out with some kind of statements either confirming or denying what Wesley has told me.
So what do I think happened to Anjelica Hadsell?
Piecing together the details her father shared with me, it's apparent that this young woman is not missing voluntarily. I don't believe she left on her own free will, and I don't believe she's avoiding detection while missing voluntarily for all this time. Like her loved ones, I believe that something happened to her. If it's true that her jacket was found in someone's possession, I believe the best bet would be with this individual being a person of interest and potential suspect in her disappearance and possible demise. I think until police come out with evidence that compliments or contrasts against the details that exist so far, this is one of the only logical theories to have -- unless, of course, you're someone who believes that her father had something to do with her disappearance.
What do you think happened to Anjelica Hadsell? Are you someone who believes what her father said on Sunday's podcast, or do you think his interview was full of red flags?
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Where have all the posts gone?
For the past four years, I've chosen to let this blog stay in that direction, choosing not to have Adsense on the blog. That was until about two months ago. I was given the opportunity to have Adsense turned back on, but I had to clean the blog up and remove all signs of profanity from it. So, without really putting much thought into it, I deleted almost every blog post.
I've realized I shouldn't have done that. It was lame of me to delete years of written analysis. It was lame for me to do this in hopes of getting Adsense turned back on this blog. I have Adsense on my other blogs, and I get paid for my writing elsewhere.
So, I've decided to get back to basics on the Case to Case blog.
You know what that means. ;)
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Crime Scene Media for daily current events coverage
Hey guys, just taking a minute to remind everyone that reads this blog to go to Crime Scene Media (click to visit blog) to get your daily dose of current events.
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My thoughts on the arrest of Wesley Hadsell
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| Anjelica (missing) pictured with adoptive/stepfather Wesley Hadsell (currently in jail) Source: Facebook |
Before I begin with this post, I want to repeat that I have reserved judgment over whether or not I suspect Wesley in the disappearance of his daughter ( -- note -- readers have taken issue with me referring to her as his daughter, but that is how her family identifies with him). I have refused to judge him based on his past, because I am a firm believer in the idea that a person's past doesn't necessarily define every move they make in the future. However, I am also more than aware that human beings are creatures of habit, and with many personality types their past actions can very well be true indicators of their future actions. There is also the fact that I have a little experience in seeing an innocent person found guilty in the court of public opinion. When there is no evidence against someone -- no matter how suspicious you think they are -- it's wrong to go after them.
Back in 2012 when Anchorage woman Samantha Koenig went missing, her community united against one man, believing that he had to be responsible, based on nothing more than the fact that a restraining order had existed between them in the past. However, he was innocent. He never did anything to Samantha. She was the victim of serial killer Israel Keyes. Before the public was made aware of this shocking fact, the innocent young man had been made a pariah of his community and had even been thrown out of school. His family -- including his mother and siblings -- even received death threats. Had anyone actually taken out vigilante justice on this man at the time they would have been doing so against an innocent man, all based on his past and the crowd he ran with at the time.
So, ever since that case, I have been very cautious about how I express myself when it comes to people involved in these cases. There was a time that I would flagrantly throw out accusations at family members of missing or murdered people, but the Samantha Koenig case changed that part of me for the very reason that people can be falsely accused and put through hell on no evidence at all by a public that should wait for more details -- myself included.
Anyway, let's examine these new circumstances, shall we?
I believe Wesley lied to me. He insinuated during the interview on my podcast Case to Case with Chelsea Hoffman that police found Anjelica's jacket in the possession of a possible person of interest. However, the charges against him indicate that he broke into this person's home and searched through their belongings. Media reports reveal that Wesley Hadsell is the one who found Anjelica's jacket in this person's home -- a person who is not yet being identified. This is what he said during the 30-minute interview on my podcast:
"Lets just say that my daughters jacket, because I’m not going to beat around the bush, my daughter’s jacket that she was wearing when she saw me last, that someone recognized as she was driving as a dark navy blue color - something up top - obviously that’s the jacket, her Longwood softball jacket with her name stenciled in it, now that was found in this guy’s possession hidden in his house. Now the police did verify that information, never showed us a picture. That was on Saturday the first week. Understand that the case moved this past Monday, you know, they brought some new detectives on board."
