They could face 30 years to life in prison if convicted. Trezell and Jacqueline West both pleaded not guilty to a pair of second-degree murder charges, two counts of willful cruelty to children and a single misdemeanor count of falsely reporting an emergency in the deaths of the West boys. Adrian West, now 12, will testify to what he heard and saw about the disappearances of Orrin, 4, and Orson, 3, reported as missing by their parents on December 21, 2020, prosecutor Eric Smith said Tuesday during his opening statement at the trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West, now charged with the boys murder. The bodies of the children haven't been found. "It's like people don't realize we are grieving we are hurting just like they are," West said. Yael Halon is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Unknown to Dean, CPS allowed Trezell and Jacqueline West to formally adopt the brothers in September 2020, the claim states. You have permission to edit this article. The agencys disregard of her concerns for the boys led to their deaths, according to the claim. Now, the boys . They lived with their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. This comes 18 months after they were reported missing from the California City home of their adoptive parents, Jaqueline and Trezell West. A huge search by law enforcement agencies and community members failed to find them. The county has 45 days to respond, he added. Timothy Hennessy, an attorney for Trezell West, said at a news conference in March that the couple should be considered innocent until proven guilty. So it's a lot of relief on our family.". In November 2018, Dean wrote a letter expressing her concerns about the lack of proper care her children received from the Wests, but nothing came of it. Her mother, Moorer, also filed requests to have the children placed in her care. They were ordered held without bail, with the judge calling them "a significant and substantial risk to public safety. Orsons DNA was excluded as a match, Kim added. The couple fostered them and then officially adopted them in 2019. Story tips can be sent to yael.halon@fox.com. Adamant testimony. This past December, Orrin and Orson's biological father, Charles Pettus, filed a lawsuit against Kern County, the county's child protective services agency, and the State of California,. The agent testified the information was forwarded to Bakersfield police. As the community continues holding vigils, the family is reminding everyone they're in deep pain too. Dean testified she lives in the Arlington, Texas area. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The adoptive parents, Trezell West, 35, and Jacqueline West, 32, entered pleas in a Bakersfield courtroom Thursday to two counts of second-degree murder, two felony counts of willful cruelty to a child and a misdemeanor charge of making a false report of an emergency. West said he realized that he had "left the gate open, and I panicked, came inside the house, searched the house, me and my wife. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter. Sun and clouds mixed. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Orrin and Orson West, who were 4 and 3, were reported missing in 2020. Its been 10 months and there are still no answers on the whereabouts of Orson and Orrin West, but the boys biological family is still holding out hope theyll be found safe. Video-footage enhancing technology. . The brothers had been through a lot in their young lives much of it in foster care. The Wests reported the boys missing from their California City home three months later on Dec. 21, 2020. Brothers Orson and Orrin West -- ages 3 and 4, respectively, were reported missing by their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. "I just know they were really good parents as far as I'm concerned," Wanda West, the grandmother of the toddlers said about the children's adoptive parents in an exclusive interview with ABC News Saturday. Video-footage enhancing technology. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But defense attorneys told the court that police simply didnt conduct a proper investigation, that they only interviewed a handful of 41 registered sex offenders living in California City, that they didnt follow up on tip from a woman in Texas who said she saw the toddlers, and that they never explained surveillance video showing a vehicle leaving the area of the Wests home shortly before Trezell West called 911 to report the boys missing. . Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said during a March 2 news conference announcing the charges that the boys bodies have never been found. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) Emotions were high as Orrin and Orson Wests' biological family learned more about the events leading up to their death. It was inconclusive if Orrin's DNA could match what was in the diaper. WNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. All rights reserved. Their biological father, Charles Pettus, has raised concerns about the adoption process and has filed a lawsuit against Kern County officials. Photo courtesy of the California City Police Department, Biological mother, grandmother of Cal City boys seek $40M from county, Judge grants motion to prohibit Cal City brothers' adoptive parents from visiting their other children, Judge hears motion to bar Cal City toddlers adoptive parents from visiting their other kids, JOSE GASPAR: Looking for Trezell and Jacqueline West, Judge grants gag order in case against adoptive parents of Cal City boys, Adoptive parents of Cal City boys plead not guilty to murder charges. I didnt know they even sent them out to other people.. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Dean was never given an explanation for the move, according to the lawsuit. Missing toddlers Orrin and Orson West are shown in undated family photos. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Other evidence showed the boys didn't contribute to the DNA left behind, according to Kim. [Featured image: Orrin and Olson West/handout], Rasheem Carter: More Remains Discovered of Man Found Decapitated With Severed Genitals in Mouth, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace: Handsome Tech Star Staggers Begging for Help, STABBED DEAD, Letecia Stauch Murder Trial: Expert Tracks Accused Killer Stepmoms Phone During, After Gannon Stauch Disappearance, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced that the investigation conducted has revealed that Orrin and Orson West are deceased, The investigation has also . She was allowed supervised visitation with her kids once they were cared for by a foster mother. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, For more details on the case and acloser look at some of today's most mysterious crime stories,join Fox Nationand watch"Crime Stories: Missing Boys.". The Wests reported the boys missing from California City, where they had moved from Bakersfield not long before. However, there were mattress covers in which Orrin could not be excluded as the DNAs contributor or it was inconclusive if Orson left the DNA behind. The bodies of Orrin and Orson have not been found. Orrin and Orson West, who were 4 and 3, were reported missing in 2020. The court also heard testimony Tuesday from David Hunter, an FBI agent who received a tip about the sighting of the two boys in Arlington, Texas. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter. Orrins biological father, Charles Pettus, said he gave Orrin two baths that day and nothing else happened, according to the claim. Hennessy represents Trezell West. Dean lost custody of then 3-month-old Orrin after he broke his leg while he was being cared for by Charles Pettus, the father of Orson. Tuesday also brought testimony from Jacqueline West's sister, who spoke about messages and calls with Jacqueline. The boys were in the care of another family, but in late 2018, without provocation, CPS placed Orrin and Orson into the Wests home for no reason, according to the claim. You have permission to edit this article. The only time Dean said she became aware the defendants had adopted the boys was after both were reported missing from California City. The suit alleges that shortly after they moved in with the West family, Dean "began to see a change in her children." Ryan Dean is the biological mother of Orrin and Orson, born Cincere and Classic. I was looking through family members phones and then we watched the news, thats how we found out, Pettus said. High near 70F. 25Wiretapped phone calls. From left, defense attorney Victor Nasser, defendant Trezell West, defense attorney Timothy Hennessy, defendant Jacqueline West and defense attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings listen as the prosecution delivers opening statements on March 28. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. Orrin and Orson West were born Cincere and Classic Pettus in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Charles Pettus is the biological father of Orrin and Orson, whose birth names were Classic and Cincere. "We have not ruled anyone out," Walker said. Im going to keep going until God calls me, Im here until the end.. The brothers whose names were changed by their adoptive parents to Orrin and Orson West were reported missing in December 2020. asked Torres Stallings. A request for comment was not returned Friday by the Kern County Counsels Office or by Kern County Human Services, which operates Child Protective Services. In 2018, Trazell (some reports spell it Trezol) and Jacqueline West became foster parents to Orrin and Orson after the Department of Human Services took them from their birth mother, Ryan Dean. The child said Orson West, 3, disappeared soon after. Their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West, have been charged with murder. Ryan Dean, the birth mother of Orrin and Orson, testified by Zoom after the agent. A prosecutor focused on evidence Wednesday demonstrating the movements of two California City toddlers who were reported missing by their adoptive parents in an effort to show theyve been murdered. Torres Stallings, who represents Jacqueline West, focused on one such visit. 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Later that day, a Memorial Hospital staff member informed Dean that Kern County Human Services would be taking Orrin because they believed he had been abused, the claim alleges. They lived with their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. Trezell West told Bakersfield ABC affiliate KERO, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. However, Dean testified she didn't know her kids were adopted or that their names were changed. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Dean said she wasn't present when it happened, but shortly afterward, the Department of Human Services took the boys from her. Adrian, the couples oldest biological child Orrin, Orson, and two other children were adopted will testify that he awoke one night to odd noises coming from Orrin and that he saw the color drain from his brothers face before he vomited and died, Smith told the court. The lack of toothbrushes and dirty diapers led California City police officers to believe the toddlers didnt live in California City, according to prior testimony. In announcing their arrests, Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said investigators believe the boys died three months before the parents reported them missing but she declined to provide details until the trial. This is a tragic accident is what the evidence will show, said Timothy Hennessy, one of Trezell Wests attorneys, in his opening statement. Torres Stallings also asked Dean if she's ever lied to law enforcement. Torres Stallings finished by asking if Dean had ever lied law enforcement in this investigation and Dean answered saying she did in the beginning. After Orson was brought home, a Kern County sheriffs deputy took him away because the Kern County Human Services officials said they remove siblings together, according to the claim. He heard the loud thump in the night never saw his brother again. A search by law enforcement agencies and community members yielded no results. They were 4 and 3 at the time they disappeared from their adoptive home. According to the claim, the damages were calculated from emotional distress, pain, suffering, humiliation and the loss of enjoyment of life. Jacqueline and Trezell West, the adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, sit in Kern County Superior Court at their arraignment March 3, 2022. The Wests have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, which include second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, child cruelty, falsely reporting an emergency, and conspiracy. Alekxia Torres Stallings, the attorney representing Jacqueline West, elicited testimony showing Kim did not receive the DNA straight from Orrin and Orson. The West family is shown with missing toddlers Orrin and Orson West in an undated family photo. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. They took my family, they took my kids away from me, my kids are my life, Pettus said. You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. She said she sent Christmas gifts in 2020, including building blocks for Orrin and Orson, and recalls seeing children during a video call, but couldn't remember exactly who all she saw. Torres Stallings has previously remarked on a California City police officers lack of training in interviewing child witnesses. Orrin West and Orson West were named Classic Pettus and Cincere Pettus at birth. 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Unfortunately, there's been no sign of the boys.". (Child Protective Services) failed here in Kern County.. Jacqueline West in other messages that day says she believes Orrin and Orson had certain characteristics from their biological parents, Perez said. The Department of Social Services said it could not comment, and the human services department could not immediately be reached for comment. Biological dad searches for sons who disappeared from back patio. Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said in March that the boys most likely died three months before they were reported missing. Kim was also tasked with analyzing DNA contained in mattress covers and blankets heaped on the childrens bunk beds in California City. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.. Overcast. Trezell and Jacqueline West have pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the deaths of Orrin and Orson West. No suspects or persons of interest have been named in the case at this time. Every DNA sample taken from a piece of evidence was compared to Trezell West, Jacqueline West, their two biological children, their two adopted children aside from Orrin and Orson and the biological parents of the toddlers who were reported missing. "They were playing with chalk [outside], I came into the house, I saw them there," West told KBAK/KBFX. "You were aggressive and confrontational with (Jacqueline West), correct?" 3, 2022. Ryan Dean is the biological mother of Orrin and Orson, born Cincere and Classic. A dirty diaper showed at least two people contributed to the DNA profile, Kim testified. But now the adoptive dad's family says they're targets -- not from authorities -- but from the public. Crime Stories with Nancy Grace on Fox Nation: Missing Boys. Ryan Dean, the birth mother of Orrin and Orson, testified by Zoom after the agent. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West, have been charged with their deaths. Every DNA sample taken from a piece of evidence was compared to Trezell West, Jacqueline West, their two biological children, their two adopted children aside from Orrin and Orson and the biological parents of the toddlers who were reported missing. Dean said she has an apartment in Arlington and goes back and forth between residences. 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. Cinsere, then 3 months old, was removed from his mother's care in 2016 after Dean said she came home and found him "crying uncontrollably," according to the lawsuit, filed June 17, which alleges civil rights violation and wrongful death. "I just feel like I didnt deserve this," Dean said at a news conference Tuesday. The Wests' three other children also told law enforcement Orrin and Orson hadn't been seen for weeks when the Wests reported them missing on Dec. 21, 2020, according to testimony. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Judge Charles Brehmer, presiding over the trial, noted in court the case is moving along faster than expected and jury deliberations could begin by mid-to-late May. After reporting the missing toddlers to the California CityPolice, West alerted his community of their disappearance, gathering concerned neighbors and community members to join them in their search. Orrin and Orson were born to Charles Pettus ( Biological Father ). Charles Pettus is the biological father of Orrin and Orson, whose birth names were Classic and Cincere.The boys were removed from their biological mothers home by Child Protective Services and adopted by Trezell and Jacqueline West in September 2020. "Im not a criminal. Orrin and Orson West, 4 and 3, respectively, were reported missing from their home in . 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Defense attorneys have argued authorities immediately focused on the Wests and failed to consider others including members of the boys biological family while conducting their investigation. 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