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Who Killed Anjelica Hadsell? Murderous Stepfather Wesley Hadsell Poisoned Her With Heroine After Abu

Wesley Hadsell is a stepfather of 18 years Anjelica "AJ" Hadsell, who was discovered dead behind an abandoned property in Southampton County. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and hiding her corpse earlier this year.

Dateline NBC will run a new program on Friday on the 2015 death of Norfolk college student Anjelica "A.J." Hadsell. Dateline journalist Andrea Canning will report on the program, titled "The Jacket," which will air at 10 p.m. Friday.

According to an NBC News release, Canning questioned Wesley Hadsell, Norfolk police officer David Benjamin, and A.J. Hadsell's pals Corey French and Andre Barr.

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Who Is Wesley Hadsell And Where Is He Now?

Wesley Hadsell is Anjelica Hadsell's stepfather, and he was convicted of her murder and sentenced to the maximum allowed: life plus 15 years in April. 

Jennifer Wright, Aj's mother, stated that she and Wesley Hadsell met in 2010 and married a month later.

They have one child, who is now ten years old. Wright stated that she forced Hadsell out of the house in 2015 after discovering that he had been taking narcotics. Hadsell chose to stay in a motel near their house. 

Wright stated that she picked up AJ from Longwood University the weekend of March 2, 2015. AJ was a first-year student studying information technology and computer programming. She also played field hockey and club softball.

On the day AJ vanished, Hadsell phoned Wright at work to drop off his personal truck and pick up his business truck. She stated that she instructed him to leave the keys in the mailbox in case AJ wanted to go anywhere.

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When Wright returned home, she stated that AJ had left, but her wallet and coat remained in the house. The family also discovered that some of AJ's clothes were stolen, and a message was placed on the kitchen table.

"With everything going on, it's a lot to deal with," the message said. Wright stated that she was suspicious of the message since it did not make sense to her or her other daughters.

However, weeks later officers discovered her, half-buried in a drainage ditch behind an abandoned house in Southampton County, near the border with North Carolina.

The 2015 murder of Norfolk college student Anjelica “A.J.” Hadsell will be the focus of a new episode of Dateline NBC set to air Friday.https://t.co/jd4dFBVaKI

— The Virginian-Pilot (@virginianpilot) June 2, 2022

The medical examiner stated that she died as a result of severe heroin intoxication and "homicidal violence". Her heroin level was three times the deadly level, and her eyes and chin were darkened and damaged.

The examiner, however, was unable to identify whether she had been sexually abused due to animal and insect damage to her body.

Hadsell was not charged with anything in the case until 2018. 

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Anjelica Hadsell's Stepfather Wesley Hadsell Was Arrested And Charged For Her Murder

Anjelica Hadsell's stepfather, Wesley Hadsell was arrested and charged with her murder in April 2022. His first trial began in Southampton County in 2020, but it was deemed a mistrial after just two days due to a dispute over what evidence the jury should be permitted to hear.

His most recent trial started in April 2022. The prosecutors said Hadsell abducted A.J. as she was folding clothes and listening to music in the living room.

Hadsell had been booted out of the house by his wife several days before due to his drug usage and unpredictable conduct. When her mother arrived home later, the laundry was half-folded and music was still playing on the speaker.

Prosecutors suspect Hadsell kidnapped A.J. in order to sexually attack her, and that A.J. was slain the next day.

Nearly seven years after 18-year-old Anjelica “A.J.” Hadsell was found dead behind an abandoned Southampton County home, her stepfather Wesley Hadsell was convicted of her murder. https://t.co/AOf5nYrBET

— Times-Dispatch (@RTDNEWS) February 8, 2022

Prosecutor Toni Colvin told jurors that Wesley Hadsell kidnapped A.J. and planned to sexually attack her. Anjelica aka A.J. died of a severe heroin overdose and "homicidal violence," according to the medical examiner, who was unable to establish if she had been raped.

According to Colvin, a line of bruises found across her chest was compatible with someone placing an arm across it. Furthermore, the bruising on her chin was likely caused by someone gripping it hard in their hands, maybe to compel her to consume the deadly dose of heroin.

"He mistreated her, beat her, and then poisoned her with heroin," Colvin testified to the jury. Following that, Hadsell attempted to divert authorities by fabricating a series of falsehoods and putting evidence in different locations.

Some of his fabrications include breaking into the house of one of A.J.'s male friends and concealing a jacket with her name stitched on it among his belongings, according to the prosecution.

Prosecutors dismissed defense counsel James Ellenson's contention that A.J. committed suicide by overdosing on a migraine medicine she was taking.

Ellenson stated that A.J. was upset about her connection with her boyfriend Corey and had been downloading photographs with suicide comments in the days preceding her disappearance.

Wesley Hadsell Verdict And Sentence

The jury in Wesley Hadsell's murder trial ached a verdict and convicted him guilty of first-degree murder and concealing of a corpse in the killing of his adopted stepdaughter, AJ.

In April 2022, he was sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years.

Norfolk police discovered heroin stashed in a fissure near the ceiling of a hotel room where Hadsell was residing after his wife kicked him out. Officer Matt Burnham of the Norfolk Police Department testified that he checked Hadsell's hotel room a few weeks after A.J. went missing.

Inside, he discovered a little baggie containing a white substance subsequently identified as heroin, as well as two boxes of 9mm ammunition.

Furthermore, Hadsell's drug supplier testified that he supplied him heroin the day after A.J. went missing.

A cadaver dog trained to detect the odor of rotting remains alerted on an area of Hadsell's motel room but ignored anything in his work vehicle.

Here's more from the sentencing hearing for Wesley Hadsell, who will serve life plus 15 years for the 2015 murder of his adopted daughter, Anjelica “A.J.” Hadsell.

Story via @janeharpervp:https://t.co/S9TRL68JWf

— The Virginian-Pilot (@virginianpilot) April 4, 2022

Burnham discovered a shovel and duct tape in the rear of Hadsell's work van, as well as a hair band between the seats. There was also a photo of A.J. in the vehicle, but none of her sisters were there.

According to Pilot Online, A GPS gadget in the vehicle directed officers to an abandoned house on Smith Ferry Road in Franklin, where A.J. Hadsell's body was discovered.

The vehicle had driven there from Norfolk on March 4, two days after she went missing, according to the unit. Prosecutors said Wesley was also in the vicinity based on bank records and convenience shop security cameras.

Wesley and A.J. Hadsell's cell phone data also revealed that the two phones were pinging in the same locations the day after A.J. went missing.

After all these evidences and seven years after Aj's murder, he was finally announced guilty of killing and sentenced to prison.

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Abbie Anker

Update: 2024-05-21