Longwood Mourns Death of Missing Student

The Longwood University community mourns the loss of freshman Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell, whose remains were discovered Thursday, April 9, 2015 in Southampton County.

According to a press release from the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office, “The sheriff’s office was contacted when the investigation led detectives to an address in the 34000 block of Smith’s Ferry Road in Southampton County near the North Carolina state line. Shortly after investigators began searching the area human remains were found on the property. The remains were sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner if Norfolk, Va. for identification.  I (Det. C.S. Cobb) was notified by Norfolk PD Officer Shenouda late Friday afternoon, April 10th, that the remains had been positively identified as Anjelica Hadsell.”  Norfolk Police Department, the FBI, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia State Police, and Southampton County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene during the two days of investigation at the Southampton residence.

The loss of Anjelica Hadsell proved to be a sad time for family and friends who knew her best.  On April 10, 2015, Longwood University President W. Taylor Reveley IV sent out a campus wide email which stated, “As we keep AJ’s family foremost in our thoughts, our tight-knit community will also feel great heartache. My thoughts are especially with those at Longwood who knew AJ best – her hometown friends, her hallmates, her fellow members of the club softball and club field hockey teams, her professors. I also know how many of you, even if you did not know AJ personally, have been deeply affected and concerned these past weeks. I know how many of you wore ribbons and reached out to friends and family beyond Longwood to raise awareness of the search.”  Additionally¸ Reveley mentioned there would be a service held on the campus of Longwood in memory of Hadsell according to the wishes of the family.  The Longwood University counseling center is also available to assist grieving students.  The center is open Monday thru Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The investigation in the death of Anjelica “AJ” Hadsell is still underway and circumstances surrounding the cause of death have not been identified at this time.