A Texas truck driver, Naasson Hazzard, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of kidnapping and killing Army veteran Caleigha Zangari.
The crime, which occurred in August 2024, left Zangari’s family devastated and highlighted the relentless efforts of law enforcement to bring Hazzard to justice.
The Kidnapping and Murder of Caleigha Zangari
Caleigha Zangari, a San Diego-area mother and Army veteran, was reported missing on August 21, 2024. Surveillance footage presented during Hazzard’s trial showed that she entered Hazzard’s semi-truck in Dallas on August 15.
Zangari had reportedly traveled from California to Texas, and her son was also listed as missing at the time.
The investigation revealed that she had been in communication with Hazzard in the days leading up to her abduction, with cell phone records proving to be the key to uncovering Hazzard’s involvement in her disappearance.
Two days after Zangari’s disappearance, her body was found in a wooded area in Pittsburg, Texas. A black plastic bag was tied around her head, and authorities have not publicly disclosed the cause of death. Zangari’s son remains missing, and the details surrounding his whereabouts are still unclear.
Investigative Breakthroughs and Hazzard’s Actions
Investigators uncovered that after picking up Zangari in Dallas, Hazzard drove more than three hours to a wooded area near Pittsburg, where he spent nearly an hour before texting his boss to request a sick day. The following day, Hazzard and his wife returned to the scene, which raised further suspicion.
In the days that followed, Hazzard attempted to cover up his tracks, switching cell phones, deleting his location-sharing apps, and cleaning his truck with bleach. His wife, suspicious of his actions, reportedly searched online for “Pittsburg Texas news” in relation to the case.
On the same day that Zangari’s body was discovered, her shattered cell phone was found along the route Hazzard had driven. These critical findings, along with the discovery of his cell phone records and other evidence, ultimately led to his arrest and conviction.
Life Sentence for Naasson Hazzard
On Thursday, Hazzard, 28, was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping resulting in death, a crime that carries a mandatory life sentence. The conviction came after a February jury trial, where the evidence of Hazzard’s actions during the kidnapping and murder was presented.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Nancy Larson, praised the tireless work of law enforcement in bringing Hazzard to justice.
“The tremendous, relentless work of multiple law enforcement partners brought the terrible acts of this predator to light, and the jury answered the call for justice by finding him guilty,” she said in a statement.
Impact on Zangari’s Family
During the sentencing hearing, Zangari’s brother addressed the court, expressing the devastating impact of her death on their family. “Your Honor, Naasson didn’t just take a life. He destroyed futures.
He created a ripple effect of suffering that reaches further than he could ever understand,” he said. “I ask you, please don’t see my sister as just a name in a case file. She was a daughter.
A sister. A mother. A light in the lives of everyone who knew her. Her life mattered. And her death must mean something.”
The sentencing of Naasson Hazzard to life in prison brings some measure of justice to the family of Caleigha Zangari, but the pain of her loss will undoubtedly continue to impact her loved ones.
The case serves as a reminder of the relentless nature of some predators and the importance of law enforcement’s dedication to uncovering the truth.
