Lester Street Massacre
Six Lives Lost in Memphis’ Worst Family Slaying
Lester Street Massacre: Six Lives Lost in Memphis’ Worst Family Slaying
A chilling The First 48 case where a home became a crime scene and names mattered — forever.
In the early morning hours of March 2, 2008, something unfathomable happened in a quiet Binghampton neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee — a massacre that would shake a city, haunt investigators, and become one of the most talked-about cases ever featured on The First 48.
Inside a modest house at 722 Lester Street, six family members were brutally killed and three children were left injured but alive. The suspect was no stranger — he was family.
This is the full story — with the names of those we remember.
The Victims: Remembering the Lives
Before we dive into the investigation, it’s important to honor the individuals whose lives were taken:
Killed
Cecil Dotson, 30 — shot multiple times in head and body.
Marissa Williams, 27 — shot in the head and torso.
Hollis Seals, 33 — shot in the mouth and chest.
Shindri Robinson, 22 — shot multiple times.
Cemario Dotson, 4 — blunt force trauma and stabbing.
Cecil Dotson II, 2 — fatal stab wounds.
Injured but Survived
Three children — Cecil “C.J.” Dotson Jr. (9), Cedric Dotson (5), and Ceniyah Dotson (3 months) — were left with serious injuries but survived and were taken to the hospital.
We’ll come back to what happened to them and how their words helped solve the case.
The Scene: A Sunday Nightmare
When Memphis police arrived at 722 Lester Street, they found what the director of the police described as one of the most horrific crime scenes his homicide unit had ever seen.
The house was still — eerily quiet — despite the violence that had occurred inside. Four adults and two children were dead. Bodies lay in different rooms, the victims shot or stabbed in a manner suggesting prolonged, intentional violence.
Initially, police couldn’t determine motive or suspect. Was it gang retaliation? A drug dispute? Enter The First 48 — the series that chronicles the vital first hours of homicide investigations and the race to find those responsible before they strike again.
In this case, those first 48 hours were life-changing.
Who Was Suspected — And Why
Detectives soon focused on Jessie Dotson, the brother of victim Cecil Dotson. Jessie had a criminal past, including time in prison for a previous murder and gang affiliations, and had only been released months earlier.
Investigators pieced together reports from neighbors and family members that tensions had existed among household members — possibly centered on personal disputes involving relationships and previous conflicts. Some sources later claimed that Jessie had previously dated Marissa Williams before she was with his brother, though that point remains debated among family members.
What shattered the initial confusion was the testimony from a surviving child.
A Child Survivor Speaks — Helping Break the Case
Nine-year-old Cecil “C.J.” Dotson Jr., who survived being stabbed and beaten during the attack, eventually identified his uncle Jessie Dotson as the person responsible for the massacre.
That identification gave detectives their first real break.
Rather than remaining a theory — like gang violence or outside suspects — the investigation began taking shape around a person with direct motives and connections to the family.
By March 7, 2008, Jessie Dotson was in custody and formally charged with:
Six counts of first-degree murder
Three counts of attempted first-degree murder for the surviving children.
The Arrest, Confession, and Court Battle
After his arrest, Dotson reportedly gave an oral statement admitting responsibility for the killings, including admitting to “trying to get rid of the kids” and “I stuck ’em,” according to some televised segments of the investigation.
However, portions of that confession were later ruled inadmissible in court because they had already been broadcast on The First 48 — a rare and consequential legal complication. Prosecutors and the judge argued that evidence first aired on television undermined the integrity of presenting it first in court.
The jury ultimately heard enough testimony and evidence to convict Dotson.
In 2010, he was sentenced to six death sentences — one for each life taken — along with additional years for the attempted murders of the children.
His death sentences were later affirmed by the Tennessee Supreme Court following appeal, confirming the convictions and the severity of the crimes.
Motive, Theories, and Ongoing Debate
Investigators originally considered several theories — including gang retaliation — because some adult victims had gang ties. But after Dotson’s confession and survivor identification, the story narrowed to a deeply personal, family-centric motive.
Friends and relatives later offered conflicting accounts about possible motives, including disputes over relationships and old tensions resurfacing. Some sources claimed Jessie was upset that a former girlfriend had moved on with his brother, but others disputed that narrative.
Despite speculation, the court focused on Dotson’s actions, not the underlying trigger — emphasizing the premeditation, repeated violence, and elimination of witnesses.
What Happened to the Survivors?
Though gravely injured, the three surviving children — C.J. Dotson Jr., Cedric Dotson, and Ceniyah Dotson — were transported to Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and treated for wounds including multiple stab and blunt-force injuries.
C.J. Dotson Jr. would play a crucial role in the identification of his uncle, providing testimony at trial despite the trauma he endured. The long-term recovery of all three children has been a combination of physical healing and emotional support from family and the community.
Legacy: A Case That Haunts Memphis
The Lester Street massacre remains one of the most devastating family murders in Memphis history — not just because of the brutality, but because of its impact on children, neighbors, and the criminal justice process.
It also raised uncomfortable questions:
Why did no one intervene sooner?
Could the surviving victims have escaped?
What truly motivated someone to kill six loved ones and injure three children?
And unlike some true-crime cases involving strangers, this one was painfully relational — a massacre carried out among family members and people who had once shared a home and a life.
About the Creator
Dakota Denise
Every story I publish is real lived, witnessed, survived. True or not I never say which. Think you can spot fact from fiction? