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Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell’s disappearance and death one year later

Posted at 11:30 PM, Mar 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-02 23:30:16-05

Norfolk, Va. – Exactly one year ago, Anjelica Hadsell, known by family and friends as AJ, disappeared from her Norfolk home.

Police say the 18-year-old college student was home from Longwood University for Spring Break when she went missing. At first, police say they didn’t think foul play was involved in her disappearance, but as hours turned into days, the investigation became more serious.

Police began combing through AJ’s neighborhood looking for clues.

AJ’s stepfather, Wesley Hadsell, was arrested shortly after her disappearance but for charges unrelated to her disappearance. As Wesley sat in jail, police continued to search for AJ. Tips eventually led to this abandoned home in Southampton County. There, human remains were recovered, and were eventually identified as AJ’s.

Friends and family of AJ’s comforted each other following the discovery, their questions turned from “where is AJ” to “who did this to her?” That question is still unanswered a year later. In June, the Medical Examiner released that AJ died from Acute Heroin Poisoning, though the manner is still undetermined. One year since she was last seen alive, and no arrests have been in her death.

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