Police: Slay Suspect a Polygamist

A man suspected of murdering nine of his family members apparently was involved in polygamy and incest, fathering two of the victims with his own daughters, police said Saturday.

The bodies of six females and three males, ages 1 to 24, were found tangled in the back room of Marcus Wesson’s home Friday. Fresno’s largest mass slaying ever quadrupled its homicides for the year in a single day and disturbed officers so much that some immediately needed counseling.

Wesson, described by police as “very calm,” was arrested Friday after emerging from his home covered in blood.

Wesson, 57, has fathered children with at least four women, two of whom are his own daughters, said Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.

“We are exploring the possibility that there were other women he was involved with, either sexually or in some sort of polygamist relationship,” Dyer said.

An acquaintance of Wesson’s said Wesson had lived with five women and appeared to have a romantic relationship with each. The women appeared to be under Wesson’s control, walking behind him and not speaking when he was present, Frank Muna said.

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Police said they believe all the victims are members of Wesson’s family — likely children and grandchildren — but they declined to release names pending notification of kin.

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The nine deaths represent the largest mass killing ever in Fresno. Seven people were killed in rural Fresno County in 1993.

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ABC30.com, March 24, 2005

Marcus Wesson is charged with nine murder counts, but Thursday’s testimony focused on 14 counts of sexual abuse.

On the stand, a Wesson niece who testified about what police say was incest in Marcus Wesson’s home.

Rosa Solario did tell the jury that Marcus Wesson is the father of the nine children who died last March.

She testified that Wesson never spoke about incest, but she says she believed it was okay.

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