Marcus Wesson's children defend father after he pleads innocent to murder charges

Fresno Bee/March 26, 2004

Marcus Wesson's daughter and son defended their father and expressed their love for him moments after the murder suspect pleaded innocent to charges of killing nine of his children.

"Nobody knows Marcus," said Kiani Wesson, Wesson's daughter and mother of two of the slain children, outside the Fresno County courtroom where her father was arraigned Thursday on charges that could lead to the death penalty .

"I just wish everyone would stop telling lies out there," the 26-year-old said. "We're dealing with a man's life."

Kiani Wesson said her uncle Miguel Solorio should, "Stop saying false statements and accusations until he's acquainted with the full facts."

Solorio has spoken to the Fresno Bee about divisions within the Wesson family.

The nine victims found in Marcus Wesson's home when he turned himself in to police were buried this week after two different services.

Two of the children were buried after a service at a Clovis church. The other seven were honored at services held at a west Fresno funeral chapel.

The victims were all Wesson's children with six different women -- including two of his daughters and three of his nieces, a source close to the investigation told the Fresno Bee.