Professor calls Wesson family an extreme case of domestic violence; dismisses cult claims

By Krisse Mansfield

As details of the Marcus Wesson case slowly emerge, questions have become less focused on the “how” and more frequently on the “why.”

Fresno State criminology professor Harvey Wallace said the Wesson case represents an extreme picture of domestic violence.

“ What I see painted of Wesson are three things,” said Wallace, an expert in family violence. “There was spousal abuse, and add to that the fact that he kept the women subservient. He was also isolating the children from the community. But the most dangerous time in these types of relationships is when someone tries to leave.”

The day of the killings, two mothers of children in Wesson’s custody went to his house, wanting them back. Wesson refused, and the women called the police.

“ There were several forces coming down on Wesson,” Wallace said. “There was the custody dispute, he was getting evicted from his house, and he lost some of his boats. All of these forces were building, and we still don’t know what was going on inside that house for the last few days (before the murders).”

Wallace dismissed the idea that Wesson was involved in a cult.

“ This was more of a personality cult than anything else,” Wallace said. “He exerted control over that entire family. And what more power do you have over someone than to say to your daughter ‘I want to have sex with you so you can have my child?’”

Wallace said the coffins found in Wesson’s home support his claim of domestic abuse.

“ It was just not logical for him to have those coffins in his house,” Wallace said. “He’s not a collector. He’s not going to use the wood to make furniture. Those coffins were in that house as intimidation devices against those who lived there.”

Wallace said the coffins were purchased over a two-year time span and Wesson had his wives carry them into the house.

“ What a way to brainwash someone,” Wallace said. “If you try to leave, that’s where you’ll end up. But then again, we can only speculate because all of the witnesses aren’t here anymore. Maybe he planned to kill them all along, but we just don’t know.”

Wesson’s behavior in the courtroom is typical of someone who always wants to be in control, Wallace said. Wesson was able to delay his arraignment without a lawyer.

“ Wesson controlled that courtroom for 20 minutes,” Wallace said. “There are lawyers out there who can’t do that. But that man did it.”