It’s been nearly six weeks since two California brothers disappeared, with a reward for information that leads to their whereabouts totaling $100,000.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Orson and Orrin West, ages 3 and 4, were last seen on December 21, 2020, at a home in the 10700 block of Aspen Avenue, in California City, at around 5:45 p.m., according to what their parents told police.
KTLA 5 reports that the boys’ adoptive father, Trezell West, said the children were in the backyard playing when he stepped out briefly to open a gate and gather wood. The boys’ adoptive mother, Jaqueline West, said she was inside wrapping presents.
During a previous press conference, Trezell West explained that he accidentally left the gate open after gathering wood.
“I open up the back gate, I’m throwing wood, bringing it inside the house. My wife’s inside, she was actually wrapping gifts so we thought it was a good idea that our youngest two go outside and play with chalk on the back patio,” West said.
“I realized that I left the back gate open and I panicked and came inside the house, searched the house, me and my wife. Once that didn’t pan out, I got in the van, I looked down the street in both directions, it was getting dark, getting cold.”
Trezzell West said he called 911 after neighbors indicated they hadn’t seen the boys.
Security footage from a neighbor’s home, according to police, shows two adults leaving with four children in a van. Security footage also appears to show the West couple later returning home alone, without any of the children, Bakersfield Now reports.
Trezell West told investigators that they dropped off four of their children at a family member’s house after they were done shopping on December 19. The missing boys didn’t go to the family member’s home, West said. Two days later, according to West, the boys were missing.
Police suspect foul play is involved in the boys’ disappearance, but no one has been named a suspect.
“We did a thorough search of the surrounding areas and [the toddlers were] not there so that tells me that they didn’t just keep walking,” California City Police Chief Jon Walker said.
Anyone with information on the case should contact the California City Police Department at 760-373-8606.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured Photo: Orson and Orrin West/Police Handout]
*EDITOR’S NOTE*: The story has been updated to reflect that only four children were seen on security footage on December 19, getting into the family’s van. A previous report stated all six children got into the van.