As you can see (if you don't have time to listen to the whole interview), he insinuated in our interview that police or detectives had found the jacket. However, 10 WAVY News reports that Wesley Hadsell allegedly broke into this person's home and discovered the jacket himself -- not the authorities. Wesley said the following today:
“I found my daughter’s jacket in his couch rolled up behind the cushion."
Clearly, the statement given to me and the statement made today are starkly different. These aren't just minor difference that can be explained away as him being nervous, or mis-remembering.
No. He lied to me.
Why would Wesley Hadsell lie about being the one to find his daughter's jacket? Why would he tell me during a live broadcast of Case to Case that police found the jacket and that he wanted it properly identified? Why are facts being reported differently now that he's being arrested?
To be clear, Wesley Hadsell has admitted to breaking and entering and finding the jacket supposedly belonging to his missing daughter. He admitted to digging through the belongings of the people who live in the home, and he admitted to punching their dog out of anger -- a deeply upsetting detail. Hadsell told police that he reportedly found Anjelica's jacket rolled up behind a cushion on this person's couch.
Did Wesley Hadsell plant evidence?
It's not a pleasant question to ask. I realize this. But it's also a valid question. Like I said, he lied me. Why wouldn't he get his story straight on whether or not police found the jacket? Why lie and say they did, when he's the one who did? The fact that he lied directly to me when given the chance to speak truth, plants the seed of suspicion -- a seed that already quietly and faintly existed, but he planted it personally and nurtured the growth of it.
Now his explanation is that he couldn't handle sitting so close to the home of the person who may have last seen her. He said he took it upon himself to break in and do his own little investigation. That's when he said he found the jacket -- but to me this all just reeks of dishonesty now.
On the other hand, this could also be a big unfortunate turn of events that isn't what it seems (and right now it seems fishy as hell). Keep in mind that parents of missing people have been charged with similar crimes before, as do other family members and friends. When Heather Elvis disappeared her father's close friends were arrested for interfering with the investigation as well. My point is that it happens. So it's possible that Wesley is still telling the truth about not harming his daughter. However, that doesn't change the fact that he lied.
Back to the question at hand -- do I think he planted AJ's jacket at the unidentified location? I don't know, but if I were to speculate about it I'd say that it is damned possible. In fact, this tiny little suspicion comes from the fact that he told me during our interview that his brother took photos of someone who supposedly found pieces of AJ's credit/debit card. It seemed strange that he mentioned that point, as if he and his brother wanted to really nail down the point that they took photographic proof that it was someone else who found the evidence. I find it odd that anybody would have the presence of mind to do this unless they were really wanting a specific person or persons to look guilty of a crime, or if they were trying to deflect attention away from themselves. When he was interviewed after his arrest, Wesley denied planting the evidence before anyone would even ask him.
"I was just trying to make the evidence come to light. It’s not like I had the jacket, I didn’t plant the jacket, I didn’t know anything about that. It was the fact of the overwhelming information that led me there."
The last sentence stands out to me. Is he saying he knew the jacket was there beforehand? How did he know about the jacket beforehand if he did? His comments to the media -- his speech patterns -- are the same as with his interview on my podcast. It seems as though he makes a comment saying one thing, and then follows it up with a comment that casts doubt on his last one. Could this be a sort of nervous tick or reaction to being dishonest? Could this be his way of leaking? (click here to learn about leaking)
So, is it possible that Wesley (either alone or with the help of someone else) planted evidence in the case in order to protect himself or someone else regarding the disappearance of his daughter? Or, is this all just a big misunderstanding that comes from his inability to control his temper and trust someone else to have control of a given situation? Or, could it be a little bit of both? These are all thoughts to ponder.
Did Wesley Hadsell kill Anjelica Hadsell?
There are little red flags in this case that reach beyond Wesley's criminal past. However, his criminal past is a solid indicator that he does in fact have the capacity to commit acts of violence. While I have publicly spoken out against using his past to judge him -- and I still stand firm in that -- the fact of the matter is that he does in fact have this criminal past, and now he has absolutely, completely and totally implicated himself in the disappearance of his own adoptive stepdaughter AJ Hadsell.
He didn't implicate himself in this crime by merely having this past from over a decade ago. He didn't implicate himself by refusing to answer questions about the incidents that took place a decade ago -- even though a lot of trolls on the internet have and are currently dwelling on his criminal record.
He implicated himself when his story didn't add up -- when he began to over explain himself and when he began to lie. However, just because he implicated himself doesn't mean he is guilty of a crime beyond the charges he currently faces. Police have noted that he is not a suspect -- however he said in the following video that they accused him directly of knowing what happened to her. To me, that says all that needs to be said: This man is a suspect in the murder of his own adoptive daughter. But why aren't police being clear about that with the public?
It's disappointing that Wesley Hadsell lied to me during our lengthy interview, but the interview served a valid purpose in showing that he is being inconsistent in his stories. But why is Wesley being inconsistent? Is he hiding a horrifying secret, or is he simply getting too caught up in the nightmare of having a missing loved one?I'm still being observant. I'm still refraining from sharing a solid opinion on this case until I see some hard evidence from the authorities in Norfolk that goes in one direction or the other. However, I'm not going to hide the fact that there are numerous theories floating around in my mind right now about this case -- some involving Wesley, and some not involving Wesley. I'm also not going to hide that it looks goddamned suspicious for a man to be so evasive and deflective as Wesley is being, even though I'm aware that there could be many factors contributing to this that don't necessarily point to guilt.
I look forward to seeing what evidence -- if any -- Norfolk authorities have in this case.
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Part II: My thoughts on Wesley Hadsell
I'm going to do this in FAQ form to try to make it easier to understand for those of you who are having such a hard time. I've seen some comments lately that are falsely attributing ideas and opinions to me because some people chose to interpret my writing in a way that wasn't quite accurate.
Why did I refuse to cover Wesley Hadsell's criminal past?
Because there was no evidence at the time, or currently, to indicate that Wesley's criminal record has anything to do with Anjelica Hadsell's disappearance. In the U.S. justice system, when you serve your sentence you are paying your debt to society. Once that debt to society is paid, you have the right to a fresh start. With Wesley not being in any trouble over the course of the past decade, I saw no reason to go after him the way many people have done. I would much rather wait for some actual evidence worth looking at before I form a solid opinion -- and I shouldn't have to remind everyone that the authorities in Norfolk have not produced any evidence against Wesley or anybody else for that matter.
In my honest opinion, it's reckless to accuse someone of a crime without any evidence other than a decade-old criminal record -- and I've been reckless in the past before, so I know what reckless looks like.
Do I believe that Wesley planted Anjelica's jacket in the home he allegedly broke-into?
I honestly do not know. The answer is really just that simple. However, I've seen comments that are attacking me for questioning this possibility, accusing me of "flip-flopping," among other things. To be clear: Just because I ask a question in one of my headlines or blog posts, does not mean that I am making a declarative statement. Just because I asked if Wesley Hadsell planted AJ Hadsell's jacket in someone else's home, does not mean that I am accusing him of doing such a thing. I'm simply asking a question that is already hovering over this case in light of the latest developments.
Do I think Wesley Hadsell is a suspect in the disappearance and/or demise of Anjelica Hadsell?
Yes, I do think he's a suspect. However, that doesn't mean I think he's guilty. Police investigators are not infallible, and can definitely make mistakes. It's very easy for even investigative authorities to get tunnel vision, especially when dealing with someone who already has a violent past. There are many cases I can site where a suspect has been chosen on little more than their past offenses, leading to no solutions. One such case would be the disappearance of Michelle Parker, who vanished in 2011. Her estranged fiancee has been the prime suspect for years based on their rocky relationship and his known violent past. However, no evidence has ever proven useful against him and he has never been arrested. Authorities in Florida still insist that he's their guy, but it doesn't look like they're correct at this point. I'm not saying that Anjelica's disappearance is the same as Michelle's, but situations like Michelle's case are the reason why I am not always convinced when police declare a suspect.
Do I think Wesley Hadsell is responsible for Anjelica's disappearance?
This is a question I keep getting asked. And for some reason -- even though I've refrained from answering this particular question -- there are some folks out there who believe I have answered it. I haven't answered this question and I do not plan to answer it until I see forensic evidence that goes in one direction or the other. I don't make willy-nilly predictions without reasonable evidence. I have stated that I'm disappointed that Wesley was dishonest with me -- and the people who have listened to my show, but his dishonesty could be for other reasons. Could he be responsible for AJ's disappearance? Absolutely, but he could also be completely innocent.
