Six coroners, triple the typical weekend staff, worked in shifts Sunday to identify the nine victims of a mass killing, believed to all be family members of a man who lived what authorities said was a bizarre life of polygamy and incest.
Marcus Wesson, who may have fathered two of the victims with his own daughters, remained in jail Sunday in lieu of $9 million bail on nine counts of murder.
Identifying the victims and tracking down next of kin to be notified was a difficult process.
“It’s just very complicated,” Deputy Fresno County Coroner Amy Hance said Sunday. “Who do you make notification to if eventually some of the victims are other victims’ relatives?”
Wesson, 57, covered with blood but described by police as “very calm,” was arrested Friday when he emerged from his home, where authorities found the nine bodies tangled in a pile of clothing in a back room.
Investigators said the victims were six females and three males, ranging in age from 1 to 24 and probably all Wesson’s children and grandchildren.
Two of Wesson’s sons said they were stunned.
Serafino Wesson says he prays that his father did not kill his brothers and sisters.
“But that’s what the police are saying–that he did it,” said Wesson, 19, with tears in his eyes as he stood Saturday night outside the family’s home after being allowed to remove some personal items.
Serafino Wesson described his father as a good parent who kept his family close and home-schooled his children because he distrusted the public education system.
The son said he was out on Friday and heading to a movie with a friend about 2:30 p.m. But as they drove near his home, a modest, single-story house, he saw it was surrounded by police officers.
“I started to run in, but the cops pulled me out,” the young man said. “I can’t believe this happened.”
“What would have happened if I stayed?” he asked. “I wish I had stayed. I wish I had stayed.”
Dorian Wesson, 29, said his father “wasn’t abusive at all,” telling the Los Angeles Times, “He was a good father.”
“I don’t want to believe it. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. But they’re all dead,” said Dorian Wesson, adding that he hadn’t seen his father in about a year.
A makeshift shrine had been erected outside the Wesson home, and on Sunday it grew throughout the day–an array of stuffed animals, flower arrangements, American flags and pictures of Jesus, illuminated by scores of flickering candles and capped by a halo of balloons. A steady flow of people came by with more cards and teddy bears. Police closed off the block in front of the house to keep onlookers away from the property.
No motive had been determined, Police Chief Jerry Dyer told reporters.
Police said Wesson had fathered children with at least four women, two of them his own daughters.
Dyer said police believe they know the cause of death but would not release that information.
Dyer added that police “have not ruled out the involvement of any other suspects.”
Officers were called to the house Friday for a child custody dispute.
Police also found 10 wooden coffins in the house. Antique store owner Lois Dugovic said Wesson bought the hand-carved, mahogany coffins about five years ago, saying he planned to use the wood to repair a houseboat.
Wesson had once lived with five women and appeared to have a romantic relationship with each, said Frank Muna, an acquaintance. The women seemed to be under Wesson’s control, walking behind him and not speaking when he was present, Muna said.
Neighbors said they knew little about Wesson but noticed that his behavior had become more bizarre, Muna said.
“A lot of what he was saying wasn’t relevant to what we were discussing,” Muna said.
Kathy Dunham, 55, a Fresno resident and educator, said she felt compelled to visit the house to pay respects and perhaps to give thanks that her grandchildren were safe at home.
“The loss of children’s lives that are innocent touches us all,” Dunham said. “I thought I needed to come just to put out a candle. There’s not much you can do but keep praying.”
