Dateline NBC “The Jacket” December 2 2023 Recap & Preview
Get ready for another gripping episode of Dateline. On Saturday, December 2, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, Dateline presents a one-hour special titled “The Jacket“.
The story unfolds in Virginia when 18-year-old Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell vanishes from her home. What follows is an unpredictable and intricate investigation that delves deep into AJ’s inner circle of trusted friends and family, ultimately uncovering a shocking betrayal.
Andrea Canning takes the helm as she reports on this perplexing case that will leave you pondering the complexities of human relationships and the chilling secrets that can lurk within them.
Join NBC for “The Jacket” on December 2 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, only on Dateline.
What Happened to Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell & Killer Wesley Hadsell?
Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell, an 18-year-old college student, was brutally murdered by her stepfather, Wesley Hadsell, in 2015. AJ mysteriously disappeared in March 2015 while visiting her parents’ house during spring break, and her body was found five weeks later half-buried in an abandoned property near the North Carolina border. The medical examiner determined that she died of a heroin overdose and homicidal violence, with evidence of bruises on her chest and chin.
Wesley Hadsell, who had adopted AJ in 2012, was identified as a suspect in her murder. Police found incriminating items, including duct tape, work gloves, and a shovel, in his vehicle during a missing persons inquiry. A GPS device led investigators to the location where AJ’s body was discovered. Wesley was charged in 2018, but the case was dismissed after a mistrial was declared during the first trial in 2020.
Wesley Hadsell had a criminal background that included allegations of kidnapping his ex-wife in Ohio and a bank robbery charge in Virginia. The prosecution argued that he had been evicted from his home with his wife due to his erratic behavior and suspected drug dependency. They claimed that he kidnapped AJ with the intent to sexually abuse her and subsequently poisoned her with heroin. However, the defense portrayed AJ as a girl dealing with severe depression and suggested suicide while asserting Wesley’s innocence.
In the end, Wesley Hadsell was found guilty of first-degree murder and concealment of the body. He was sentenced to life in prison with an additional 15 years. This case will be featured in the Dateline episode titled “The Jacket,” which aired on June 3, 2022, and includes interviews with Wesley Hadsell, Detective David Benjamin of Norfolk Police, and two of the victim’s friends, Corey French and Andre Barr.