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My thoughts on the Denise Huskins disappearance
Authorities have announced that this missing woman's boyfriend has been questioned, but it hasn't been confirmed regarding whether or not he's been cleared or if police even buy his claims. Meanwhile, the FBI and other agencies are involved in the search and are indeed treating this like a kidnapping for ransom situation.
There are many details not available yet to the public -- details that can paint a clearer picture of what may have happened to Denise Huskins. However, it's important to note that most crimes against women are committed by romantic partners, and in most cases police suspect the last person to see a missing person. In this case, the last person to see Denise was her boyfriend -- which is of immediate concern. However, the fact that agencies are treating this as reported is a concern as well.
Who would want to kidnap a woman and hold her for ransom? Right now my thoughts are clouded with suspicion toward the last person to see her before this strange, random disappearance. Until evidence proves otherwise, I'm just not sure I believe the reported details in this case so far.
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My thoughts on the Noah Terry Thomas disappearance
I want to examine the circumstances surrounding this child's disappearance, and take a look at the various theories in his case that can be considered. Did this child really wander away on his own into the dangers of the great outdoors -- or did he fall victim to foul play?
Noah's mother told authorities that she brought the child with her when she drove her husband to work on Sunday morning. She said that it was around or before 7:00 a.m. Between that time and approximately 9:30-10:00 a.m., she realized that the lad was missing.
It is assumed that Noah wandered out of the home, but no evidence has been published in the media to confirm this without a shadow of a doubt.
Authorities have declared that the boy's parents have been cooperative in the search and investigation, but what hasn't been addressed is whether or not the mother or the father have taken polygraph tests to clear them of involvement. Since authorities have expressed frustration that there have been no developments in the search over the past three days, it seems like common sense to at least clear them of misleading authorities. Now, let me clarify that this post is meant in no way whatsoever to accuse the family as their community searches for their lost child. However, it's a statistical fact that most crimes against children are indeed committed by custodial relatives -- in particular, parents. It's important to clear them of involvement, at the very least, to make sure that every avenue has been exhausted in the search for Noah.
Furthermore, if Noah was able to wander off and disappear so mysteriously -- what was his mother doing in this amount of time that she was unaware of what her son was doing? Keep in mind that there is a window of time from a little after 7:00 a.m., until around 10:00 a.m. -- around three hours, give or take.
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Justice denied: My thoughts on the Amanda Knox verdict
In other words, I believe there was no justice in Italy on Friday night. The system completely failed Meredith Kercher.
A tremendous amount of evidence existed against Amanda Knox, Raffaele Sollecito and Rudy Guede that indicated all three of them were involved in the murder of Meredith Kercher. This is completely contrary to the mantra chanted by Knox's devoted fan club. Of course, Knox had a stellar PR team here in the United States -- a PR team that strategically controlled the tone of the media coverage about her here in the United States.
Like George Zimmerman, Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson, Knox has found herself luckier than the average killer. Like all three of the aforementioned acquitted persons, there was just enough evidence to create a rift between the public -- between people who believed she was guilty, and people who wanted to believe in her innocence so much that they allowed themselves to be completely manipulated by the PR-powered media coverage and the obscene amount of misinformation that still exists about this case.
Today, Amanda is a free woman. She lives in Seattle almost flaunting the fact that she was released after so much evidence seemed to prove that she was -- at the least -- involved in staging a break-in and obstructing justice in the case of Meredith Kercher's murder. At the least, her behavior indicated that she had inside knowledge of Meredith's slaying, and at the most the evidence indicated that she was directly involved. Nonetheless, the highest court in Italy has decided to simply let her go.
But why?
My thoughts on this are varied. Right now none of us are fully aware of the reasoning behind the judges' decision to overturn Knox's conviction. They have a couple of months before they have to publish their official reasoning, but they could publish it at any time. In the meantime, there is plenty of gossip and speculation surrounding why Italy decided to let Amanda Knox go after so many years of insisting that she was involved in a horribly gruesome murder. One popular theory is that they simply decided that it would be nearly impossible to get her extradited from the U.S. back to Italy where she would have served close to 30 years. This isn't so much declaring Knox's innocence so much as declaring their desire to simply move on from this polarizing case.
Regardless of the official reasons for the acquittal there is one thing that has been made clear: There will be no justice for Meredith Kercher. Just like there will be no justice for Caylee Marie Anthony, Trayvon Martin or even Nicole Brown Simpson. Sometimes, people get away with murder, and there's nothing that can prevent that.
