Episode 1: Marcus Wesson
On March 12, 2004, police dispatch would receive a call requesting assistance in what they believed to be a child custody issue. What the police would encounter is Marcus Wesson and his family. The events that would unfold that day would leave nine people dead and
Marcus Wesson sitting on death row.
When police started to investigate the deaths of Sebhrenah Wesson (age 25), Lise Wesson (17), Illabelle Wesson (8), Aviv Wesson (7), Johnathan Wesson (7), Sedonia Wesson (2), Marshey Wesson (2), Ethen Wesson (4), and Jeva Wesson (1); they would unravel a history of sexual abuse, incest and violence. All were found laying in a pile shot with a .22 caliber gun.
Marcus Wesson was born on August 22, 1946 in Kansas City, Kansas. By all accounts his father was an alcoholic and was abusive to the children. His mother was very religious and raised the family in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Wesson would drop out of high school and later joined the army. After being honorably discharged from the army, Wesson met and moved in with Rosemary Solorio, she was around 13 years older than Wesson. Rose already had five children prior to meeting Wesson. Wesson began to pay special attention to Rose's 8 year old daughter Elizabeth and when Elizabeth turned 15, Wesson asked Rose if he could marry Elizabeth. Rose agreed to the marriage, as long as it was kept secret from the family. Soon after their marriage Elizabeth gave birth to their first son. Elizabeth and Wesson would end up having 10 children together. During this time Elizabeth's sister was unable to care for her children and asked Wesson and Elizabeth to raise them.
Wesson and the family moved around a lot over the years spending a lot of time near Santa Cruz living on an old tug boat and living in the mountains on a campsite. During this time Wesson started molesting his daughters and nieces. His daughters Kiani and Sebhrenah became pregnant as well as his nieces Sofina, Rosa and Ruby also had children by Wesson. Wesson controlled the family teaching them that the government was evil and it was reported that he looked up to David Karesh and the Branch Davidians. He taught his family that what happened in Waco, Texas was what true believers did and that if the government wanted to break up their family they would all kill themselves. Wesson molded his daughters into what he called strong soldiers. These warped beliefs would lead the family into the events that would happen on March 12, 2004. Episode Sources:
By Their Father's Hand: The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre. By Monte Francis
Marcus Wesson The Horrific True Story Behind Fresno's Worst Mass Murderer, By Nancy Veysey and Ryan Decker.
Marcus Wesson Wikipedia
Marcus Wesson Murderpedia
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