Memphis Murders Remain A Mystery

Police Say Killer Not One Of 6 Bodies Found In Home, But They Don't Know Much More

(CBS/AP)  Gunfire happens enough around Lester Street that neighbors often don't bother to call police. Now residents are wondering whether the shots they heard last weekend killed six people and critically wounded three other children.

Police did not offer a motive in the slayings on Wednesday, two days after the grisly scene was found inside a small brick house in the community known as Binghampton, where low-income homes sit near cheap motels and junkyards.

"I did hear shooting, but I didn't know where it was. Sometimes guys get crazy and just shoot up in the air," said Marie Mackey, 33, who was visiting her mother's house a couple of blocks away Saturday night. "If I had known, I would have called."

Lt. Joe Scott, a top homicide detective, said the surviving children are witnesses and under police protection.

"Nobody will see those children," Scott said. "This is a sensitive investigation. We're keeping everything under the wraps right now."

Authorities identified the adult victims on Wednesday as Cecil Dotson, 30, who was renting the home; Hollis Seals, 33; Shindri Roberson, 20; and Marissa Rene Williams, 26. They declined to identify the children.

Police say that the attack happened between Saturday night and Monday evening and that five of those who died were shot and one child was stabbed. Investigators have ruled out a murder-suicide.

Some details trickled out from family and neighbors, who hope the extreme violence will push those with any tips to talk to police.

"We have dead children. We have dead individuals right now. We need information right now," Scott told CBS News affiliate WREG-TV.

Nicole Dotson said her brother lived in the rental house with Williams, his girlfriend, their four children and a child of his from a previous relationship. The children were ages 9, 5, 4, 2 and 2 months, she said.

Police have not told the family which children survived, she said.

"We don't know who's in the hospital. We don't know who's alive. It's depressing," she said.

"He ain't got nothing," Dotson, told WMC-TV. "Why would you go to somebody's house and rob them and they ain't got nothing but some groceries? No money, no drugs."

Police have refused to say whether the slayings could have been connected to Dotson, who had a violent criminal past.

Court and criminal records reviewed by The Associated Press showed Dotson was "known to have gang affiliations" when he joined in an attack on a jail inmate in 1995 while serving a four-year sentence for aggravated assault.

At the time Dotson died, a charge of aggravated robbery was pending against him. An affidavit filed by police accused him of driving a van that nearly struck a pedestrian on Jan. 9. When the pedestrian approached the van and yelled, Dotson pulled out a handgun and demanded the man's wallet. Dotson was arrested shortly afterward and identified by the victim.

Relatives say they know of no activity by Dotson or others in the home that could have led to the violence.

The owner of the small brick home, Rob Robinson said Dotson and his girlfriend were good tenants. "They kept the property and they called me when there were problems. They paid their rent on time. They were always very courteous and polite. Not that this would ever be expected, but there wasn't a history there I had experienced that indicated this kind of activity or crazy things going on."

Robinson said the man had problems with a former girlfriend. "When I was over there, there were a lot of heated conversations over the phone," he said.

Neighbors said there had been a disturbance over the weekend, and a woman was outside the home, blowing her car horn.

[fraiserc]

The State of Tennessee needs to take over the city of Memphis.

[robrob791]

Must have some really inteligent people on the Memphis police department to figure out the one who done this is still on the loose. Wonder how they figured that out??????

[ck73ia]

You spelled courteous wrong.

This story is a true story of Memphis. Memphis is a controlled city by a small number of people. I lived in Memphis and I had to leave because my own life was in Danger. I really feel that this story is about someone in this family did something that the controlling forces did not like and they were murdered alone with all the whitnesses. The controlling forces are still looking for me and people in Memphis ask my memphis friends where I am at on a daily basic. I tried to start a Club in Memphis. We were forced to Bribe the Police. We were forced to buy our products for the club outside of Memphis because the people of Memphis would sell to us because they were told to starve us out. I had 5 attemps on my life by the controlling group. This story is a good example of how Memphis works.

[fraiserc]

The mayor of Memphis, Willie Herenton, has admitted on local tv that he has no solutions.

[gunownerdan]

The only way to stop these horrible murders is if we can get people to start respecting life whether it''s your own life or the lives of others!

[orbjones]

Hello FraiserC,

Your comment was quite compelling. Can you respond with more detail? For example, Who are the controlling forces? What type club in Memphis did you start? Please shed more light.

thanks, OJ

[orbjones]

I''m sorry, my previous post is for dan_e_graves? Please give more info on your post regarding ''controlling forces''?

thanks, OJ

[bhappy2-2]

It''s bad to live in an area where gunshots are so common they are ignored. I used to live in one of those areas. It was not unusual to hear anywhere from a few to over a hundred shots per night. Calling the police did no good; they rarely even showed up to investigate. When they did bother it was a minimum wait of forty five minutes. I armed myself and prepared for the worst. Fortunately I was able to get out of that area without having to use the gun, but I was and I am still prepared to defend myself and my family. After I left I found out that only two blocks away there were drug dealers fighting over the "best" corners for their trade. For this reason I will always prefer to be armed, always prefer to defend myself.

[gunnerv1]

SchoolLIAR (or whatever it is now)
I am your worst nightmare.
I am everything that you hate.
I am a Gun Owner.
I am an American Fighting Man.
I am a Middle Class Conservative and,
I vote Gun issues.
I donate to the Politican of my choice,
not party.
I count myself among the Brave Men and Women
of this Great Nation that will stand up and
fight for what is right.
I will fight for my Fellow Man.
I will fight for those who are weak and tired.
I will fight for my Country and its causes.
I will fight for the Colors of this Free Nation.
I hope that the 50 Stars and 13 Stripes remain,
but I despair that there may soon be a New Flag
over these 50 states.
Long live Free

[gunnerv1]

"American Citizens are prohibited from acquiring, possessing, and carrying firearms and ammunition, as well as truncheons or stabbing weapons. Those now possessing weapons and ammunition are at once to turn them over to the local police authority.
Firearms and ammunition found in a Citizen''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s possession will be forfeited to the government without compensation. Whoever willfully or negligently violates the provisions...will be punished with imprisonment and a fine.
Regulations Against U.S. Citizens Possession of Weapons, January 23, 2009, Democratic Minister of the Interior.

As published from the Democratic Party Manifesto, January 21,2009
IT''s Coming, and you saw it here first. Sign up for the coming civil war soon.

[gunnerv1]

I am your worst nightmare.
I am everything that you hate.
I am a Gun Owner.
I am an American Fighting Man.
I am a Middle Class Conservative and,
I vote Gun issues.
I donate to the Politican of my choice,
not party.
I count myself among the Brave Men and Women
of this Great Nation that will stand up and
fight for what is right.
I will fight for my Fellow Man.
I will fight for those who are weak and tired.
I will fight for my Country and its causes.
I will fight for the Colors of this Free Nation.
I hope that the 50 Stars and 13 Stripes remain,
but I despair that there may soon be a New Flag
over these 50 states.
Long live Free

[andyli1004]

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made several interesting friends there.