>>> I'M LESTER HOLT.
TONIGHT ON "DATELINE"- A MISSING TEENAGER
AN ABANDONED HOUSE AND A HEARTBREAKING DISCOVERY.
>> THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANYBODY'S CHILD.
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANYBODY'S SISTER
AND SHE JUST DISAPPEARS. >> AJ'S WALLET WAS SITTING ON
THE COUCH. SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED ABRUPTLY.
>> SHE WOULD NEVER RUN AWAY. >> Reporter: THERE'S A LOT OF
SUSPECTS IN THIS CASE. >> OH, YEAH.
>> THEY WERE JUST ASKING QUESTIONS NONSTOP.
>> THEY SAID, "WE NEED YOU TO TELL US WHERE AJ IS.
>> I SAID, "I KNOW WHAT YOU DID.
>> WE FOUND AMMUNITION HIDDEN IN A VENT IN HIS HOTEL ROOM
>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK AJ IS IN THE VAN, STILL ALIVE?
>> YES, I DO >> IT WAS VERY MUCH AN ABANDONED
LOOKING HOME >> Reporter: IT'S LIKE OUT OF
THE MOVIES >> IT HAD A VERY CREEPY FEEL TO
IT IT KIND OF ALL CAME CRASHING
DOWN AT THAT MOMENT, THE REALITY OF IT.
>> HEARTBREAKING, BUT ALSO A SENSE OF NOW THERE ARE SOME
ANSWERS.
>> HERE'S ANDREA CANNING WITH "THE JACKET.
>> Reporter: NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, HOME TO THE NATION'S LARGEST
NAVAL BASE, WHERE SHIPS OF WAR CROWD THE HARBOR, SYMBOLS OF
SAFETY AND SECURITY. LIFE HERE IS TIED TO THE SLOW,
PREDICTABLE EBB AND FLOW OF THE SURROUNDING WATERS
BUT IN MARCH OF 2015, A CRIME HIT THIS SEASIDE COMMUNITY LIKE
A HURRICANE AND UPENDED ITS SENSE OF SECURITY.
>> THIS WAS A MASSIVE STORY, YOU KNOW
AN 18-YEAR-OLD GIRL, A BEAUTIFUL GIRL WHO GREW UP IN THIS
COMMUNITY, JUST DISAPPEARS BASICALLY OUT OF NOWHERE
>> Reporter: THE INVESTIGATION THAT FOLLOWED WAS ANYTHING BUT
PREDICTABLE. >> IT QUICKLY SPIRALED INTO
SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH LARGER. >> Reporter: AND REVEALED HOW
EVIL PENETRATED AN INNER CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, SOWING
SEEDS OF LIES, BETRAYAL, DECEPTION, AND PROVING HOW,
SOMETIMES, THOSE CLOSEST TO US CAN HURT US THE MOST
>> IT'S JUST HORRIBLY TRAGIC THAT SOMEBODY COULD DO SOMETHING
TO SOMEONE WHO TRUSTED THEM SO VERY MUCH.
>> Reporter: IT ALL STARTED WHEN ANJELICA HADSELL, ALSO KNOWN AS
AJ, CAME HOME FROM COLLEGE ON SPRING BREAK AND SIMPLY
VANISHED >> THIS COULD HAVE BEEN
ANYBODY'S CHILD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANYBODY'S
SISTER >> Reporter: REPORTER
KAYLA GASKINS COVERED THE STORY FOR NBC AFFILIATE WAVY TV.
WAS THERE THOUGHT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAYBE AJ RAN
AWAY >> EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT
KNOWS HER HAS SAID THIS IS EXTREMELY OUT OF CHARACTER
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE EXPECT FROM AJ.
SHE DOESN'T JUST FALL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
>> Reporter: IT WAS MIDAFTERNOON WHEN AJ'S DAD WESLEY HADSELL
SAID HE GOT A TEXT FROM HIS WIFE
>> HER WORDS WERE, "HAVE YOU HEARD FROM AJ?
AND I SAYS, "NO, WHY?" SHE SAID, "I TEXTED HER AND SHE
SAID SHE WAS OUT WITH FRIENDS. >> Reporter: THAT WAS
SURPRISING >> IF SHE WENT SOMEWHERE, SHE
WOULD NORMALLY TELL US WHERE SHE WAS GOING.
>> Reporter: SO WESLEY SAID HE SENT AJ A TEXT OF HIS OWN.
>> I'VE ASKED HER VERY SPECIFIC -- "HEY, WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" >> Reporter: DID YOU GET ANY
RESPONSE >> I GOT RESPONSES, BUT SHE
WOULDN'T TELL US WHERE SHE WAS AT
SHE SAID SHE NEEDED TIME SHE NEEDED SPACE
>> Reporter: LATER THAT EVENING, AJ'S MOM RETURNED HOME FROM
WORK AJ WASN'T THERE.
BUT A NOTE IN HER HAND WRITING WAS.
WHAT DID IT SAY? >> IT SAID, "DEAR MADRE, WITH
EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, IT'S A LOT TO DEAL WITH."
>> Reporter: BOTH PARENTS KNEW AJ WAS DEALING WITH A LOT OF
STRESS IT WAS HER FRESHMAN YEAR IN
COLLEGE, WHICH PROVED TO BE HARDER THAN SHE THOUGHT.
PLUS SHE WAS BREAKING UP WITH HER BOYFRIEND, JOSH CAMPBELL
WAS SHE IN LOVE WITH THIS BOY? >> SHE WAS HEAD OVER HEELS
HE WAS THE ONE >> Reporter: COULD YOU SEE THAT
SHE WAS HURTING FROM THE BREAKUP?
>> YES SHE WAS DEVASTATED
>> Reporter: ALSO DEVASTATING, RIGHT BEFORE SPRING BREAK,
AJ LEARNED HER DAD WESLEY HAD STARTED ABUSING DRUGS.
AJ'S MOM ASKED HIM TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, FORCING HIM TO MOVE INTO
A NEARBY HOTEL AJ TOOK THE NEWS HARD.
>> SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE HAD SOME TEARS IN HER EYES
I WENT TO GIVE HER MY HAND, AND SHE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, "JUST GET
AWAY FROM ME I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU
RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: YOU COULD SEE THE
DISAPPOINTMENT IN AJ'S EYES? >> YES, MA'AM.
YES. >> Reporter: THIS IS NOT A GOOD
TIME FOR AJ. >> IT WAS JUST PILIN' ON
>> Reporter: AJ'S PARENTS REACHED OUT TO HER FRIENDS
NO ONE HAD SEEN OR HEARD FROM HER.
BY MIDAFTERNOON THE NEXT DAY, THE TEXTS FROM HER PHONE STOPPED
COMING ALTOGETHER. >> MY WIFE GOT OFF OF WORK
I ASKED HER IF SHE HAD HEARD FROM AJ.
SHE SAID NO. SHE'S LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO
DO?" I WAS LIKE, "WELL, WE NEED TO GO
TO THE POLICE. >> Reporter: NORFOLK POLICE
DETECTIVE DAVID BENJAMIN GOT THE CASE
AFTER SPEAKING TO HER PARENTS, HE CONSTRUCTED A TIMELINE OF THE
DAY SHE WENT MISSING >> TIMELINE BEGINS ON MARCH 2nd
AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO HER
MOM, THAT'S WHEN SHE LEFT AJ AT HOME SO SHE COULD TAKE HER OTHER
DAUGHTERS TO SCHOOL AND THEN HEAD TO WORK
AJ SEEMED FINE HER DAD WESLEY SAID HE LAST SAW
HER SHORTLY AFTER NOON THAT DAY WHEN HE MET HER AT THIS GAS
STATION TO GIVE HER MONEY. >> HE STATED THAT HE GAVE HER
$200 AND THEN SPOKE WITH HER FOR ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR
SHE DIDN'T SAY WHY SHE NEEDED THE MONEY.
SHE SEEMED TO BE OKAY. HE SAID THAT SHE WAS WEARING HER
UNIVERSITY JACKET, AND IT'S, LIKE, A BLUE JACKET, HAD HER
NAME EMBROIDERED ON IT >> Reporter: HE ALSO SAID THAT
WHEN THE TWO PARTED, AJ HEADED HOME
BUT A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER, WHEN HER SISTERS RETURNED FROM
SCHOOL, SHE WASN'T THERE >> THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED
THERE WAS HALF-FOLDED LAUNDRY IN THE LIVING ROOM.
AJ'S WALLET, WITH MONEY IN IT, WAS SITTING ON THE -- THE COUCH.
ALL VERY ODD ANJELICA WOULD TYPICALLY NOT
LEAVE THINGS UNDONE. SO SHE WOULD'VE FINISHED THE
LAUNDRY. SHE WOULD'VE TAKEN HER WALLET IF
SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE >> Reporter: WHAT DOES THAT SAY
TO YOU WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT THIS PUZZLE TOGETHER
>> IT SAID THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED ABRUPTLY.
>> Reporter: ARE YOU STARTING TO FEAR THE WORST, THAT SOMETHING
HAS HAPPENED TO AJ >> I'M NOT FEARING THE WORST
BUT I WAS SCARED I WAS SCARED FOR HER SAFETY.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. >> Reporter: A DAUGHTER
SEEMINGLY IN DISTRESS. HAD AJ REACHED THE BREAKING
POINT? OR WAS SOMETHING MORE SINISTER
AT WORK?
>>> THAT NOTE HER MOM FOUND WAS SUPPOSEDLY FROM AJ
BUT DID AJ WRITE IT? WHEN WE COME BACK --
>> IT WAS VERY ODD THAT SHE WOULD LEAVE A NOTE
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING SHE EVER DID.
>> AND THE FIRST BREAK IN THE CASE
THIS WAS A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS, TOO.
>> I SAW A LITTLE WHITE RECTANGLE ON THE GROUND.
I SAW HER NAME ON IT >> Reporter: DID ANY ALARM BELLS
GO OFF THAT HERE THIS IS HER EX- BOYFRIEND WHO HAPPENS TO FIND
HER CREDIT CARD? >> IT DID SEEM LIKE A BIG
COINCIDENCE. >> Reporter: AJ HADSELL HAD BEEN
MISSING FOR OVER 24 HOURS. TEXT MESSAGES FROM HER CELLPHONE
INDICATED SHE WAS STRESSED OUT, OVERWHELMED, AND IN NEED OF SOME
TIME ALONE BUT TO DETECTIVE BENJAMIN, NONE
OF IT MADE SENSE >> HAD ANYONE SEEN HER
>> NOBODY'D SEEN HER >> NOTHING
>> NO. >> WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT AJ
WHO WAS SHE? >> SHE WAS AN ATHLETE.
SHE WAS VERY OUTGOING. GOOD KID
NO ISSUES WITH DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. REALLY WAS KINDA FLYING
STRAIGHT >> Reporter: SHE WAS A STAR ON
THE SOFTBALL DIAMOND IT'S WHERE SHE DEVELOPED A
REPUTATION FOR BEING TOUGH >> WHAT WAS AJ'S PERSONALITY
LIKE >> SHE WAS QUIET AND RESERVED,
YOU KNOW BUT WHEN SHE WAS IN HER ELEMENT,
SHE WAS HELL ON WHEELS SHE DID EVERYTHING THAT THE BOYS
DID. SHE HAD MORE GUY FRIENDS THAN
GIRL FRIENDS >> Reporter: COREY FRENCH WAS
ONE OF THOSE FRIENDS THEY DATED BRIEFLY IN JUNIOR
HIGH >> WHAT WAS IT ABOUT AJ THAT
DREW YOU TO HER? >> WHEN I MET HER SHE JUST HAD
THIS -- THIS THING ABOUT HER AND I JUST COULDN'T STOP WANTING TO
SEE HER MORE SHE WAS JUST -- SHE HAD
SOMETHING ABOUT HER AND I JUST COULDN'T STEER AWAY.
>> SHE WAS GORGEOUS. >> YEAH.
>> I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU MUST'VE NOTICED THAT
>> [ LAUGHTER OH, YEAH
SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. >> Reporter: AJ GREW UP RELYING
MOSTLY ON HER MOM AND CARING FOR HER TWO YOUNGER HALF SISTERS
SHE NEVER KNEW HER BIOLOGICAL DAD.
AND A BITTER DIVORCE PUT A WEDGE BETWEEN AJ AND HER FIRST
STEPFATHER. THEN WESLEY MARRIED AJ'S MOM
WESLEY AND AJ QUICKLY HIT IT OFF.
EVENTUALLY, HE ASKED TO ADOPT AJ
>> I ADORED ANJELICA SHE WAS MY DAUGHTER.
YOU KNOW, SHE WAS MY FAMILY. SO IT FELT RIGHT TO JUST MAKE IT
OFFICIAL >> WHAT DID SHE SAY TO YOU
>> SHE SAID IF I WAS BEING SERIOUS THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE MY NAME THE FEELINGS THAT I FELT WERE
OVERWHELMING >> SHE FELT HAPPY.
LIKE SHE GOT THE FATHER FIGURE THAT SHE HAD WANTED.
I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE HAD BEEN MISSING FOR A
WHILE. SHE FELT LIKE THAT PART OF HER
FAMILY WAS NOW COMPLETE. >> Reporter: WHEN AJ WAS 17, SHE
LEFT NORFOLK AND HEADED TO COLLEGE.
>> WHAT WERE HER DREAMS? >> SHE HAD A LOT OF ASPIRATIONS.
SHE WAS DEFINITELY AN OVERACHIEVER
SHE WAS TRYING TO GRADUATE WITH A DOUBLE MAJOR IN THREE YEARS.
>> Reporter: BUT ALL THE RECEN STRESS IN AJ'S LIFE LEFT THE
DETECTIVE WONDERING IF THE YOUNG OVERACHIEVER HAD PUSHED HERSELF
TO THE BREAKING POINT. >> DID YOU THINK THAT MAYBE SHE
RAN AWAY >> INITIALLY, THAT WAS ONE OF
THE POSSIBLE THEORIES. >> JUST OVERWHELMED.
JUST POSSIBLY COULD'VE JUST SAID, "I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS
ANYMORE. >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: BUT THE MORE PEOPLE BENJAMIN TALKED TO, THE MORE HE
LEARNED, THAT SIMPLY WASN'T AJ >> WAS SHE THE TYPE WHO WOULD
EVER RUN AWAY IF THINGS GOT TOO HEAVY?
>> NO. SHE WAS A FIGHTER.
SHE WOULD TAKE THINGS HEAD ON. SHE WOULD NEVER RUN AWAY, SHE
WOULDN'T RUN AWAY FROM ANYTHING. >> Reporter: AJ'S FRIEND
ANDRE BARR FELT THE SAME WAY >> NOBODY THOUGHT SHE HAD JUST
RAN AWAY >> WHY
>> AJ WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT TELLING AT LEAST ONE OF
US >> Reporter: BUT IT SEEMED AJ
WAS TRYING TO REACH OUT TO HER PARENTS.
