A truck driver from Austin, Naasson Hazzard, 28, has been convicted of kidnapping resulting in death. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. Hazzard was initially charged in August and indicted in October. After a nine-day trial, the jury took approximately an hour to reach a guilty verdict.
Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham stated, “A young woman’s life was cut tragically short, her last moments likely spent in terror,” emphasizing that "those final moments do not define her life."
Travis Pickard, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Dallas, remarked on the conviction: “Just a few months ago, this violent criminal not only kidnapped an unsuspecting victim but also took her life. With this guilty verdict, we are one step closer to achieving justice.”
Evidence presented at the trial showed that surveillance video captured the victim entering Hazzard's semi-truck in Dallas on August 15 at 9:27 p.m. Her body was discovered eight days later with a plastic bag tied around her head off Texas Highway 11 in Pittsburg.
Cell phone records indicated that Hazzard traveled from Dallas to Pittsburg after picking up the victim and remained there for almost an hour before continuing his work duties. He later returned to the scene with his wife before going to dinner.
Following these events, Hazzard switched cell phones and deleted location-sharing accounts while cleaning his truck with bleach. He searched online for potential prison sentences related to murder charges.
The investigation was conducted by the North Texas Trafficking Task Force along with multiple law enforcement agencies including Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office which leads the task force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandie Wade and Renee Hunter prosecuted the case with assistance from appellate liaison Jonathan Bradshaw.