2012 Waller killings

Familicide in Waller, TexasAugust 2026 Harris County Texas incorporated and unincorporated areas Waller highlighted.svg Map of Waller County, Texas Sesler family murders Waller, Texas, U.S. 2012 3 20 1:00 p.m. CDT Family members Familicide mass murder fratricide matricide patricide * Shotgun 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol 9mm Hi-Point Model 995 carbine rifle (unused) AR-15–style rifle .22-caliber riflehttps://www.crimemagazine.com/mr-anime-loves-god-and-his-family Mr. Anime Loves God and His Family crimemagazine.com March 3, 2016 Rhonda Wyse SeslerMark Alan SeslerLawton Ray Sesler Jr. Trey Eric Sesler Pled guilty to all charges Capital murder (3 counts) * Plans to perpetrate a school shooting Desire for infamy and to outdo historical mass murders On March 20, 2012, married couple Rhonda and Lawton Sesler and their eldest son Mark Sesler were killed in a shooting at their home in Waller, Texas, United States. Police arrested the younger son, 22-year-old Trey Sesler, the same day at a friend's house. Investigators say that Sesler was heavily inspired by the Columbine High School massacre and had initially planned a school shooting at Waller High School after murdering his family. Perpetrator left|thumb|Sesler's 2012 mugshot Trey Eric Sesler (born August 3, 1989) is an American former YouTuber who went by the alias "Mr. Anime."Historian The True Gun-Obsessed Texan Boy Gunned Down His Family Before Initiating a Mass Shooting https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/gun-obsessed-texan-boy-gunned-down-his-family-before-initiating-a-mass-shooting-4cdc3fe1354a#:~:text=Trey%20Sesler%20Lived%20with%20His,until%20he%20got%20a%20job 1 February 2024 Medium Medium 21 December 2021 Sesler told investigators that he heavily studied mass murderers and serial killers and had a desire of perpetrating a school shooting at Waller High School.Thompson Emily G. Mr. Anime & The Massacre of the Seslers https://morbidology.com/mr-anime-the-massacre-of-the-seslers/ Morbidology 24 November 2022 1 February 2024 Sesler admitted to investigators that he committed other crimes prior to the shooting, including killing animals and shooting near schools in the middle of the night.Wise Lindsay Christian Carol Shooting suspect studied serial killers, massacres, officers say https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/shooting-suspect-studied-serial-killers-3427179.php 3 February 2024 CHRON 22 March 2012 He had killed several family pets before the shooting to prepare for the murder of his family. He had no criminal record prior to the shooting.3 August 2012 Waller man gets life for killing 3 in his family https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Waller-man-gets-life-for-killing-3-in-his-family-9264509.php 3 February 2024 yourconroenews yourconroenews Investigators called Sesler "a classic example of a killer who starts with small crimes and builds up to the unthinkable."KHOU Staff Investigators: Waller man accused of killing family studied serial killers, graded their work https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigators-waller-man-accused-of-killing-family-studied-serial-killers-graded-their-work/285-320744775 4 February 2024 KHOU 30 October 2013 YouTube channel On September 14, 2006, Sesler created the channel "LensCapProductions."Mullen Shauna The Youtuber Who Killed His Family. https://vocal.media/criminal/the-youtuber-who-killed-his-family 2 February 2024 Vocal Media Vocal Media 2022Mercedes J.E. Trey Sesler AKA Mr. Anime Kills Entire Family https://medium.com/obscure-horror/trey-sesler-aka-mr-anime-kills-entire-family-e32bd2cf06fe 1 February 2024 Medium Medium 21 April 2023 Sesler's first few years on YouTube consisted of anime series reviews and skits.Wiseand Lindsay Hassan Anita Police: Man held in Waller killings had massacre plan https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/texas/article/police-man-held-in-waller-killings-had-massacre-3425659.php 2 February 2024 mysanantonio mysanantonio 21 March 2012 On December 27, 2011, Sesler posted a video telling his fans that he had been diagnosed with pneumothorax. Sesler would regularly show weapons in his YouTube videos. One month before the shooting, Sesler posted a video titled "Mr. Anime is planning something." In the video, he said he would be taking a "two or three-week break." He never disclosed what he was planning, however, investigators believe he was hinting towards the shooting.Hall Michael "Mr. Anime is Planning Something" https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/mr-anime-is-planning-something/ 2 February 2024 Texas Monthly Texas Monthly 21 January 2013 Murder obsession According to authorities, Sesler was heavily inspired by mass murder events such as the Columbine