Marcus Wesson, perceived as a caring father to the outside world, shocked many over two decades ago with a heinous crime that left witnesses traumatized. The ex-soldier subjected his wife and her children, some of whom were his own, to years of abuse after returning from Vietnam. Wesson’s disturbing actions included marrying his partner’s daughter when she was just 14 years old and forcing his twisted beliefs on his family.
Living off welfare and the earnings of his children, Wesson imposed strict control within the household, dictating their education and even creating his distorted version of the Bible. He manipulated his children, forcing them to call him “Master” and envisioning himself as a deity. The household’s dark secrets included sexual abuse, incest, and extreme coercion.
In a tragic turn of events in 2004, Wesson’s extended family intervened, leading to a gruesome discovery in their Fresno home. Nine bodies, including Wesson’s own children and grandchildren, were found shot through the eye in a chilling scene. The mass murder, described as the city’s worst, continues to haunt officials like Jerry Dyer, who was police chief at the time.
Despite the horrifying crimes, Marcus Wesson, now 79, remains incarcerated at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, having been sentenced to death in 2005. Governor Newsom’s moratorium on executions in California means Wesson no longer faces the death penalty, a decision that angers those who believe he deserved the ultimate punishment. The dark legacy of Marcus Wesson’s actions still lingers, with the site of the murders torn down but the memories forever etched in the minds of those affected.