AFTER ALL, SHE LEFT THAT NOTE FOR HER MOM AT THE HOUSE
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING PECULIAR ABOUT IT
>> IT LOOKED LIKE HER DAUGHTER'S HANDWRITING, BUT IT WAS VERY ODD
THAT SHE WOULD LEAVE A NOTE. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING SHE EVER
DID. >> Reporter: AS FOR THOSE TEXT
MESSAGES, THERE WAS SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THEM, TOO.
>> ONE, SHE REFUSED TO SAY WHERE SHE WAS OR WHO SHE WAS WITH.
TWO, SHE WAS USING LANGUAGE THAT WAS INCONSISTENT WITH HOW SHE
WOULD NORMALLY SEND TEXT MESSAGES
I BECAME MORE AND MORE CONCERNED THAT SHE WAS IN DANGER
IT WAS LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE AN ABDUCTION.
>> Reporter: BUT WHO WOULD WANT TO KIDNAP AJ
THE DETECTIVE STARTED TO BUILD A LIST OF SUSPECTS WORKING FROM
THE INSIDE OUT HIGH ON THAT LIST WAS HER
BOYFRIEND, JOSH CAMPBELL REMEMBER, THEY WERE BREAKING UP.
>> WHEN I FIRST MET JOSHUA, I FELT LIKE HIS AFFECT WAS STRANGE
AND A LITTLE INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT HE SHOULD BE LIKE BASED ON
THE SITUATION. >> MEANING WHAT?
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE UPSET? OR -
>> MORE UPSET AND PERHAPS MORE INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH PROCESS
>> DID YOU THINK THAT THERE COULD BE A MOTIVE THERE?
THAT MAYBE AJ BROKE UP WITH HIM, HE WAS UNHAPPY WITH HER?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: BUT JOSH HAD A
STRONG ALIBI AND HE SAID THE BREAK UP WITH AJ
WAS MUTUAL >> WAS HE CLEARED OR WAS HE SET
ASIDE? >> HE WAS SET ASIDE.
THERE WERE VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT WERE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED
>> Reporter: THEN, THREE DAYS INTO DETECTIVE BENJAMIN'S
INVESTIGATION, THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT CLUE
>> IT WASN'T ACTUALLY US THAT FOUND IT
IT WAS A FRIEND OF ANGELICA'S, COREY FRENCH
>> YOU MAKE A BIG DISCOVERY. >> YES
>> Reporter: COREY SAID THAT WHILE WALKING HOME FROM WORK, HE
SPOTTED A PIECE OF A CREDIT CARD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
>> I SAW A LITTLE WHITE RECTANGLE ON THE GROUND, SO I
WENT TOWARD IT AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP TO FLIP
IT OVER, I SAW HER NAME ON IT. >> Reporter: IT WAS AJ'S
POLICE SEARCHED THE AREA AND FOUND SEVERAL MORE PIECES.
>> DID ANY ALARM BELLS GO OFF THAT HERE THIS IS HER
EX-BOYFRIEND WHO HAPPENS TO FIND HER CREDIT CARD?
I MEAN, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG COINCIDENCE.
>> IT DID SEEM LIKE A BIG COINCIDENCE.
>> Reporter: WHEN INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED COREY, HE TOLD THEM
HE AND AJ WERE CLOSE BUT THAT HE HADN'T SEEN HER FOR MONTHS
>> HE HAD REACHED OUT TO A.J. WHEN SHE WAS HOME FOR SPRING
BREAK AND WANTED TO SEE HER, AND KEPT ASKIN' TO SEE HER
>> Reporter: BUT WESLEY TOLD POLICE THIS WAS FAR MORE THAN A
COINCIDENCE. HE INSISTED THEY NEEDED TO
INVESTIGATE COREY. >> WE HAD GOTTEN SOME
INFORMATION FROM WESLEY THAT COREY WAS OBSESSIVE IN REFERENCE
TO ANGELICA AND THAT HE REALLY WANTED TO BE WITH HER AGAIN.
>> COREY FRENCH WAS THE EX-BOYFRIEND
THEY HAD A BAD BREAKUP EVEN FOR KIDS AT THAT AGE, IT
WAS CONSIDERED BAD WHERE HE JUST HUNG AROUND, MADE HIS PRESENCE
KNOWN. >> YOU'RE THINKING AT THIS POINT
THAT COREY FRENCH HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH AJ'S DISAPPEARANCE.
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: THEN, THE NEXT DAY,
A GAME CHANGER AJ'S OTHER FRIEND, ANDRE BARR,
CALLED POLICE AND SAID HE FOUND ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
>> THERE IT WAS. >> IN PLAIN SIGHT.
>>> COMING UP -- ANOTHER CLUE LINKED TO
COREY FRENCH >> DOES YOUR MIND JUMP TO MAYBE
COREY DID THIS >> IT DID.
IT'S TROPHY BEHAVIOR YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO KILLS
SOMEONE AND WANTS A TROPHY TO REMEMBER THAT EVENT.
>> IT'S MAKING ME LOOK REALLY BAD.
>> Reporter: ALMOST A WEEK HAD PASSED SINCE AJ HADSELL
DISAPPEARED. BY NOW, PRACTICALLY EVERYONE IN
NORFOLK HAD HEARD ABOUT THE MISSING TEEN.
HER CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY RALLIED BEHIND HER DESPERATE FAMILY TO
OFFER ITS SUPPORT. HOW WAS AJ'S FAMILY HOLDING UP
>> THEY WERE CONSTANTLY TALKING TO THE MEDIA
THEY WERE DOING THE INTERVIEWS WE GOT THE IMPRESSION THEY
WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO FIND AJ AND TO BRING
HER BACK >> Reporter: WAVY-TV REPORTER
KAYLA GASKINS. >> HER FAMILY AND HER FRIENDS
HELD A BALLOON RELEASE >> Reporter: AJ'S MOM, JENNIFER,
WAS THERE. >> EVERYBODY HAS HER IN THEIR
PRAYERS AND, UM, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY'S GOT HOPE AND PRAYING
FOR HER TO COME HOME EVERYDAY. >> Reporter: JENNIFER WORKED
BEHIND THE SCENES. BUT WESLEY SEEMED TO BE
EVERYWHERE >> SHE DIDN'T GO ON HER OWN.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S NOT JUST SITTING SOMEWHERE HAPPY, WATCHING TV,
WATCHING THIS. I BECAME THE LEADER AT THAT
POINT. >> Reporter: YOU'RE DRIVING
AROUND TALKING TO PEOPLE >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: TRYING TO SEE IF ANYONE'S SEEN HER.
>> CORRECT >> HE IS THE PERSON ORGANIZING
EVERYONE TO GO AND FIND HIS DAUGHTER
HE IS HELPING PASS OUT FLIERS. >> Reporter: FAMILY AND FRIENDS
SPREAD THE WORD THROUGHOUT NORFOLK TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
AJ HER STORY EVEN WENT NATIONAL
WHEN WE FEATURED IT IN OUR MISSING IN AMERICA SERIES.