High School massacre and the Virginia Tech shooting. Investigators found a research paper on his laptop about serial killers such as Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz, Aileen Wuornos, Jerry Brudos and Jeffrey Dahmer, as well as mass murderers such as Charles Whitman, and Kip Kinkel, in which Sesler graded them on killing methods and what kind of weapons they use.Wise Lindsay Hassan Anita Police: Man charged in Waller deaths planned Columbine-like attack https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/police-man-charged-in-waller-deaths-planned-3421875.php 2 February 2024 Chron Chron 21 March 2012 Shooting Familicide On Monday, March 19, 2012, a report was made about gunshots coming from the family home; however, nothing was discovered by police when they arrived.Trey Sesler (22) shot and killed three members of his family http://mydeathspace.com/article/2012/03/22/Trey_Sesler_(22)_shot_and_killed_three_members_of_his_family 3 February 2024 MyDeathSpace 22 March 2012Carroll Susan Conflicting pictures of Waller killings suspect emerge https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/conflicting-pictures-of-waller-killings-suspect-3432744.php 28 January 2024 CHRON 24 March 2012 At some point before 1 p.m. the following day, Rhonda Sesler took Trey to the garage to show him a dent in her car that was made recently by an unrelated party, and Trey instantly took this opportunity to shoot her at point blank range with a .22 rifle four times. His father is believed to have been asleep at this time. He then walked back inside the home and shot his brother, who initially survived being shot and locked himself in the bathroom, only for Sesler to break down the door and execute his wounded brother with a pistol.Roy Samadrita 2024-06-24 5 key details of the Sesler family murders, explored https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/5-key-details-sesler-family-murders-explored https://archive.today/20250616230331/https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/5-key-details-sesler-family-murders-explored June 16, 2025 2025-06-16 www.sportskeeda.com en-us Sesler then moved through the family home armed with an AR-15-style rifle, firing at his mother at least twice. He proceeded to the bathroom and shot his brother Mark once in the head.https://www.crimemagazine.com/mr-anime-loves-god-and-his-family Sesler's father Lawton was killed last.September 18, 2012 Texas man confesses on tape to murdering his family https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas-man-confesses-on-tape-to-murdering-his-family/273-349140331 KENS5 After the shootings, Sesler wrote things such as: "I love my mom, dad and brother" and "God forgive me because I cannot forgive myself” all over the family home.Authorities: Man admits he shot and killed three of his family members in Waller County https://abc7.com/archive/8590927/ 29 January 2024 ABC 7 23 March 2012 Waller police chief Phil Rehak described the crime scene as a "war zone". Arrest Sesler loaded his 2010 black Ford Mustang with a Hi-Point model 995 carbine rifle and over 100 rounds of ammunition. He drove to Waller High School, from which Sesler had graduated, and sat in the parking lot contemplating on following through with his plan. He ultimately decided not to proceed, and instead drove to a friend's home, where he also slept that evening. Police received a call from family members asking for a welfare check, as they hadn't heard from anyone in the house. Police went to the home at 1 p.m. and the bodies of Sesler's family were discovered and an arrest warrant was issued for him.Glenn Mike George Cindy Son arrested in slayings of 3 in family https://www.chron.com/news/article/son-arrested-in-slayings-of-3-in-family-3422574.php 29 January 2024 CHRON 21 March 2012 Sesler was located and arrested at the friend's house in Magnolia, Texas at 9:30 p.m. the same day.Bauer Jennifer Man suspected of killing family captured https://www.click2houston.com/news/2012/03/21/man-suspected-of-killing-family-captured/ 29 January 2024 Click2Houston Click2Houston 21 March 2012Garrett Jeannette Mr. Anime Loves God and His Family https://www.crimemagazine.com/mr-anime-loves-god-and-his-family Crime Magazine Jeannette garrett 3 February 2024 After the shooting, Sesler told investigators that he killed his family because they were the "first immediate human targets in [his] sight", disputing the media's claim that the reason for killing his family was to spare them the shame of his planned school shooting as inaccurate. Sesler backed out of the school shooting portion of his plan because it all became "too real".Gosh Ishan YouTube Star Left Trails of Clues Online Before Killing His Family and Attempting School Shooting