Do you want to talk about Amanda Knox's case? Don't miss Sunday's podcast!
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Part II: My thoughts on Anjelica Hadsell disappearance
People are apparently divided on their opinions regarding the mother of AJ Hadsell. That's because many are taken aback by Jennifer Busby Hadsell's recent on-camera confrontation with a local news crew. She reportedly shouted at them and essentially kicked them off of her property after Wesley Hadsell had declared in a jailhouse interview that he wanted more media time dedicated to AJ's case. Some people believe that she's acting suspiciously, especially since she's been extremely quiet over the course of Anjelica's case. From day-one Wesley has been the one talking in the media, in apparent control of the family's interaction with reporters and interviews. Jennifer had only spoken once or twice -- never on camera -- only sharing that she was suspicious of text messages that may or may not have come from AJ.
Meanwhile, Wesley Hadsell remains jailed on numerous charges including obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of ammunition. More details have come out about his arrest, which definitely throw him right into the spotlight as a suspicious character in his adoptive daughter's disappearance. It's been revealed that a scale with cocaine residue was also found when he was arrested, and he had hidden the gun ammunition in the vent of the air conditioner in the motel room where he had been staying. Come to find out -- confirmed through authorities and mainstream media -- he and Jennifer Busby Hadsell had been separated. However, it is not known for a fact yet if they were separated before or after Anjelica's disappearance. However, I must note that at the time of our interview he did not indicate in any way that they were separated. Instead, he strongly indicated that his family unit was strongly bonded.
Wesley reportedly admitted to "increasing his cocaine use,"-- a revelation that is definitely a troublesome one. He also reportedly told police that they would never find the gun that goes with the ammunition that police found hidden in the AC vent.
On the surface these details look extremely suspicious. They are disturbing details that leave Wesley completely open to speculation regarding whether or not he was involved in Anjelica's disappearance. Police have been careful not to call him a suspect in his adoptive daughter's case, but he has admitted on camera that police directly accused him of involvement. Nonetheless, police have also somewhat confirmed some of what Wesley had told me during our interview (which can be heard hear in case you missed it). During our interview, Wesley told me that authorities had interrogated a "possible person of interest" at least three times. He said that his daughter's jacket was found in this person's home. Of course, the truth of the matter is that he found the jacket after he reportedly entered the person's home illegally.
Police have confirmed that he broke into the home of a person they had interrogated. So they acknowledge that someone was interrogated, but this person's name still hasn't been publicized. This minor fact indicates that Wesley's interview may not have been completely full of lies. So there is still a possibility that Wesley isn't actually a suspect, but someone who is impeding the investigation surrounding actual suspects. That's just a thought to consider, nothing more.Some discussion on social media alludes to the idea that Wesley had threatened people prior to his arrest, including the person who lives in the home that Wesley had broken into. However, prosecutors have specifically said that "four people knew about the home break-in, and therefore felt threatened." This doesn't necessarily mean that he literally threatened any person(s). However, that doesn't mean that these four people didn't have reason to feel threatened. I was just trying to draw attention to the possible difference in wordage used in media, vs social media gossip.
Who do we trust in Anjelica Hadsell's disappearance?
Is her mom behaving strangely or is her adoptive father behaving strangely? The simple answer to this 'both and neither.' What I mean is that it's hard to gauge with 100% certainty who is being the grieving parent when Anjelica vanished nearly a month ago. On one hand, Wesley appears to be showing the
most emotion regarding the disappearance of his adoptive daughter. He's cried, shedding actual tears, and he's begged for attention to be given to her disappearance. However, this behavior could be indicative of guilt just as it could be indicative of innocence -- depending on the situation. The same can be said of Jennifer's behavior. However, I feel in my gut that she's just a stressed out mother who is going through an apparent separation from her husband at the same time that her daughter has gone missing. She's under the watchful eye of a scrutinizing public and the story-hungry media. She's under a lot of pressure and is probably coping with it in this way because everyone copes with trouble differently.I still want to believe that Wesley is a stressed father who is having a hard time handling the disappearance of his daughter. If you completely subtract his criminal record from the equation, his behavior would probably be understandable, and maybe even defensible up to a point. After all, it's not uncommon for father's of missing girls/women to kind of go off the deep end. An example of this could be the Heather Elvis disappearance. Her father Terry Elvis has come close to inciting vigilante justice numerous times. How he's avoided arrest is beyond me. The point is that these things do happen, especially when a father is very devoted as a father to the girls in his life.