MEANWHILE, DETECTIVE BENJAMIN CALLED IN HELP
>> WE HAD INVOLVED THE STATE WE INVOLVED FEDERAL AGENTS
WE INVOLVED THE CENTER FOR THE MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN
>> Reporter: THE CLOCK WAS TICKING IN THIS CASE
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: THEN, THE
INVESTIGATION WENT INTO OVERDRIVE AFTER ANDRE BARR FOUND
A STUNNING NEW CLUE. >> HE OBSERVED A.J.'S LONGWOOD
UNIVERSITY JACKET, THE ITEM THAT SHE WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE IN, BY
WESLEY HADSELL >> Reporter: IT WAS FOUND IN THE
HOUSE WHERE COREY FRENCH LIVED THIS IS HUGE
>> IT IS HUGE. >> Reporter: REMEMBER, AJ'S
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYFRIEND HAD JUST TOLD POLICE IT HAD BEEN MONTHS
SINCE HE LAST SAW HER. THEY HADN'T SEEN EACH OTHER?
>> THEY HAD NOT. >> Reporter: AJ AND COREY.
SHE NEVER MET UP WITH HIM. >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: SO, THERE WOULD BE NO REASON?
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: WHEN YOU SAW THE
JACKET THERE, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING
>> JUST ANGRY, MORE THAN ANYTHING
NOTHING MADE SENSE >> Reporter: ANDRE DIDN'T TELL
COREY WHAT HE SAW. INSTEAD, HE LEFT THE JACKET
WHERE IT WAS AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE POLICE.
DOES YOUR MIND JUMP TO MAYBE COREY DID THIS
>> IT DID. IT'S TROPHY BEHAVIOR
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO KILLS SOMEONE AND WANTS A TROPHY TO
REMEMBER THAT EVENT. >> Reporter: SO BENJAMIN WANTED
TO TALK TO COREY AGAIN THIS TIME AS A SUSPECT
INVESTIGATORS BROUGHT COREY TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS, WHILE THEY
SEARCHED THE TEEN'S HOME >> WE'RE WONDERING WHAT OTHER
PIECE OF EVIDENCE MIGHT BE FOUND, OR IS ANGELICA THERE.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE'RE GONNA FIND HER BODY IN THE HOUSE
>> Reporter: THEY DIDN'T FIND AJ
BUT THEY DID FIND HER JACKET, BEHIND A COUCH CUSHION, JUST AS
ANDRE DESCRIBED. BACK AT THE STATION, BENJAMIN
TURNED UP THE HEAT ON COREY FRENCH
>> WE DID BEGIN TO LEAN ON HIM PRETTY HARD.
YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH A BASIC INTERVIEW AND THEN WE STARTED TO
GET MORE AND MORE ACCUSATORY AS THE INTERVIEW PROGRESSED
>> THEY WERE ASKING QUESTIONS. THEY WERE ASKING MY RELATIONSHIP
WITH ANJELICA, HOW MUCH I CARED ABOUT HER.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY, THEY HIT ME WITH, "WE KNOW YOU HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH IT. AND, WE NEED YOU -- YOU TO LET
US KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU DID." >> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU SAY TO
THEM >> I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS
I DON'T -- I DON'T -- WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME THIS
>> Reporter: THEN, THE BIG REVEAL, BENJAMIN PULLED OUT THE
JACKET. >> HE HAD AN EXTREME REACTION TO
SEEING THE JACKET. HE PHYSICALLY PULLED AWAY, CAME
UP OUT OF HIS CHAIR A LITTLE BIT.
HE SWORE >> THEY SAID, "WE FOUND THIS IN
YOUR HOUSE BEHIND YOUR COUCH CUSHION.
>> Reporter: HAD YOU EVER SEEN THAT JACKET BEFORE
>> NO. >> Reporter: HOW DID THAT JACKET
GET IN THE HOUSE THEN? >> MY MIND WAS ASKING THAT OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
>> Reporter: COREY CONTINUED TO DENY HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH
AJ'S DISAPPEARANCE >> MY ANSWERS WERE ALWAYS THE
SAME "I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT. IT KEPT GOING.
>> IT JUST WAS A TENNIS MATCH AND I KEPT LOSING.
>> Reporter: YOU FOUND THE CREDIT CARD AND THE JACKET IS
NOW FOUND IN YOUR HOUSE. >> YEAH.
IT'S MAKING ME LOOK REALLY BAD >> Reporter: BUT AT THE END OF A
LENGHTHY INTERROGATION, DETECTIVE BENJAMIN LET COREY GO
HOME >> WE HAVE THE JACKET BUT THAT'S
ALL WE HAD WE WERE IN THAT VERY
UNCOMFORTABLE GRAY ZONE WHERE WE'VE GOT SOMEONE WHO LOOKS VERY
BAD IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, BEING A SUSPECT BUT NOT ENOUGH TO
CHARGE THEM FOR IT, AND GET THEM OFF THE STREET
>> Reporter: AFTER LEARNING POLICE RELEASED COREY, WESLEY
TOOK MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS. >> I FELT COREY FRENCH WAS
DEFINITELY INVOLVED, SO I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING DRASTIC
NEEDED TO HAPPEN TO GET SOME ANSWERS.
>> WESLEY REALLY DID GO AFTER COREY.
HE POSTED HIMSELF UP ACROSS THE STREET FROM COREY'S HOUSE.
AND HE GOT AN AIR HORN AND HE WAS BLOWING THE AIR HORN
REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. >> Reporter: WESLEY EVEN SENT
COREY A PIZZA WITH A MESSAGE ON THE BOX.
>> I SAID, "I KNOW WHAT YOU DID.
THAT WAS IT. JUST BIG BLACK LETTERS
"I KNOW WHAT YOU DID." AND I SAID, "HEY, GO DELIVER
THAT TO THEIR HOUSE. >> Reporter: TO SOME IN THE
COMMUNITY, WESLEY'S VIGILANTE BEHAVIOR CROSSED A LINE.
TO OTHERS, IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE
>> I THINK PEOPLE GAVE HIM A PASS FOR THAT BEHAVIOR BECAUSE
OF THE SITUATION I THINK PEOPLE RELATED TO HIM AS
A DAD, A FATHER IN PAIN WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: DESPITE WESLEY'S INSISTANCE THAT POLICE LOOK NO
FURTHER THAN COREY FRENCH, DETECTIVE BENJAMIN EXPANDED HIS
FOCUS. HE NOW SET HIS SITES ON YET A
THIRD PERSON AJ'S FIRST STEPFATHER
ZACH HOFFER. >> WE REALLY, REALLY LOOKED
CAREFULLY AT HIM >>> COMING UP --
>> Reporter: WAS YOUR GUT TELLIN' YOU WE'RE GONNA FIND
THIS PERSON IN HER INNER CIRCLE? >> WE FELT SO, BUT WESLEY WAS
GROWING FRUSTRATED WITH THE PACE OF THE INVESTIGATION
HE WAS ACCUSING US OF NOT LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACES,
ESSENTIALLY NOT BEING AS COMMITTED TO THE CASE AS WE
SHOULD BE. >> Reporter: THE SEARCH FOR
AJ HADSELL WAS WELL INTO ITS SECOND WEEK.
HER FATHER WAS NOW TELLING ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN THAT HE
KNEW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DISAPPEARANCE -- COREY FRENCH.
WAS THE COMMUNITY REALLY ZEROING IN AS WELL ON COREY FRENCH
>> AJ'S FRIENDS WERE AJ'S FAMILY WAS.
