Reports: Nine Killed in California, Suspect Held

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | 3-13-04

[Pharmboy]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Police in Fresno found the bodies of nine people in a home in Fresno, California, following a domestic dispute and a police standoff with a suspect in the murders, the Fresno Bee and CNN reported on Saturday.

Police in Fresno, located in an agricultural part of central California, told of finding at least four children and three women.

Following a two-hour standoff at the house, police arrested Marcus Wesson, 57, on suspicion of homicide. The bodies were found in a bedroom, The Bee reported.

Police Chief Jerry Dyer told the newspaper that the women may be mothers of the young children and Wesson may be the father of all the victims.

Police were still inside home early on Saturday, according to CNN, which also reported that the scene inside was so horrific that several police officers needed psychological counseling.

Authorities did not release identities of the victims or causes of death. They did not know whether they were killed in the house or elsewhere, according to the newspaper.

"Several neighbors reported hearing gunshots. One police officer said some of the victims appeared to have been shot," The Bee reported.

Police told the newspaper they responded to a child-custody dispute at the home in mid-afternoon. Two women told officers they had given custody of their children to Wesson and wanted them back. Wesson allegedly refused.

Neighbor Linda Morales, 44, said she heard two to three gunshots, followed by screaming, the newspaper reported.

[Pharmboy]

Whew...

[Lijahsbubbe]

He certainly looks the part.

[Pharmboy]

Other side of town, Jim, or anywhere near you?

[GnL]

Prepare for more gun control, California. It has nothing to do with that scruffy character in the photo. It is all the fault of the guns.

[Wolverine]

A Howard Stern wannabe scammed CNN this morning claiming to be the Police Chief, announcing hot new breaking details of the case...

[Thane_Banquo]

Hmm. That's weird.

[robertpaulsen]

Before and after shaving. Ah-hah!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Kin-folk ?

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

the scene inside was so horrific that several police officers needed psychological counseling.

Ugh that must be really bad :(

[Catspaw]

When our neighbor's kindergartener was murdered by a jail escapee, the EMT broke down on the stand describing how he came upon the scene and the lead detective retired after the trial, citing her murder as the reason he was getting out of police work.

Murders like this are horribly traumtizing for those involved. I know personally how the murder of one young child affected us in the neighborhood, as well as police and fire personnel. I cannot imagine how the police and fire personnel are reacting to the murders of nine people, including seven very young children. It's truly unimaginable.

[ican'tbelieveit]

On Fox this morning they were describing the bodies being piled together, intertwined, clothing intertwined. So he killed them and then arranged them.

And something else about 10 caskets being propped up outside the house.

[Pharmboy]

Y'know what's amazing: thay have the EXACT SAME expression on their faces. It's like every facial muscle is tuned to the same tension. Nice post, RP.

[two23]

Fox News was was using words like "cultish" "ritualistic" domestic situation...women dressed odd/wore veils or something. Intial reports can be fuzzy.
As far as the scene, reports were "possible exection style".
Mercy.

[Catspaw]

That's what I gathered from the story in the Fresno Bee this morning, that it was some type of cult, with this guy as the center of the universe. It reminded me of the fantasy Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper had about having a (for lack of a better word) harem.

[montag813]

Didn't this guy play Sasquatch in those "Six Million Dollar Man" episodes?

[Rabid Dog]

Does "father of all the victims" imply that he was the father of the mothers AND the kids? Incest?

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Just Damn!!! That pic of the animal says it all.

[diggerwillow]

Kind of looks like the guy in Quigley Down Under that was the caretaker/butler on the ranch.

[BlessedBeGod]

What a charming-looking perp.

Prayers for the families.

[Aquinasfan]

Fox News was was using words like "cultish" "ritualistic" domestic situation...women dressed odd/wore veils or something. Intial reports can be fuzzy.

Evil this profound originates in only one place. Prayers for the murdered, their families and the investigators.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle;
be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.
And do you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God,
cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl
about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen