By Ashley McLeod, Senior staff writer
May 6, 2016, 15:25
HANOVER — The second defendant charged in the brutal murder of a Hopewell resident was sentenced to life in prison in Hanover Circuit Court on Tuesday.
In a room filled with tears, from family members of both sides of the case, Hanover Judge J. Overton Harris sentenced Alisa Nicole Dejesus for her participation in the events that unfolded on August 9, 2014, which resulted in the death of cab driver James Wells.
Dejesus and her boyfriend, Dyshawn Divonte Simpson, abducted, stabbed, and set fire to Wells, a 26-year-old Navy veteran who had given them a ride from Hopewell to Mechanicsville that night.
At the end of the ride, the couple made the decision to not pay Wells for their trip, and instead stabbed him, then drove the van to a wooded area in Hanover, where they used a road flare to ignite a fire on Wells’ body inside the van, and then left the scene.
The next day, the burnt remains of Wells and his van were found in the early morning hours.
An autopsy on Wells showed he died from acute inhalation injury, meaning that he was still alive when the fire was set and died as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire.
“Mr. Wells suffered; he did not die quietly,” said Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Shari L. Skipper.
Following months of investigation, information led police to Dejesus and Simpson, and the two were arrested in March of 2015.
Simpson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
During her trial, Dejesus pleaded not guilty to all three charges against her. These charges were arson, abduction, and first-degree murder.
When investigators spoke to Dejesus about the incident, her story continuously changed, even after the trial when she gave a statement for the pre-sentencing report.
Dejesus first claimed a car followed them on that night, and that two men jumped from the car, assaulting Wells and then forcing her to drive the van away. She then claimed that instead of just ditching the cab without paying, Simpson pulled a knife, attacking Wells.
In her statement in the presentence report, Dejesus claimed that when she drove the cab away, with an injured Wells in the backseat, she was attempting to drive him to safety, so that he would get help for his injuries.
Skipper led the Commonwealth’s case against Dejesus. Skipper noted that this statement wasn’t made by Dejesus until after her trial was held, and that Dejesus was not trying to help Wells, that she was only trying to save herself and Simpson.
“She got in the driver’s seat in that van so that she could drive that van away. She wanted to make sure they didn’t get in trouble,” said Skipper.
During investigations, Dejesus had told police that while she drove the van, Wells was in the backseat, pleading for his life, and asking for help, all of which Dejesus ignored.
During the sentencing hearing, David Wells and Mala Burton, the parents of James Wells, testified before the judge on how their lives have changed since the tragic death of their only son together.
“James wasn’t just my son, he was my best friend, and I don’t have that anymore,” said David Wells.
Wells said that since the loss of his son, he left his job as a funeral director because he could no longer work. Wells said he is on multiple medications “in order to keep going,” and that he has had trouble sleeping as well.
The same was said by Burton, who said she doesn’t go out anymore, and that when she does sleep, it’s troubled.
“Whatever future he had – we had – it’s no longer there,” said Burton. “James was my only child, and that was taken away from me.”
Dejesus was also given the opportunity to testify during the hearing. She began to tear up while reading a previously written apology to the Wells family, asking for their forgiveness. But during her statement, Dejesus still claimed her innocence in the incident, regardless of being found guilty, and said that she had no control over what happened.
“I am innocent and I had nothing to do with the death of Mr. Wells,” said Dejesus. “My innocence is a fact.”
Dejesus also stated she should have called the police, but she didn’t because of her child, whom she was six months pregnant with at the time of the incident. She said that she wanted her child to have both of his parents, instead of being alone.
Despite her apologies to the victims’ family and the court, Judge Harris was not convinced by the words she spoke in the courtroom.
After hearing all statements, Harris told Dejesus that throughout the investigation and the trial, her statements were a mix of truth and misconception. Harris also told Dejesus that he believed the two were a team, Simpson and her, and that both were equally involved in the death of Wells.
Before announcing his decision, Harris spoke to Dejesus directly on her claims of innocence.
“You don’t have any compassion or understanding of your role with this. You have no remorse and have attempted to pass all responsibility to Dyshawn. You have no appreciation for the role you played in this,” said Harris.
As Harris announced the sentencing, sobs of grief could be heard from those there to support Dejesus, while tears fell from those that Wells left behind.
Judge Harris sentenced Dejesus to life for the murder of Wells, and an additional 10 years for the two other charges against her.
“This punishment is necessary, because you are a dangerous person, even at your young age,” said Harris.
Dejesus will have the opportunity to appeal the court’s decision, which she plans on doing.
