BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Days after jurors found Jacqueline and Trezell West guilty five of the seven charges in the disappearance of their adopted sons Orrin and Orson West, questions remain in the case, including where are the boys’ bodies?
“These could have been my girls. We love these kids, those two little boys are our boys,” family friend Aracely Patino said. “They are Bakersfield’s boys, and I just don’t want any parents to go through what the biological parents are going through.”
Though the Wests were found guilty of murdering 4-year-old Orrin, jurors failed to reach verdicts on murder and conspiracy in connection with 3-year-old Orson’s disappearance and alleged death.
Criminal Defense Attorney Mark Raimondo said it is now up to District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer if she wants to pursue a retrial.
“I think the District Attorney’s going to take in great consideration the family’s feelings in addition to what is the cost benefit analysis of that is. I mean they’re going to get mandatory life sentences already,” he said. “Personally I’d be surprised if they do go forward given the multiple life sentences each of the defendants face.”
Raimondo said that as the family processes the verdict, a retrial could force them to relive the emotions of the trial all over again.
“A trial is very trying on the families as well and emotionally draining on the families as well so they may all want some closure. I wouldn’t be surprised if the family does seek some closure once the sentence is imposed,” Raimondo said.
Another option could be the Wests negotiating their sentences by confessing where Orrin and Orson are, if they know where the boys are. Raimondo said a confession seems unlikely at this point.
“Could they negotiate in a way for show us where the bodies are? Perhaps. But I think that ship has already sailed,” Raimondo said.
Sentencing for Jacqueline and Trezell West is scheduled for July 13.
Full Story Here: https://www.kget.com/missing-cal-city-boys/even-after-guilty-verdicts-questions-remain-in-missing-west-boys-case/
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — UPDATED: 5/19/23 at 6:25PM
Judge Brehmer said the jury reached a verdict yesterday afternoon right around 4:40. Friday they announced their verdict to a packed courtroom.
Friday, a Kern County jury making a historic decision-finding Trezell and Jacqueline West guilty of five out of seven counts in connection to the deaths of their adoptive children 3-year-old Orson Wear and 4-year-old Orrin West.
Trezell and Jacqueline West were found guilty of five out of seven counts. The counts they were found guilty of were:
- Count one-Second degree murder
- Count two-Involuntary manslaughter
- Count three-Willful cruelty to child
- Count six-Willful cruelty to child
- Count seven-False report of emergency to law enforcement
- Count four-Conspire to commit a crime
- Count five-Second degree murder
Counts one through three were related to Orrin and counts four through six were related to Orson. Count seven was concerning both boys. The jury voted eight votes guilty to four votes not guilty for count four and ten votes guilty and two votes not guilty for count five.
“The district attorney will decide what to do with those counts at the next hearing,” local Criminal Defense Mark Anthony Raimondo said. Raimondo was not involved in the case. “It would be unlikely they would probably go forward given they’ll get multiple life sentences for the charges that they were convicted of today,” Raimondo said.
Raimondo was in the courtroom when the verdicts were read.
“The second-degree murder carried a life sentence,” Raimondo said. “The willful cruelty to a child resulting in death also carried a life sentence,” Raimondo said. “It will be I believe most likely consecutive life sentences. So, those charges are much less serious, given the exposure on the other two counts they were found guilty of” Raimondo said.
Since the case is still under a gag order the DA’s office and attorneys for the Wests cannot comment.
The West’s sentencing will be July 13th at 8:30 AM. Prosecuting attorney Eric Smith requested counts 4 and 5 to be tried at the sentencing. There is no bail pending.
——–A Kern County jury has found Trezell and Jacqueline West guilty of 5 of the 7 counts they were charged with Friday morning in regards to Orrin and Orson West.
The jury did not find a verdict for two counts, second-degree murder and conspire to commit a crime. Those counts are in regard to 3-year-old Orson West.
The Wests reported the toddlers missing nearly two and a half years ago. On the night of December 21, 2020, the family was living at their home in California City at the time of the disappearance. They allege the boys were last seen playing in their backyard.
Lawsuit between bio father of Orrin and Orson West and Kern County.PNG
The Wests were each facing a total of seven charges including:
- 2 counts of Murder: Second Degree
- Involuntary manslaughter
- 2 counts of willful cruelty to child
- Conspire to commit a crime
- False report of emergency
Jurors found Trezell guilty of:
- Second-Degree Murder
- Involuntary Manslaughter
- 2 counts of Willful Cruelty to child
- False report of emergency
Jurors did not find a verdict of Trezell in:
- Second-Degree Murder
- Conspire to commit a crime
Jurors found Jacqueline guilty of:
- Second-Degree Murder
- Involuntary Manslaughter
- 2 counts of Willful Cruelty to child
- False report of emergency
Jurors did not find a verdict of Jacqueline in:
- Second-Degree Murder
- Conspire to commit a crime
Full Story Here: https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/verdict-reached-for-5-counts-in-trezell-and-jacqueline-west-murder-trial-kern-county-bakersfield-california-city-orrin-and-orson-verdict-reached-homicide
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