https://www.ibtimes.sg/youtube-star-left-trails-clues-online-before-killing-his-family-attempting-school-shooting-52619 2 February 2024 International Business Times International Business Times 18 October 2020 He was placed on suicide watch within days of his arrest.KHOU Staff Psychologist weighs in on what went wrong with Waller triple-murder suspect https://www.khou.com/article/news/psychologist-weighs-in-on-what-went-wrong-with-waller-triple-murder-suspect/285-339789044 3 February 2024 KHOU 23 March 2012 Victims The three people murdered consisted of his mother, father and older brother: Rhonda Wyse Sesler, 57, mother of Sesler, first to be killed Mark Alan Sesler, 26, older brother of Sesler, second to be killed Lawton Ray Sesler Jr, 58, father of Sesler, last to be killedWise Lindsay Son expected to plead not guilty in Waller family deaths https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/son-expected-to-plead-not-guilty-in-waller-family-3447871.php 3 February 2024 CHRON CHRON 30 March 2012 Rhonda and Lawton were married for 34 years prior to the shooting. Rhonda worked at The Waller Times and Lawton was a teacher at Robison Elementary School.August 3, 2012 Waller man who killed his family sentenced to life in prison without parole https://www.khou.com/article/news/waller-man-who-killed-his-family-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-without-parole/285-339670448 May 14, 2024 KHOU11Dean Stephen March 21, 2012 Mass-shooting plot revealed in Waller family's murders https://www.click2houston.com/news/2012/03/21/mass-shooting-plot-revealed-in-waller-familys-murders/ May 14, 2024 Click 2 HoustonMarch 21, 2012 Police arrest 22-year-old accused of killing family members in Waller https://abc13.com/archive/8588546/ May 14, 2024 ABC13 After the shooting, Sesler contacted extended family members and apologized for his actions.Kvue Staff Waller police: Triple-murder suspect apologized for killing family https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas-news/waller-police-triple-murder-suspect-apologized-for-killing-family/269-343674712 3 February 2024 KVUE 23 March 2012 His cousin, Robin Warner, said the family did not know about his online activities. Waller residents were deeply disturbed by the case. Sentencing Sesler was arrested and charged with three counts of capital murder shortly after the family shooting.Man pleads guilty to killing family https://www.click2houston.com/news/2012/08/03/man-pleads-guilty-to-killing-family/ 3 February 2024 Click2Houston 3 August 2012 On August 2, 2012, Sesler plead guilty to all charges and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, the right to which he reportedly told the judge to take away because he feared he was a danger to himself and those around him.3 August 2012 Hempstead man gets life for deaths of parents, brother https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/hempstead-man-gets-life-for-deaths-of-parents-3760953.php dead https://web.archive.org/web/20240203110800/https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/hempstead-man-gets-life-for-deaths-of-parents-3760953.php 3 February 2024 3 February 2024 Beaumont Enterprise Associated Press The Waller police chief described the courtroom as "somber" and did not hear Sesler speak during sentencing.Waller man accused of killing his family pleads guilty https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8759844/ 3 February 2024 ABC7 Chicago 3 August 2012 Many residents of Waller thought Sesler would receive the death penalty and were disappointed in the sentence handed down. As of 2026, Sesler is serving his sentence in the Memorial Unit. Previously, he was located in the Terrell Unit in 2024Inmate Information Details SESLER, TREY ERIC https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/InmateSearch/viewDetail.action?sid=50028655 Texas Department of Criminal Justice 3 February 2024 and the McConnell Unit in 2018.Trey Eric Sesler https://www.texastribune.org/library/data/texas-prisons/ Texas Tribune 3 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20181015080303/https://www.texastribune.org/library/data/texas-prisons/inmates/trey-eric-sesler/820597/ 15 October 2018 See also Columbine effect Bever family murders Browning family murders Prosper family murders References Category:Familicides in the United States Category:2012 murders in the United States Category:Deaths by firearm in Texas Category:2012 in Texas Category:Mass murders in Texas Category:2010s crimes in Texas Category:Columbine High School massacre copycat crimes Category:March 2012 crimes in the United States Category:Fratricides Category:Matricides Category:Patricides Category:2012 mass murders Category:People murdered in Texas Category:2010s mass murders in the United States Category:Mass shootings involving semi-automatic pistols in the United States