However, Wesley's behavior can also be indicative of criminality. His comment that police will never find the gun that went with the 9mm ammo that was in his possession just doesn't sit right with me at all. It's possible that the gun could have been intended for someone he suspects to be responsible for AJ's disappearance, but there is also another possibility -- and I think that it's rather obvious without having to spell it out. The bottom line: Police need to look for that gun, while they're looking for Anjelica. They should also consider administering polygraph tests where necessary.
I have a lot more to say, but that's coming in a different post...
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My thoughts on the so called Vallejo ransom kidnapping
This case has become a story stranger than fiction with all the twists and turns of a Hollywood script. In fact, there are elements in this case that are inspired by the over-the-top plots found in movies like Gone Girl and Ocean's 11 -- and anonymous emails have even mentioned at least one of those movies. To avoid being redundant, you can read all the details of this case in the following timeline. This post is going to focus more on my thoughts surrounding the facts as they're known.
Was the kidnapping really a hoax?
Human beings are fallible, and so are police officers and detectives. Is it possible that authorities are wrong about Denise's case being a hoax? In my opinion, if this disappearance was not a hoax, then at least one of the agencies involved would acknowledge evidence that an abduction had taken place. FBI agents and authorities with the Department of Homeland Security assisted in the effort to find Denise; Not just the Vallejo Police Department. While there is still a tiny sliver of a chance that an abduction did in fact take place, it seems way more likely that the authorities did a thorough job finding out the authenticity of the so called Vallejo ransom kidnapping.
Were other people involved?
Assuming this was truly a hoax, were Denise Huskins and her boyfriend Aaron Quinn the only individuals involved? The confusion that surrounds this case makes it easy to speculate the possibility that maybe a third or fourth person may have been involved -- though the likelihood of this isn't known, since officials haven't quite released the evidence in this case that was used to determine it was a hoax.
Why $8,500?
The ransom amount was really low, and it was a pretty specific amount. It also seems like an insulting amount for someone to go through the trouble of kidnapping a living breathing person for ransom. After all, these are crimes that can put you in prison for life, so $8.5k is like pennies in that regard. However, there are stupid criminals out there who have killed people for far less, so it isn't entirely out of the question for someone to be dumb enough to plan a kidnapping for such a low ransom amount. Nonetheless, I wouldn't be surprised if Denise Huskins had some kind of debt in that amount (or close). Or at the least, that amount of money has some kind of importance to her immediate surroundings (boyfriend, coworker, friend, acquaintance?).
What's up with all the emails?
Someone has been sending threatening emails demanding that police in Vallejo apologize to Denise and her boyfriend for calling the disappearance a "hoax." However, an ultimatum they had issued has since been retracted. The emails reek of desperation, and they're even a tad immature -- or rather, simpleminded. For example, one email sent to The San Francisco Chronicle claimed that the kidnappers were part of a group like Ocean's 11. The whole story told by the so called kidnapper(s) appears to be fabricated and based on a Hollywood movie. What's more, the details of the disappearance from the beginning were over the top and seemed to superficially echo action movies in which someone is kidnapped and held for ransom.
The desperate tone of the emails comes after police declared the kidnapping to be a hoax, and after police have confirmed that both Huskins and her boyfriend may face charges. I want to state that never in my life of studying and researching crimes of similar nature have I seen a kidnapper or attempted killer or killer come forward to protect the credibility of his victim after getting away with a crime.
Let me clarify: Never before have I heard of a first-time kidnapper rushing to the defense of his victim after literally getting away with the crime. This is the behavior that serial killers like Dennis Rader participate in after they get bored simply getting away with their crimes. This isn't the behavior of someone who has only just now barely gotten away with a crime.
Denise Huskins has issues that she needs to deal with. Either the people in her life are getting her into trouble or she's experiencing some kind of lapse from reality. That's just my honest opinion.
Why $8,500?
