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. Nine months later, they remain missing. Wednesday, Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer revealed new details in the murder indictment handed down Tuesday along with the news we had all feared would be coming. A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. She told The Sun that Child Protective Services (CPS) took the brothers, aged 3 and 4, from their biological parents right after birth. Trezell and Jacqueline West, the adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, appeared in court Thursday morning to be arraigned on two counts of 2nd-degree murder in a case that's drawn national attention. I cant comment on whether I think theyre alive or not, Walker told Nexstars KGET at the time. Orrin and Orson West were reported missing on January 21st, 2020 by their adoptive parents and still haven't been found. Police said the Wests were both charged on Tuesday with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of willful cruelty to a child. However, according to Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, the evidence indicates that the boys were dead for approximately three months before they were reported missing by the Wests. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a10bf63f89f3979 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", RELATED: Reward increases to $120K for missing CA toddlers; family says they're public targets. The Inquisitr is a registered trademark. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The judge ordered they be held without bail. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, 'Dark details' about boyfriend of US swim champ who mysteriously died, Disturbing red flags of Lindsay Clancy's psychosis before she 'killed 3 kids', Mysterious powder swamps US skies as residents report dust-covered cars, Manson Family member's death 'not a relief' to model who avoided Sharon Tate attack, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Orson West (pictured) and his brother were reported missing in December of 2020, Credit: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, It was announced this week that Orson and Orrin (pictured) are believed to be dead, Their adoptive parents, Trezell (left) and Jacqueline West (right), were arrested, were last seen playing in the backyard of their home. pic.twitter.com/tj9KKZFQV0. Zimmer said she could not comment on whether there would be any more arrests. [] This is not a resolution in this case and there will not be a resolution completely in this case until these boys are brought home. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Orrin and Orson West were first reported missing from their home in California City on Dec. 21, 2020. 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A grand jury indicted the boys' adoptive parents this week, Kern District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer told reporters. Trezell and Jacqueline West detail the moments before and after the boys went missing. 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. Copyright 2023 The Inquisitr. "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. Jacqueline and Trezell are accused of killing the two young boys in December 2020. 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. 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. Orrin and Orson West Update: Are Their Bodies Found? There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The two brothers reportedly disappeared from Bakersfield, California in December of 2020 while playing in their backyard. The adoptive parents thanked the community for the outpouring of support. According to prosecutors, Orrin and Orson were killed three months before they were reported missing. The California City Police Department originally investigated the case, as the last place the boys were seen was at the home of their adoptive parents in Cal City. Now, over a year after they were last seen, Trezell and Jacqueline have been arrested for their murders. If you didnt do the right thing, do the right thing now and tell us where they are now. Wills said. Their adoptive parents, Trezell West, 35, and Jacqueline West, 32, claimed that the two boys disappeared from the backyard while playing. BPD said a detective has been assigned as the full0time lead investigator along with a team of detectives and crime analysts. The bodies of Orrin and Orson been found? She did not reveal how the boys were killed or other facts of the case. Biological father of Orson and Orrin West remains hopeful 10 months after their disappearance from California City. Orrin West, 4, and Orson West, 3, went missing one year ago, Tuesday. Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry also confirmed that the boys died prior to the search during a press conference. 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. According to the latest facts released by BPD, all associated family members including the adoptive and biological parents have been interviewed by police, some on multiple occasions. Multiple searches were performed, but no trace of the boys were found. Authorities dug in the backyard. 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. A statement attributed to the family said they had been inundated with threats and were lying low. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. There was a scar. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Trezell West said he kept an eye on the boys as he gathered firewood. 4-year-old Orrin and 3-year-old Orson West were reported missing on December 21, 2020 by their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. 3 Kansas City officers shot while executing search warrant, chief says, Roof collapses at nonprofit South LA clinic, causing $500K in damage, Video shows group of sharks in feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast. 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. Nine months later, the search for them continues. These are babies. Where are they? In a 2021 interview, Jacqueline West said: "Everybody's making their own conclusions. We're going through it.". WebBAKERSFIELD, Calif. (SCRIPPS) 3-year-old Orson and 4-year-old Orrin West have been missing for months. Investigation has revealed that Orrin and Orson West are deceased. "It's sad. Nine months later, they remain missing. Even with a larger group of volunteers and sunny conditions, searchers found nothing. 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. She said prosecutors requested the grand jury convene to hear evidence. 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. YouTuber Doug Hutton accused a neighbor of the Wests of being connected to the disappearance. This is not the outcome, that we and so many have hoped and prayed for in this case and there will not be a resolution in this case until those boys are brought home, added Chief Greg Terry of the Bakersfield Police Department at the conference. 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. RELATED: Search continues for missing California toddlers who disappeared days before Christmas. Vandals threw rocks at the home or attempted to break in. No information was released on new developments. Additionally, grand jury transcripts and search warrants were sealed. I feel like my kids are somewhere around here. Who is involved? Hours before the arrest, Trezell West was tracked down by 17 News at a post office in Edison, witnesses report seeing him take-off in an RV that was found Tuesday evening about 17 miles west of Bakersfield, that is where the arrest took place. 4-year-old Orrin and 3-year-old Orson West were reported missing on December 21, 2020 by their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. "This morning, I'm saddened to announce that the investigation has revealed that Orrin and Orson West are deceased," said Zimmer. Their four other children, two adopted and two biological, were placed into protective custody, police said in the beginning of the investigation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We havent been able to put together how the boys got out of the yard, or where theyve gone.. Months went by with no trace of the boys, while the authorities were keeping quiet about their investigation. CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- Just days before Christmas, Orrin West and his younger brother Orson were reported missing from their home in California City. West/Watkins Family "We offered a reward out of our own pockets," the missing boys' uncle, Jamal Watkins, told ABC News. Jacqueline and Trezell West, the adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, will be in court again on Wed, March 1. "There's never been any kids there," Plantz said. Pair says they are keeping the case close to the vest, despite being accused of not working hard enough to find the boys because they are African American. CNN Almost 15 months ago, Orrin and Orson Wests adoptive You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) The adoptive parents of Orrin and Orson West, also known as Cincere and Classic Pettushave, have been assigned a courtroom for their upcoming trial and are set to be back in court for a hearing on Mon, Jan 30. All family members connected to the boys were interviewed, police said. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Orrin and Orson Wests new parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West, were captured by experts on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. MAR 3, 2021. We use affiliate links throughout this site and may earn money based on qualified purchases. They searched and raised reward money, but little did they know, authorities had already uncovered a huge piece of the case. So while news of two missing children was certainly alarming, searchers remained hopeful. The gag order also applies to witnesses and court personnel with access to reports filed in the case. Police have undergone multiple massive searches for the boys. "On December 21, 2020, Orrin was four years old, Orson was 3 years old. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. She says she does not know how this injury occurred. Orrin and Orson West were reported missing from the West's California City home in December 2020. Some years pass with only one or even no killings. Prosecutors have also asked for reports to be sealed. The District Attorneys office then presented information to the grand jury and the grand jury found there was sufficient evidence to hold Trezell and Jacqueline West responsible for these murders and they returned what was called a true bill, Zimmer said. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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. Their adoptive parents, Trezell West, 35, and Jacqueline West, 32, claimed that the two boys disappeared from the backyard while playing. Their bodies have not been found. And, they havent been found. 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