Remains Found Near the Virginia-North Carolina Border in Search for Virginia College Student Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell, Missing Since 3/2/15 (Update: Remains Positively Identified)

Grim news in the search for missing Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell …

As reported at Fox News 7, remains have been found by authorities in the search for missing 18 year old Longwood University student Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell.  Human remains were found beside an abandoned house in the high grass near the border with North Carolina while searching the property south of Franklin, about 50 miles west of the Hardell’s home in  Norfolk, Virginia. The remains have yet to be positively ID’s and have been sent to medical examiners office.  Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell went missing March 2, 2015 while at her parents’ home in Norfolk’s Tarrallton neighborhood.

Authorities searching for a missing Virginia college student said Thursday that they had found human remains beside an abandoned house near the border with North Carolina.

Norfolk Police spokeswoman Cpl. Melinda Wray told the Virginian-Pilot newspaper that investigators have not confirmed that the remains are those of 18-year-old Anjelica Hadsell, who has been missing since March 2. The paper reported that family and friends had gathered at Hadsell’s family home in Norfolk to await news from police, and a patrol car was parked outside.

Neighbors told the paper that police began searching the property south of Franklin, about 50 miles west of Norfolk, Wednesday evening, then returned Thursday morning. The remains were found in an area of waist-high grass beside the house. In the afternoon, the paper reported that investigators focused their search on a wooded area behind the house.

Remains found in search for Norfolk’s AJ Hadsell.

Neighbors said police began searching the property Wednesday, left and returned Thursday morning.

Officer Sam Shenouda, a department spokesman, said police began searching the area about 8 a.m. Thursday.

The remains were found about 10 a.m.

Police marked off the area in the morning with police tape. By the afternoon, investigators seemed to be focusing most of their attention on a heavily wooded area behind the small house.

“We’ll be out here for a couple days,” Shenouda said. “The property is overgrown, mostly wooded. They’re literally going to be combing through every inch of this property searching for evidence.”

Statement from Longwood University:

The Longwood University community is closely following news reports out of Tidewater concerning the search for our missing student, Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell. As we await further news, our thoughts and prayers remain with AJ’s family at this difficult time.

UPDATE I: Human remains identified as missing Virginia college student Anjelica Hadsell.

The search for missing Virginia college student Anjelica Hadsell has reached a grim end.

Human remains found behind an abandoned home have been identified as the Longwood University freshman who had been missing since last month, police announced Friday.

The tragic news comes one day after a search by authorities in waist-high grass near the North Carolina border recovered the remains. They were more than 50 miles away from where Hadsell was last seen on March 2.

In a statement the Norfolk Police Department expressed their “deepest sympathies” to the Hadsell family while thanking the federal, state and local agencies who assisted in the investigation.

UPDATE II: Bring AJ Home Statement:

This will be our only statement for the remainder of the day and will not be answering any questions.

On behalf of the Hadsell family we would like to first thank the Norfolk PD, Search and Rescue, donators, businesses, individuals and media that have helped with the search for Anjelica Hadsell. It has not been confirmed with the coroners office that it is in fact AJ. We ask that the media and public continue to respect the family in this time of adversity. Your thoughts and prayers for the Hadsell family are needed and appreciated.

We continue to ask that if you have any information regarding this case no matter how small it may be that you contact the local authorities.

A go fund me page has been created in regards to this case to help with the search and expenses which can found on the Bring AJ Home Facebook page. Any remaining donations at the conclusion will be donated on Anjelica’s behalf to an organization regarding missing persons once it is decided.

Thank you.

For more updates, read others comments and opinions and to provide your own, go to Scared Monkeys Missing Persons Forum: Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell.