NORFOLK, Va. (WRIC) — Today marks two weeks since anyone has seen missing Longwood University student Anjelica Hadsell.
Her family is once again asking for help finding her and they’re now saying they believe she was taken against her will.
Family and friends of Hadsell have confirmed to 8News sister station WAVY-TV 10 that the missing 18-year-old was on alert and scared of a certain person before her disappearance on March 2.
Hadsell communicated that information to her cousin and best friend between Feb. 13 and the day she vanished. Text messages sent by Hadsell to friends in late February about the person said, “I should probably stop texting him back,” and “HELP.”
“This person supposedly said that he wanted to hang out, and she said she didn’t think it was a good idea,” said Chelsey Zirkle, who had multiple conversations with Hadsell both by phone and in person. “She was more worried that this person would maybe do something, and this person is the person we kind of suspect did something.”
Zirkle said the in-person conversations she had with Hadsell about this person left her in tears.
The family is not naming the person because police have not identified him as a suspect in the case.
“I’d say she’s screaming ‘help,'” Wesley Hadsell said. “She wants someone to find her. She wants us to come get her.”
The desperate search into the Norview High School graduate’s disappearance is now in its eleventh day. Family and friends of missing 18-year-old Anjelica Hadsell say a big piece of their heart is missing.
“My daughter is missing and it’s destroying the family, as far as our emotions,” Mr. Hadsell said.
More than 20 people were out searching for the teenager again Friday. Mr. Hadsell said her cell phone sent a signal from the area of Tidewater Drive near Thole Road in Norfolk.
“She was scared of a situation, and we didn’t know about it,” Mr. Hadsell said. He told WAVY.com that he believes he knows at least one person who is involved.
“She didn’t go on her own,” Mr. Hadsell said. “She’s not just sitting somewhere happy watching TV, watching this. What 18-year-old kid wouldn’t be on social media right now?”
Police have recovered pieces of Hadsell’s daughter’s debit card and her jacket, which a neighbor said he saw Anjelica wearing the day of her disappearance. The Norfolk Police Department has not confirmed that information, but they did say they are vetting all leads. Police say they have had detectives assigned to this case every day since it was reported.
Hadsell’s family is remaining strong and they are very hopeful AJ will return home soon.
“We are going to keep fighting to find her, and if she’s watching this, she better keep fighting, too,” Zirkle said. “It’s not over yet. It’s not going to be over until she’s home.”
Hadsell was last seen March 2 around 2 p.m. driving down Millard Street toward her home. Mr. Hadsell said his daughter was seen driving “with purpose,” and a white car followed behind her less than one minute after her. Mr. Hadsell said a white car was reported in the family’s driveway at the same time.
The family is offering a $3,000 reward for anyone who brings forward information about the whereabouts of Hadsell.