Naasson Hazzard, a 28-year-old truck driver from Austin, Texas, has been convicted of kidnapping and causing the death of a 25-year-old woman. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas confirmed that Hazzard will face an automatic life sentence following his conviction.
The victim, a young sex worker, was last seen entering Hazzard’s semi-truck in Dallas on the evening of August 15, 2023. Surveillance footage captured the event. However, eight days later, her decomposed body was found in a wooded area along Texas Highway 11 in Pittsburg, Texas. A black plastic bag had been tied around her head.
Cell phone records revealed Hazzard’s movements that night. After picking up the victim, he drove to a nearby parking lot where he stayed for 17 minutes before continuing his journey to the remote wooded area. During his stop, he texted his employer stating that he would be absent the following day. He remained in the area for almost an hour before continuing his trip.
The next day, Hazzard, accompanied by his wife, revisited the scene before going to dinner in Tyler, Texas. In the days that followed, Hazzard took measures to erase evidence, including switching cell phones and deleting his location-sharing accounts. He also cleaned his truck with bleach and searched for information on various degrees of murder sentences.
As the investigation continued, law enforcement discovered the victim’s cell phone shattered along Hazzard’s route, and on August 23, the woman’s body was recovered.
Hazzard’s conviction highlights the tragic loss of the young woman’s life, a life that ended far too soon. Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham emphasized the importance of holding those responsible for such crimes accountable. Hazzard now faces an automatic life sentence in prison.
