Inside the AJ Hadsell Murder, Where Stepfather Poisoned College Student to Death

It was supposed to be a relaxing spring break at home from her first year at college, but the break from school turned into a tragedy for Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell, who was kidnapped and poisoned by one of the people closest to her in 2015.

The 18-year-old girl was missing from her family’s Norfolk, Va., home for weeks before police eventually found her body disposed of in a ditch. She had been seemingly poisoned intentionally with a heroin overdose.

Investigators soon turned their attention to her stepfather, Wesley Hadsell, who PEOPLE previously reported had a criminal history including convictions for bank robbery, breaking and entering and burglary.

The stepfather long maintained his innocence, and still does to this day, but an investigation into his involvement eventually led a judge to say there was “overwhelming” evidence against him when he was convicted of his stepdaughter’s cruel killing. 

Nine years after the 18-year-old’s murder, PEOPLE is looking back at the case.

AJ’s Kidnapping

AJ was a softball player at Longwood University with a bright future, according to authorities.

“She was an athlete. She was very outgoing,” Norfolk Police Detective David Benjamin said during an episode of Dateline, which examined the case. “No issues with drugs or alcohol, really was kind of flying straight.”

She was going through a breakup at the time she returned home for spring break, according to Dateline, leading her mother Jennifer Wright to believe her daughter was blowing off steam when she went missing after sending a text that said she was “out with friends.”

However, after AJ didn’t return home and a longtime friend, Corey French, found a piece of her credit card in the road, investigators began to search more urgently for the missing teenager.

Investigators initially suspected French, who AJ’s stepfather had claimed had become “obsessive” over his stepdaughter, according to Dateline. According to investigators, the stepfather tried to frame French for AJ’s killing.

Stepfather Claims Innocence

Wesley Hadsell seemed proactive in the search for his missing stepdaughter, at first. PEOPLE previously reported that the then-36-year-old man had even been arrested for breaking into the home of a person, claiming he was suspicious that person had kidnapped AJ.

“I’d do anything for my daughter, my wife, my kids, and they make it sound like I’d do anything to keep myself out of my trouble,” he said after his arrest for breaking and entering, PEOPLE reported at the time. “I couldn’t sit a minute away from where my daughter may have been.”

However, the investigation began to center around him.

Police Uncover AJ’s Body — and Killer Is Revealed

AJ’s body was eventually discovered after police were led to her last known location via her stepfather’s GPS system on his car. After investigators discovered Wesley’s car had been tracked to an abandoned house 60 miles away from the family’s home, they discovered AJ’s body hidden in a ditch. She had been poisoned with heroin.

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Wesley’s coworkers told police he was visibly agitated and had to take the rest of the day off work on the day his stepdaughter went missing, PEOPLE reported at the time. Police searched the stepfather’s Chevy Astro van and discovered a shovel, duct tape and work gloves in the back of the car. The man who said he sold drugs to AJ’s stepfather also testified in court, saying he had been selling Wesley cocaine and heroin for years, according to local news station WAVY.

Wesley was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2022, 13News Now reported.

But the stepfather continues to maintain his innocence, again denying his involvement during a jailhouse interview with WTKR. “I swear to you, I didn’t hurt my daughter,” he told the outlet. “I don’t know who did. And if I did, I wouldn’t protect them.”