HIS OWN FRIENDS STARTED TO SPY ON HIM
>> Reporter: STILL NO ONE KNEW FOR SURE WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO
AJ THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SUCH
FRUSTRATION FROM THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS EACH DAY GOES BY AND
NO SIGHTING OF AJ. >> THEY WERE FRUSTRATED BUT
DETERMINED THEY WERE GONNA DO THEIR OWN WORK ASIDE FROM
POLICE THEY WERE GONNA ORGANIZE THEIR
OWN SEARCHES >> Reporter: LIKE THIS ONE THIS
FOR AJ'S PHONE WESLEY SAID HE GOT A TIP THAT IT
WAS IN THIS FIELD. SO HE RALLIED THE TROOPS TO
SEARCH FOR IT. BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING
YOU WERE TAKING CHARGE OF SEARCHING, REACHING OUT TO
PEOPLE >> I WAS REACHING OUT.
IF I KNEW SOMETHING, I HEARD SOMETHING, I REACHED OUT TO
PEOPLE >> Reporter: HOW DID YOU FEEL
ABOUT HOW THE POLICE WERE HANDLING THIS?
>> I -- I HAD NO FEELINGS OTHER THAN HELPLESSNESS.
THEY WEREN'T TELLING US ANYTHING
>> HE WAS BECOMING QUITE FRUSTRATED WITH US
HE WAS ACCUSING US OF NOT LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACES,
ESSENTIALLY NOT BEING AS COMMITTED TO THE CASE AS WE
SHOULD BE. >> Reporter: DETECTIVE BENJAMIN
IGNORED WESLEY'S COMPLAINTS AND CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON THOSE
CLOSEST TO AJ. WAS -- WAS YOUR GUT TELLIN' YOU
ANYTHING, LIKE, "I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GONNA FIND THIS PERSON IN
HER INNER CIRCLE"? >> WE FELT SO BECAUSE SHE HAD A
VERY KIND OF DEFINED GROUP OF FOLKS THAT SHE STUCK WITH.
>> Reporter: NEXT ON INVESTIGATORS' LIST OF SUSPECTS
WAS ZACH HOFFER, AJ'S FIRST STEPDAD.
THEY LEARNED ZACH'S RELATIONSHIP WITH AJ HAD BECOME STRAINED.
IT WAS A RELATIONSHIP THAT BEGAN WHEN SHE WAS A TODDLER
>> SHE ULTIMATELY STARTED CALLIN' ME DADDY WHEN SHE WAS,
LIKE, PROBABLY 2 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I BECAME DADDY SO SHE BECAME MY CHILD
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST THAT SIMPLE. >> Reporter: SOON AFTER
MARRYING, AJ'S MOM AND ZACH HAD TWO DAUGHTERS OF THEIR OWN
>> ANJELICA WAS AN AMAZING BIG SISTER
THEY WERE MY LIFE, MY THREE DAUGHTERS, MY THREE CUBS, AS I
CALLED 'EM YOU KNOW
>> Reporter: WHEN AJ WAS 8 YEARS OLD, THINGS BETWEEN ZACH AND
AJ'S MOM STARTED TO FALL APART >> AT THE SAME TIME, THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AJ AND ZACH ALSO STARTED TO FALL APART
A DIVORCE HAPPENED THERE WAS A LOT OF STRIFE
BETWEEN THE FAMILY >> Reporter: THEN WESLEY CAME
ALONG. EVEN THOUGH ZACH WASN'T THE
BIOLOGICAL DAD, HE FOUGHT FOR CUSTODY OF AJ AND LOST
>> ZACH WAS FEELING MARGINALIZED FROM THE FAMILY, HIS GIRLS, AND
FROM ANGELICA. >> Reporter: IT MUST'VE STUNG
WHEN WESLEY ADOPTED AJ NOW HE'S OFFICIALLY HER DAD.
>> YES SHE WAS ANJELICA HOFFER HER
WHOLE LIFE BEFORE THAT THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY KNEW HER
AS I WAS ANGRY AND HURT
SO I FELT LIKE IT WAS A STAB IN THE HEART.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE BENJAMIN WONDERED -- COULD ZACH HAVE FELT
BETRAYED, LEADING HIM TO ULTIMATELY HARM AJ
DID YOU BRING ZACH IN MULTIPLE TIMES --
>> MULTIPLE INTERVIEWS SOME VERY LENGTHY ONES
SOME VERY, UM -- SOME ACCUSATORY
>> Reporter: HOW WAS ZACH ACTING AS YOU'RE INTERVIEWING HIM
>> HE SEEMED TO BE OVERLY INTERESTED IN THE PROGRESSION OF
THE CASE >> Reporter: BUT THE HARDER THEY
LOOKED, THE LESS SUSPICIOUS HE SEEMED
THEY DETERMINED HE WAS NOWHERE NEAR AJ AT THE TIME SHE WENT
MISSING. STILL, AS IT WAS WITH ALMOST
EVERYONE HE LOOKED AT, BENJAMIN WASN'T YET WILLING TO CLEAR
ZACH >> HE WAS NOT PUT ON A BACK
BURNER HE WAS ALWAYS KINDA RIGHT THERE.
>> Reporter: HE WAS ON THE BURNER
>> YES >> Reporter: AS THE
INVESTIGATION HEADED INTO ITS THIRD WEEK, BENJAMIN LEARNED
WESLEY AND A FRIEND OF AJ'S MADE ANOTHER MAJOR DISCOVERY.
WESLEY SAID A TIP LED THEM TO ARTICLES OF CLOTHING ALONG THE
SIDE OF A ROAD TURNS OUT THEY WERE AJ'S
BUT TO THE DETECTIVE, THERE WAS SOMETHING UNSETTLING ABOUT THE
DISCOVERY. THE FRIEND WHO HELPED FIND THE
CLOTHING WAS ANDRE BARR. >> SO ANDRE FINDS THE JACKET IN
COREY FRENCH'S HOUSE, AND HE HAPPENS TO ALSO FIND THE NEXT
LARGE PIECE OF EVIDENCE, WHICH IS ANJELICA'S CLOTHING STREWN
ABOUT ON SOUTH BATTLEFIELD BLVD. ARE YOU STARTING TO THINK ANDRE
MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT
>> IT JUST SEEMED VERY ODD THAT, YOU KNOW, TWO OF THE THREE MAJOR
PIECES OF EVIDENCE SO FAR IN THIS CASE WAS FOUND BY
ANDRE BARR >> Reporter: WOULD HE HAVE A
POSSIBLE MOTIVE? HE'S IN HER INNER CIRCLE, TOO.
>> HE IS IN HER CIRCLE >> Reporter: SO DID YOU BRING
ANDRE IN FOR QUESTIONING >> WE DID.
WELL, WE POINT OUT HOW NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE
>> HE FINALLY CRACKS THAT. >> THE STORY THAT HE GAVE US
ABOUT HOW HE FOUND THE JACKET IN COREY FRENCH'S HOUSE WAS NOT HOW
IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED >> Reporter: THE PLOT THICKENS
>>> COMING UP -- WESLEY KEEPS POLICE BUSY WITH
TIPS >> WE DID COME TO BELIEVE THAT
HE WAS INSERTING HIMSELF TOO MUCH IN THE INVESTIGATION.
>> AND A GRAY DAY AT AN ABANDONED HOUSE.
>> LITTLE FURNITURE, IF ANY. OVERGROWN.
>> IT HAD A VERY CREEPY FEEL TO IT
>> WHEN "DATELINE" CONTINUES >> Reporter: ANDRE BARR WAS NOW
THE LATEST PERSON ON DETECTIVE BENJAMIN'S RADAR
ANDRE HAD HELPED FIND NOT ONE BUT TWO KEY PIECES OF EVIDENCE
FIRST, AJ'S JACKET, AND NOW MORE PIECES OF AJ'S CLOTHING.
>> WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT DYNAMICS ARE PLAYING OUT AT THIS POINT.
BUT WE DO THINK IT'S ODD THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN -- IN THE
FINDING OF BOTH OF THESE PIECES OF EVIDENCE.
>> Reporter: SO DETECTIVE BENJAMIN SAT ANDRE DOWN FOR AN
INTENSIVE GRILLING >> THEY WERE JUST ASKING
QUESTIONS NONSTOP. >> Reporter: DID YOU ASK ANDRE,
"DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AJ'S DISAPPEARANCE?
>> OH, OF COURSE HE DENIED, OBVIOUSLY, ANYTHING
LIKE THAT. HE WAS SHOCKED WE WERE EVEN
GOING DOWN THAT PATHWAY. >> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN ANDRE
REVEALED SOMETHING STARTLING ABOUT HOW HE FOUND AJ'S JACKET
AT COREY'S HOUSE WESLEY HAD TOLD HIM WHERE TO
LOOK FOR IT. HOW DID WESLEY KNOW WHERE IT
WAS? >> ANDRE TELLS US THAT
WESLEY HADSELL APPROACHES HIM AND SAYS THAT HE BROKE INTO
COREY FRENCH'S HOUSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOOK FOR AJ AND TO
LOOK FOR ANY EVIDENCE 'CAUSE HE SO STRONGLY SUSPECTED
COREY FRENCH OF BEING INVOLVED AND THAT WHILE HE WAS IN THE
HOUSE, HE FOUND AJ'S JACKET. >> Reporter: WESLEY SAID HE
DIDN'T TELL POLICE ABOUT HIS DISCOVERY BECAUSE HE FEARED THEY
WOULD ARREST HIM FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING
>> HE SAYS TO C -- TO ANDRE, "I WANT YOU TO GET INTO COREY
FRENCH'S HOUSE, USE SOME KIND OF RUSE, AND FIND THE JACKET AND
THEN REPORT IT TO THE POLICE." >> Reporter: HE WANTS TO MAKE IT
LOOK LIKE YOU FOUND IT >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AND HE WANTS TO KEEP THAT STORY ALIVE.
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: THIS IS A CRAZY
STORY. >> IT IS A CRAZY STORY
>> Reporter: TO BENJAMIN IT ALSO MADE A LOT OF SENSE.
EARLY ON IN THE INVESTIGATION, HE LEARNED THERE WAS MORE IN
WESLEY'S CHECKERED PAST THAN JUST DRUG ABUSE.
WESLEY HAD AN EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL RECORD THAT INCLUDED, WHAT ELSE?
BREAKING AND ENTERING. >> HE HAD A FAIRLY LENGTHY
CRIMINAL PAST, STARTING FROM WHEN HE WAS A JUVENILE
HE HAD ROBBED A BANK AT ONE POINT.
HE HAD BURGLARIZED SEVERAL BUSINESSES
>> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T JUST WESLEY'S PAST THAT RAISED A
FLAG BENJAMIN SAID HE'D BEEN ACTING
STRANGE EVER SINCE THE INVESTIGATION STARTED.
>> HE WAS CONSTANTLY RECEIVING TIPS THAT WOULD REQUIRE US TO
FOLLOW UP, FINDING EVIDENCE. >> Reporter: ISN'T THAT
SOMETHING A DAD WOULD OR SHOULD DO IF THEIR DAUGHTER WAS
MISSING? >> YES, TO AN EXTENT
BUT WE DID COME TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS INSERTING HIMSELF TOO
MUCH IN THE INVESTIGATION WHICH IS A RED FLAG FOR US, AS IF HE
WANTS TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT WE KNOW
>> Reporter: EVEN MORE TROUBLING, INVESTIGATORS
COULDN'T VERIFY WESLEY'S ACCOUNT OF WHERE HE LAST SAW AJ.
>> HE WAS INSISTENT THAT HE MET HER AT A GAS STATION OFF OF
TIDEWATER DRIVE. WHAT HE DIDN'T KNOW, WAS THAT WE
HAD OBTAINED THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM THE GAS STATION FOR
SEVERAL HOURS PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT HE SAYS HE MET HER TO
SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE TIME THAT HE SAYS HE LEFT HER THERE
>> Reporter: WAS HE ON THAT VIDEO WITH AJ?
>> HE WAS NOT ON THEIR VIDEO AT ALL.
>> Reporter: WAS -- WASN'T EVEN AT THE GAS STATION
>> WASN'T EVEN AT THE GAS STATION.
>> Reporter: SO THE STORY TOTALLY ISN'T ADDING UP.
>> NOT AT ALL. THAT DIDN'T SIT RIGHT WITH US
AND WAS POINTING TOWARDS HIM AS A SUSPECT.
>> Reporter: IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE.
AFTER WEEKS OF TALKING TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE INSIDE AJ'S
CIRCLE, IT WAS AJ'S ADOPTIVE FATHER, THE PERSON ADAMANT ABOUT
FINDING HER, WHO HAD NOW BECOME BENJAMIN'S NUMBER ONE SUSPECT.
THE DETECTIVE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO ACCUSE HIM OF ABDUCTING AJ.
BUT HE DID HAVE ENOUGH TO ARREST WESLEY FOR BREAKING INTO COREY'S
HOUSE. >> WE THOUGHT WE HAD ENOUGH AT
LEAST FOR A BURGLARY CHARGE. >> Reporter: THE ARREST STUNNED
THE NORFOLK COMMUNITY. >> THE MISSING GIRL'S FATHER WAS
ARRESTED BY NORFOLK POLICE OVERNIGHT.
>> Reporter: TONI COLVIN IS A SOUTH HAMPTO
COUNTY COMMONWEALTH ASSISTANT ATTORNEY
>> WHEN AJ WENT MISSING, I WAS AWARE.
I REMEMBER SEEING THE SEARCHES AND THEN STARTED TO SEE WHAT WAS
GOING ON WITH MR. HADSELL, WHEN HE GOT ARRESTED FOR THAT
BURGLARY CHARGE. >> Reporter: WESLEY'S ARREST
GAVE THEM PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH HIS PROPERTY, STARTING
WITH HIS HOTEL ROOM. >> WE FOUND AMMUNITION
NOW, HE'S A CONVICTED FELON. HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE
AMMUNITION AND IT WAS HIDDEN IN A VENT IN
HIS HOTEL ROOM >> Reporter: BENJAMIN THEN MOVED
ON TO WESLEY'S WORK VAN. >> INSIDE HIS WORK VAN, WE SEE A
GARMIN GPS DEVICE THAT'S IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS PAINSTAKINGLY ANALYZED THE DATA
FROM THAT DEVICE, FOCUSING ON THE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE AND
AFTER AJ WENT MISSING. >> HE TURNS ON HIS GPS AND HE
GOES TO SOME LOCATION IN SUFFOLK.
AND THEN HE JUST KEEPS THE GPS ON
>> AND WE GOT THIS WONDERFUL TRACK OF EVERY PLACE THAT THAT
GPS UNIT HAD BEEN. IT'S PINGING OFF THE SATELLITE
AND LEAVING BREAD CRUMBS VERY CLOSE TOGETHER
>> Reporter: MOST OF WESLEY'S MOVEMENTS DURING THAT PERIOD OF
TIME COULD BE EXPLAINED. BUT THERE WAS ONE UNUSUAL DETOUR
WESLEY TOOK THAT SEEMED VERY SUSPICIOUS
IT LED INVESTIGATERS TO THIS ABANDONED HOUSE IN A REMOTE,
RURAL AREA ABOUT AN HOUR WEST OF NORFOLK.
