BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Since the beginning of the West trial, the court has heard from the defense that at some point, police received a tip about a possible sighting of the Orrin and Orson in Arlington, Texas. When the boys' biological mother took the stand via Zoom Tuesday, the defense brought that tip back into question.
Ryan Dean is the biological mother of Orrin and Orson, born Cincere and Classic. When given the chance during cross-examination, Defense Attorney Timothy Hennessy asked Dean if she lives in Texas. Dean said she has an apartment in Arlington and goes back and forth between residences.
Tuesday, Dean testified that when the boys were less than a year old, Orrin, born Cincere, broke his leg. Dean said she wasn't present when it happened, but shortly afterward, the Department of Human Services took the boys from her.
While she wanted to get her children back, even going to parenting classes, Dean testified that she had no involvement, nor did she employ anyone else to take the boys.
The court also heard testimony Tuesday from David Hunter, an FBI agent who received a tip about the sighting of the two boys in Arlington, Texas. Agent Hunter said he passed that information along to the Bakersfield Police Department.
When asked by defense attorney Alekxia Torres Stallings, Dean said while she didn't get along with the Wests, she denied being confrontational or argumentative with them, even though such behavior was noted by Child Protective Services. Torres Stallings finished by asking if Dean had ever lied law enforcement in this investigation and Dean answered saying she did in the beginning.
The trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West was back in session Tuesday. The couple is charged with second-degree murder in the presumed deaths of their adoptive sons, Orrin and Orson.
Other witnesses called to the stand included several Bakersfield Police officers and detectives charged with gathering evidence from wiretap phone calls and DNA profiles. Due to a paternity test done before the children were reported missing, investigators were able to gather DNA profiles for Orrin and Orson.
Tuesday also brought testimony from Jacqueline West's sister, who spoke about messages and calls with Jacqueline. She said she sent Christmas gifts in 2020, including building blocks for Orrin and Orson, and recalls seeing children during a video call, but couldn't remember exactly who all she saw.
The trial is set to resume Wednesday morning at 9:00.
