Marcus Wesson
Encyclopedia
Marcus Delon Wesson is a man convicted of nine counts of first-degree murder
and 14 sex crimes, including the rape
and molestation
of his underage daughters. His victims were his own children, fathered by incest
uous relationships with his daughters and nieces, as well as the children by his wife. He has been described as Fresno's worst mass murderer.
In 1971, Solorio gave birth to Wesson's son. At the same time, Wesson was cultivating a relationship with one of Solorio's daughter Elizabeth, telling her that God had chosen her to be his bride. He began sexually abusing her at age 12. In 1974, at the age of 8, Elizabeth Solorio married 27-year old Marcus Wesson in a homemade wedding ceremony. At age 14, they married legally when she became pregnant, and four months later, she gave birth to her first child. Eventually the couple had 10 children together, though one died as an infant. One of Elizabeth's younger sisters left her own seven children with them, claiming to be unable to care for them.
Wesson was abusive towards his wife and children. He forbade Elizabeth from taking part in the children's upbringings. He homeschooled the children and taught them from his own hand-written Bible that focused on Jesus Christ being a vampire. He told the children that he was God and had them refer to him as "Master" or "Lord". He taught the children to be prepared for Armaggeden and that the girls were destined to become Wesson's future wives. He separated the boys from the girls, fearing they would develop sexual feelings for each other. He had the boys stay in a shack in a heavily wooded area and the girls on a run-down boat for several months. Wesson sexually abused the girls when they were young and married them in homemade wedding ceremonies when they were around 7 or 9 years old. He "married" two daughters and three nieces, all of whom bore him children through the incestuous unions.
were summoned to what was described as a child custody
issue, and a standoff ensued. During the course of the standoff, Wesson, who at first appeared cooperative to the police, was permitted to step away and go back into his house. Fresno police testified they did not hear gunshots being fired shortly after, though other witnesses present at the standoff testified they did hear gunshots fired at that time. In the aftermath, nine bodies of Wesson's daughters and their children were discovered in a bedroom filled with antique coffins. Each victim had been shot through the eye. Authorities, relatives and public records suggest he has fathered up to 18 children with seven women. Wesson's other children, who were not present inside the house, survived the incident.
that his 25-year-old daughter Sebhrenah, whose 18-month-old son Marshey (Wesson's own son and grandson) was killed as well, had herself committed the murders, and then subsequently committed suicide
. The murder weapon, a .22 caliber
handgun
, was found with her body, and Sebhrenah's DNA
was found on the gun, which lent credence to Wesson's claim. The jury declined to find that Wesson fired the fatal shots, but convicted him of murder anyway, presumably finding that he had persuaded his children to enter into a suicide pact.
on June 27, 2005.
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
and 14 sex crimes, including the rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and molestation
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
of his underage daughters. His victims were his own children, fathered by incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
uous relationships with his daughters and nieces, as well as the children by his wife. He has been described as Fresno's worst mass murderer.
Early life
Marcus Wesson was born in Kansas to Benjamin and Cassie Wesson and raised as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. By the early 1960s, the family had moved to San Bernardino, California. After dropping out of high school, Wesson joined the Army and was stationed in Europe. Shortly after returning to the US and leaving the military, he became involved with Rosemary Solorio, a married women living in San Jose. Soon Solorio broke up with her husband, and Wesson moved in with her and her children.In 1971, Solorio gave birth to Wesson's son. At the same time, Wesson was cultivating a relationship with one of Solorio's daughter Elizabeth, telling her that God had chosen her to be his bride. He began sexually abusing her at age 12. In 1974, at the age of 8, Elizabeth Solorio married 27-year old Marcus Wesson in a homemade wedding ceremony. At age 14, they married legally when she became pregnant, and four months later, she gave birth to her first child. Eventually the couple had 10 children together, though one died as an infant. One of Elizabeth's younger sisters left her own seven children with them, claiming to be unable to care for them.
Wesson was abusive towards his wife and children. He forbade Elizabeth from taking part in the children's upbringings. He homeschooled the children and taught them from his own hand-written Bible that focused on Jesus Christ being a vampire. He told the children that he was God and had them refer to him as "Master" or "Lord". He taught the children to be prepared for Armaggeden and that the girls were destined to become Wesson's future wives. He separated the boys from the girls, fearing they would develop sexual feelings for each other. He had the boys stay in a shack in a heavily wooded area and the girls on a run-down boat for several months. Wesson sexually abused the girls when they were young and married them in homemade wedding ceremonies when they were around 7 or 9 years old. He "married" two daughters and three nieces, all of whom bore him children through the incestuous unions.
Murders
Prior to March 12, 2004, Wesson had declared his intention to relocate his daughters and their children to Washington state, where Wesson's parents lived. On March 12, 2004, several members of Wesson's extended family, along with two nieces who rebelled against Wesson, converged on his family compound demanding the release of their children by Wesson. Fresno policeFresno Police Department
The Fresno Police Department is responsible for policing the city of Fresno, California, in the United States. The Chief of Police since August 2001, is Jerry Dyer . The city experiences between 30 and 69 willful homicides in a typical year...
were summoned to what was described as a child custody
Child custody
Child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child.Following ratification of the United...
issue, and a standoff ensued. During the course of the standoff, Wesson, who at first appeared cooperative to the police, was permitted to step away and go back into his house. Fresno police testified they did not hear gunshots being fired shortly after, though other witnesses present at the standoff testified they did hear gunshots fired at that time. In the aftermath, nine bodies of Wesson's daughters and their children were discovered in a bedroom filled with antique coffins. Each victim had been shot through the eye. Authorities, relatives and public records suggest he has fathered up to 18 children with seven women. Wesson's other children, who were not present inside the house, survived the incident.
Trial
At his trial, Wesson, represented by public defenders Peter Jones and Ralph Torres, presented the defenseDefense (legal)
In civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions under the common law, a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability...
that his 25-year-old daughter Sebhrenah, whose 18-month-old son Marshey (Wesson's own son and grandson) was killed as well, had herself committed the murders, and then subsequently committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. The murder weapon, a .22 caliber
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is a long established variety of ammunition, and in terms of units sold is still by far the most common in the world today. The cartridge is often referred to simply as .22 LR and various rifles, pistols, revolvers, and even some smoothbore shotguns have...
handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
, was found with her body, and Sebhrenah's DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
was found on the gun, which lent credence to Wesson's claim. The jury declined to find that Wesson fired the fatal shots, but convicted him of murder anyway, presumably finding that he had persuaded his children to enter into a suicide pact.
Conviction and sentence
Wesson was convicted of nine counts of first-degree murder on June 17, 2005, and also found guilty on 14 counts of forcible sexual assault and the sexual molestation of seven of his daughters and nieces. Wesson was sentenced to deathCapital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
on June 27, 2005.