An incestuous patriarch who formed his own cult, intertwining bizarre religious beliefs with extreme abuse and control.
Marcus Delon Wesson, born on August 22, 1946, in Kansas, is an American mass murderer and child rapist who created a cult-like atmosphere within his own family, leading to a tragic and horrifying massacre. His story is one of manipulation, abuse, and delusion, deeply entwined with his unique interpretations of religion and morality.
Early Life and Background
Wesson’s early life was marked by a turbulent environment, abuse, and religious fanaticism. He served as a medic during the Vietnam War and briefly worked as a bank teller. For about 30 years, he subsisted entirely on welfare checks. Wesson’s family life was chaotic and unstable, moving frequently across California and living in various conditions, including tents, motor homes, trailers, and even a boat.
Formation of the Cult
In the 1970s, Wesson moved to San Jose, California, with his cousin and romantic partner, Rosemary Solorio. As the couple had several children together, Wesson’s control over his family grew increasingly absolute. He isolated his family from the outside world, imposing strict rules and a rigid hierarchy.
Wesson exerted complete control over his family, adopting a cult-like leadership style. He held bizarre religious beliefs, claiming Jesus Christ was a vampire and asserting his own immortality. He referred to his children as “fledglings” and gave them “vampire names.” His teachings included twisted interpretations of the Bible, drawing parallels between the blood of Christ and vampires.
Wesson’s influence solidified as he combined elements of Christianity with his own interpretations, often focusing on themes of dominance, apocalypse, and salvation. He taught his followers that he was God and that they were to prepare for the end times. His home became a site of increasing paranoia and control, where Wesson maintained his authority through fear and manipulation.
Incest and Abuse
A central aspect of Wesson’s control was his practice of polygamy, which included relationships with his daughters and nieces. He began sexually abusing his daughters and nieces from a young age, eventually staging wedding ceremonies with them and justifying the incestuous relationships through his convoluted religious teachings. Wesson claimed that incest was necessary to maintain a pure bloodline.
He fathered multiple children with his daughters, reinforcing his grip on the family through a cycle of abuse and indoctrination. His children were subjected to extreme physical and psychological control, and the environment within the family was one of fear and manipulation.
Living Conditions and Education
The sect lived in isolation, moving between various locations in California and Washington State. Living conditions were often squalid, with many family members crammed into small, dilapidated homes or converted school buses. Wesson supported the group through various odd jobs and by collecting welfare benefits for the numerous children under his care.
Wesson homeschooled the children, teaching them his own version of history and religion, which included the belief that he was a god-like figure. He also trained his children in the use of firearms and taught them that they might need to commit suicide to avoid capture by the government or other perceived enemies.
The Fresno Massacre
As the children grew older, some began to question Wesson’s authority and teachings. This led to increased tension within the group, particularly as some of the young women sought to leave and establish lives outside of Wesson’s control.
The situation escalated to a tragic climax on March 12, 2004. Following a dispute over child custody, Marcus Wesson killed nine of his children. The victims ranged in age from one to 25, including his daughters, granddaughters, and grand-nieces. The police discovered a grisly scene in the Wesson family home in Fresno, California, with the bodies stacked in a back bedroom.
Trial and Conviction
During his trial, Wesson’s defense claimed his 25-year-old daughter Sebhrenah committed the murders and then suicide. However, the investigation revealed that Wesson had orchestrated a murder-suicide pact, convincing the oldest children to kill the younger ones and then themselves if authorities ever tried to separate the family.
The jury found Wesson guilty of nine counts of first-degree murder and 14 counts of forcible rape and sexual molestation of his daughters and nieces. He was sentenced to death on June 27, 2005, and is currently on death row in San Quentin State Prison.
image via YourCentralValley
