ALDERSON, W.Va. — There was a lot of emotion at a candlelight vigil Monday night in Alderson for a mother of five who police say was murdered by her newlywed husband.
Family and friends of Marrisa Dawson (Marissa Mann-Bennett) gathered to remember her life.
Dawson died Friday morning after what police describe as an all night beating at an Alderson residence.
Investigators have charged Zach Dawson, 34, of Alderson, with murder.
MORE Read criminal complaint here
According to a criminal complaint, Dawson admitted to killing Marissa Dawson during a violent argument that began Thanksgiving night and stretched into early Friday morning. Marissa Dawson’s bloodied body was found by a friend at 9 a.m. Friday.
Police said Marissa Dawson suffered major facial trauma. There was blood found throughout the residence on both the second floor and in the basement, according to the criminal complaint.
Investigators said it also appeared Marissa’s body was “thrown through the residence and striking what appeared to be her head on several items in the residence.”
Police allege after Zach Dawson changed his wife’s clothes and attempted to clean-up the residence, he took off in her car. Police found him later Friday along U.S. Route 219 in Lewisburg.
According to the criminal complaint, Dawson “admitted being responsible for her death and takes responsibility for it.” Dawson told police he hit his wife during the argument.
“Zachary Hess Dawson informed the officer he killed his wife,” the criminal complaint said. “Subject stated that after striking his wife he blacked out and when he came to he knew he had messed up. Subject admitted that he changed her clothes to have clean clothes on her.”
Greenbrier County Prosecutor Patrick Via told MetroNews Monday the investigation is in its early stages. He said Zach Dawson’s statement to police will not cause authorities to let up on finding out what happened.
“Statements taken sometimes are subject to different interpretations later, so it’s critical that we proceed just as if we didn’t have a statement at all, quite frankly,” Via said.
He said there’s a lot of physical evidence including blood and clothing.
“It’s my understanding that there was a very consequential amount of blood at the scene as well as articles of clothing that were gathered by the investigators,” Via said.
The investigation will also include researching the history of the relationship between Zach and Marrisa Dawson. They were married Oct. 24, a month before her death occurred.
“It’s extremely early,” Via said describing the work of investigators. “All of those facts have been or will be gathered by the investigators and supplied to me through briefings as well as through a complete written report of the investigation.”
Dawson is in the Southern Regional Jail without bail.
According to Facebook posts, Marissa Dawson was the mother of five children, including a son who was born in August. She worked as a housekeeping attendant at the Greenbrier Resort.
A news release from the Alderson Police Department said the children were not at home at the time of the beating. They had spent the night at a friend’s house.
Via said four police agencies are working together on the investigation including Alderson Police, Lewisburg Police, State Police and the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department.