The ransom amount was really low, and it was a pretty specific amount. It also seems like an insulting amount for someone to go through the trouble of kidnapping a living breathing person for ransom. After all, these are crimes that can put you in prison for life, so $8.5k is like pennies in that regard. However, there are stupid criminals out there who have killed people for far less, so it isn't entirely out of the question for someone to be dumb enough to plan a kidnapping for such a low ransom amount. Nonetheless, I wouldn't be surprised if Denise Huskins had some kind of debt in that amount (or close). Or at the least, that amount of money has some kind of importance to her immediate surroundings (boyfriend, coworker, friend, acquaintance?).
What's up with all the emails?
Someone has been sending threatening emails demanding that police in Vallejo apologize to Denise and her boyfriend for calling the disappearance a "hoax." However, an ultimatum they had issued has since been retracted. The emails reek of desperation, and they're even a tad immature -- or rather, simpleminded. For example, one email sent to The San Francisco Chronicle claimed that the kidnappers were part of a group like Ocean's 11. The whole story told by the so called kidnapper(s) appears to be fabricated and based on a Hollywood movie. What's more, the details of the disappearance from the beginning were over the top and seemed to superficially echo action movies in which someone is kidnapped and held for ransom.
The desperate tone of the emails comes after police declared the kidnapping to be a hoax, and after police have confirmed that both Huskins and her boyfriend may face charges. I want to state that never in my life of studying and researching crimes of similar nature have I seen a kidnapper or attempted killer or killer come forward to protect the credibility of his victim after getting away with a crime.
Let me clarify: Never before have I heard of a first-time kidnapper rushing to the defense of his victim after literally getting away with the crime. This is the behavior that serial killers like Dennis Rader participate in after they get bored simply getting away with their crimes. This isn't the behavior of someone who has only just now barely gotten away with a crime.
Denise Huskins has issues that she needs to deal with. Either the people in her life are getting her into trouble or she's experiencing some kind of lapse from reality. That's just my honest opinion.
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Wesley Hadsell exclusive jailhouse interview Part I
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My thoughts on the Ashley Summers cold case -- Is she alive and living a life of crime?
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| Summer before her disappearance (left) Mystery woman shown on recent security footage (right) |
When Amanda, Gina and Michelle were rescued from Ariel Castro's basement, Ashley's case gained revived attention. That's because it was rumored that Castro may have kidnapped her as well. In fact, when the Cleveland Three were rescued, the words R.I.P. Ashley were allegedly found on the basement wall. This inspired at least one renewed search for Summers, but nothing panned out as you probably suspect by now. Here it is now in 2015, and Ashley still hasn't been found, but hope has been renewed once more.
Is Ashley Summers alive?
Recent developments in Ashley's case indicate the possibility that she went missing voluntarily. Surveillance footage has surfaced that shows a woman that looks strikingly similar to the missing teen, who would be in her 20s now. The footage, which was taken by an ATM machine in Rhode Island -- approximately 700 miles east of Cleveland where Summer was last seen over seven years ago. Now the FBI is seeking this mystery woman for more than one reason. Not only is she being sought on charges of identity theft, but now authorities believe that she may be the missing teen.
So has Ashley Summers lived under the radar over the past seven+ years? She'd be around 22-years-old right now, far beyond the age of legal adulthood. If she was a willing/voluntary runaway, there'd be no reason for her to not get in touch with her loved ones around the time of her 18th birthday. If this is a case of a voluntary disappearance, why not call her mother and say "I'm okay, mom. Stop looking for me?"
What if she's alive but not necessarily missing under voluntary circumstances? Other security footage stills show her with a man, but the duo appear to be a romantic couple. Is there a possibility that the man shown in the footage is holding her against her will somehow? Could a theorized life of crime be blamed on an abduction? I'm not entirely certain of this, to be honest. In fact, I don't think this theory is correct at all.
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Is everybody wrong?What if the woman shown in security footage isn't Ashley Summers at all? I'm no facial recognition expert and I don't want to negate any of the work of facial recog experts that believe the woman is indeed Ashley -- but I'm not 100% convinced. In the enlarged photo above, you can see the mystery woman holding hands with the man in the car, after she is recorded using an ATM machine under a stolen identity. In my honest opinion, the woman appears to have a longer nose than Ashley Summers, but I could be totally wrong. I think this may just be a case of wishful thinking.
Nonetheless, I really hope the FBI can track down this couple, to at least eliminate the possibility that this is Ashley. Or, if this woman does end up being Ashley, it's about time that she is reunited with her family so that closure can be had.
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