>> IT WAS VERY MUCH AN ABANDONED LOOKING HOME
LITTLE FURNITURE, IF ANY OVERGROWN.
>> Reporter: THAT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD
>> IT DIDN'T SOUND GOOD AND IT DIDN'T MAKE A LOTTA SENSE.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVE IMMEDIATELY GATHERED HIS TEAM
AND RACED OUT TO THE LOCATION. >> IT WAS M -- GRAY AND MISTY
OUT. IT HAD A VERY CREEPY FEEL TO IT.
>> Reporter: AS INVESTIGATORS SLOWLY WALKED THE PROPERTY
BENJAMIN MADE HIS WAY TO AN AREA IN THE BACK.
>> AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS LITTLE WATERWAY.
IT'S LIKE A DRAINAGE DITCH AND SOMEBODY HAD PLACED A -- A SHEET
OF PLYWOOD TO BRIDGE THIS LITTLE WATERWAY, SO, I -- I PUT MY
RIGHT TOE UNDERNEATH THE PIECE OF WOOD AND I PULLED UP ON IT
AND KIND OF LEANED OVER AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH IT
>> Reporter: IT WAS THERE DETECTIVE BENJAMIN FOUND AJ.
IT HAD BEEN FIVE WEEKS SINCE SHE DISAPPEARED.
SHE WAS LYING FACE DOWN IN THE WATER, HER BODY BADLY
DECOMPOSED >> THERE WERE SOME TELLTALE
SIGNS THAT WERE VERY DISTURBING. HER PANTS HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN
PULLED DOWN, SO WHAT THIS IS SAYING TO US IS THAT SHE HAD
BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. IT KIND OF ALL CAME CRASHING
DOWN AT THAT MOMENT FOR US WE WERE ALWAYS HOLDING OUT HOPE
THAT SHE WAS ALIVE AND NOW IT HAD JUST -- THE
REALITY OF IT, HERE SHE WAS IN A DITCH.
>> Reporter: NEWS QUICKLY SPREAD THAT THAT AJ HAD BEEN FOUND.
SUCH A SAD ENDING. THE COMMUNITY MUST HAVE JUST
BEEN IN A STATE OF SHOCK >> HEARTBREAKING, BUT ALSO A
SENSE OF -- NOW THERE ARE SOME ANSWERS.
>> Reporter: WITH THE DISCOVERY OF AJ'S BODY IN HER COUNTY,
TONI COLVIN WOULD PROSECUTE THE CASE
>> ANY TIME YOU HAVE A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE YOU ALWAYS
ARE CONCERNED THAT YOU CAN PAINT AN ADEQUATE PICTURE FOR THE JURY
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, AND THAT THEY CAN PUT ALL OF THOSE
PIECES TOGETHER. >>> COMING UP --
>> Reporter: THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK YOU'RE A MONSTER
>> WELL, PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS. I NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG TO
THAT KID >> WHAT WILL THE JURY'S
"OPINION" BE
>> Reporter: THE SEARCH FOR AJ LASTED MORE THAN FIVE WEEKS.
MULTIPLE POLICE AGENCIES HAD ANSWERED THE CALL.
AS DID AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY NOW IT WAS OVER WITH THE
DISCOVERY OF AJ'S BODY BEHIND AN ABANDONED HOME
>> THAT'S WHEN I JUST LOST IT. AND IN THAT MOMENT, I FELT LIKE
I JUST KINDA DIED. >> I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HAD
HAPPENED I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT -- THAT
SHE WAS NOW GONE >> Reporter: PROSECUTOR COLVIN
AND DETECTIVE BENJAMIN BEGAN BUILDING THEIR CASE AGAINST AJ'S
FATHER WESLEY HADSELL. >> ARE YOU CONVINCED IN THIS
MOMENT THAT WESLEY DID THIS? >> YES
HIS GPS LED US TO HER BODY THERE IS NO GETTING AROUND IT
WHATSOEVER >> Reporter: SO THEY WENT BACK
TO THE BEGINNING TO THE MORNING AJ WENT MISSING
>> Reporter: ON A HUNCH, THE DETECTIVE HAD HIS INVESTIGATORS
COMB THROUGH HOURS OF FOOTAGE FROM A 7/11 SECURITY CAMERA THAT
CAPTURED TRAFFIC NEAR THE HADSELL RESIDENCE.
THE TEDIOUS WORK PAID OFF WHEN THEY SPOTTED WESLEY DRIVING TO
THE HOUSE AROUND NOON. >> WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE
THAT WESLEY HADSELL LEFT HIS WORK, WENT TO THE RESIDENCE
KNOWING THAT ANJELICA WAS GOING TO BE HOME ALONE, AND THAT
SOMETHING HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS THERE.
>> SO, OUR THEORY IS THAT'S WHEN HE ABDUCTED HER.
WE BELIEVE THAT HE FORCED HER TO WRITE THAT NOTE.
THE NOTE WAS OUT OF CHARACTER FOR AJ
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS THEN SAW HIM ON THAT SAME SECURITY
FOOTAGE DRIVING HIS VAN AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AT 1:27PM
>> ARE YOU THINKING SHE'S IN THAT VAN
>> AT THAT POINT, MOST LIKELY BECAUSE W -- THERE WOULD HAVE
BEEN NO OTHER PLACE TO HIDE HER. >> Reporter: ALTHOUGH THEY CAN'T
SAY EXACTLY WHEN OR WHERE IT HAPPENED, BENJAMIN BELIEVES AT
SOME POINT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS, WESLEY KILLED AJ.
>> AND, THEN HE DROVE HER OUT TO AN ABANDONED HOUSE, TOOK HER
BEHIND THE HOUSE AND DUMPED HER, FACE DOWN IN A DITCH
>> AND THEN WENT AND JOINED THE FAMILY
>> AND ACTED LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED
THAT HE HAD NO INVOLVEMENT IN IT
>> NOT ONLY THAT, ACTED AS A VERY CONCERNED FATHER.
>> CORRECT >> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN THEY
SAY WESLEY STARTED COVERING HIS TRACKS
HE SENT THOSE CRYPTIC TEXT MESSAGES FROM AJ'S PHONE
HE ALSO BEGAN PLANTING EVIDENCE. FIRST, PIECES OF AJ'S CREDIT
CARD THEN, HER JACKET
>> YOU'RE NOW THINKING THAT WESLEY BROKE INTO COREY FRENCH'S
HOUSE AND PLANTED AJ'S JACKET. >> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE
THOUGHT. >> IT'S LIKE OUT OF THE MOVIES,
FRAMING SOMEBODY FOR MURDER. >> YEP
COREY FRENCH WAS THE PERFECT PATSY FOR THIS
HE HAD BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANGELICA.
AND IT HAD ENDED AND HE OBVIOUSLY STILL HAD
FEELINGS FOR HER >> YOU WERE FRAMED FOR MURDER.
>> YEAH. I WAS.
>> OR AT LEAST SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO FRAME YOU FOR MURDER.
>> YEAH. IT STILL AFFECTS ME TO THIS DAY.
EVERY GOOD MOMENT I HAD GROWING UP IN NORFOLK, ANYTHING LIKE
THAT ALL OF IT'S GONE
IT BROKE ME DOWN TO -- TO ALMOST NOTHING.
>> Reporter: COLVIN BELIEVES THAT OF ALL THE EVIDENCE AGAINST
WESLEY, THE MOST DAMNING IS AJ'S CAUSE OF DEATH
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DETERMINED THAT SHE DIED OF HEROIN
POISONING. >> SHE WAS NOT A DRUG USER
THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT SHOWED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEROIN. THE ONLY EVIDENCE OF ANYBODY
THAT HAD THAT ACCESS TO HEROIN IS THE DEFENDANT
>> Reporter: POLICE LOCATED WESLEY'S DRUG DEALER
HE TOLD THEM HE SOLD WESLEY HEROIN SOON AFTER AJ WENT
MISSING. AND IN ANOTHER SEARCH OF
WESLEY'S HOTEL ROOM, POLICE FOUND HEROIN HIDDEN IN THE
CEILING. >> SO HE'S THE INDIVIDUAL THAT
WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN HEROIN. HE DID OBTAIN HEROIN, AND THEN
HE FORCED HER TO CONSUME IT. >> Reporter: BUT THE QUESTION
REMAINED -- WHY? WHY WOULD THIS SEEMINGLY LOVING
STEP-FATHER, WHO ULTIMATELY ADOPTED AJ, WANT TO KILL HER
THE DETECTIVE HAD A THEORY >> I THINK HE HAD MAYBE AN
UNHEALTHY ATTRACTION TO ANGELICA
HE MIGHT HAVE TRIED SOMETHING. SHE MIGHT HAVE RESISTED.
WITH HIS DRUGS, EVERYTHING UNRAVELING IN HIS LIFE, I THINK
HE LOST CONTROL. >> Reporter: ALMOST SEVEN YEARS
AFTER AJ DISAPPEARED, HER FATHER WESLEY HADSELL FACED A JURY OF
HIS PEERS. >> Reporter: DEFENSE ATTORNEY
JAMES ELLENSON KNEW HE HAD HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM
BUT HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT AS STRONG AS THE COMMONWEALTH'S
CASE WAS, IT STILL COULDN'T PROVE HOW AND WHEN WESLEY
POISONED AJ WITH THE HEROIN. >> I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYBODY AS
TO HOW DID SHE ACTUALLY DIE. >> THERE'S NO SOLID EVIDENCE
THAT - >> NO.
I DON'T -- >> -- THAT PUTS HIM THERE WITH
KILLING HER. >> I -- NO
I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE WAS PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.
>> Reporter: ELLENSON ALSO POINTED OUT, THE COMMONWEALTH
COULDN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN WHY WESLEY KILLED AJ
>> WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT WESLEY WAS IN LOVE
WITH AJ? THAT WESLEY WAS OBSESSED WITH
AJ >> NOTHING
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT A SHRED
OF EVIDENCE OF ANY OF THAT >> Reporter: AFTER 2 WEEKS OF
TESTIMONY, JURORS LEFT THE COURTROOM TO DELIBERATE.
THEY DIDN'T NEED MUCH TIME >> 40 MINUTES FOR AN ALMOS
THREE-WEEK TRIAL TO COME TO A DECISION THAT QUICKLY IS NOT
SOMETHING ANYBODY THOUGHT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT WESLEY HADSELL
GUILTY - >> WERE YOU S -- JUST SO
SURPRISED? >> I THINK IT SHOWED US HOW
STRONG OF A CASE THAT WE HAD >> Reporter: WESLEY HADSELL
CHOSE NOT TO TESTIFY IN COURT. BUT HE DID SPEAK TO US FROM
JAIL HE MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE.
DESPITE ALL THE EVIDENCE INDICATING OTHERWISE
WESLEY DENIED PLANTING THE CREDIT CARD AND THE CLOTHES.
AS FOR THE JACKET? >> THAT JACKET, IT WASN'T THERE
BY MY MEANS. I DIDN'T PLANT THAT JACKET
>> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT THE GARMIN THAT LED INVESTIGATORS TO
THE ABANDONED HOUSE? >> IT'S YOUR GPS
>> IT'S MY GPS YOU KNOW, I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY IT
WAS THERE. >> I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT I
WASN'T THERE >> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ANYONE
WHO'S HEARING THIS WHO'S SAYING, "THIS GUY IS TELLING LIE AFTER
LIE AFTER LIE. THAT HE IS THE WORST KIND OF
HUMAN BEING THAT WOULD DO THIS TO HIS OWN DAUGHTER AND TRY TO
COVER IT UP? >> THAT'S THEIR OPINION.
I HAVE NOT HURT ANGELICA EVER. >> WERE YOU OBSESSED WITH HER?
>> NO, MA'AM >> WERE YOU HARBORING SECRET
FEELINGS FOR -- FOR HER? >> NO.
NO, MA'AM. >> DID YOU SEXUALLY ASSAULT AJ
>> NO, MA'AM >> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK
YOU'RE A MONSTER >> WELL, PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONFESS HERE TODAY THAT --
>> NO, MA'AM >> -- THAT YOU KILLED AJ
>> NO, MA'AM I NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG TO
THAT KID >> HE DENIED IT TO US THAT HE
HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH AJ'S DEATH.
>> THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING, ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMING.
I FEEL 100% CONFIDENT THAT WE GOT THE RIGHT PERSON AND THAT HE
GOT THE APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT >> Reporter: PROSECUTORS NEVER
BROUGHT SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES AGAINST WESLEY
HIS SENTENCE FOR MURDER -- LIFE IN PRISON.
WHICH WAS VINDICATION FOR THE MANY PEOPLE CAUGHT IN HIS WEB OF
DECEIT. INCLUDING ZACH HOFFER, AJ'S
FIRST STEPFATHER, WHOSE DEEP LOVE FOR HER WAS QUESTIONED AS
SOMETHING SINISTER >> YOU WERE THE CARING PARENT
HERE YOU OBVIOUSLY CARED A LOT ABOUT
HER. >> THAT'S ALL IT WAS
IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE. I JUST CARED ABOUT HER
CARED ABOUT MY CHILDREN. AND THAT'S IT.
>> Reporter: LIKE ZACH HOFFER, ANDRE BARR BECAME A SUSPECT TOO.
WORSE, HE WAS USED BY WESLEY TO TRY AND FRAME A CLOSE FRIEND
>> WES WAS JUST GOOD AT MANIPULATING PEOPLE.
HE PLAYED EVERYBODY IN HIS GAME OF CHESS AND HE LOST
>> Reporter: AS FOR COREY FRENCH, THE YOUNG MAN
WESLEY TRIED TO FRAMED FOR AJ'S MURDER, HE SAYS HIS LIFE WILL
NEVER BE THE SAME. >> THE ONLY THING I REALLY HAVE
TO SAY TO HIM IS BASICALLY, --- YOU, DUDE.
THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY I JUST I HOPE THAT HE SEES HER
EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THAT IN THE WAY THAT HE LEFT
HER. >> Reporter: AJ HADSELL LEFT AN
INDELIBLE MARK ON HER FAMILY AND ALL HER MANY FRIENDS
THROUGH THEM, HER MEMORY WILL LIVE ON.
>> I JUST HOPE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF HOW GREAT SHE WAS
OF HOW AMAZING SHE WAS, HOW SMART SHE WAS, HOW DEDICATED SHE
WAS. >> YEAH, I JUST MISS HER
AND I JUST -- I KNOW I'LL NEVER FORGET HER
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF DATELINE.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT TEN, NINE CENTRAL AND OF
COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS,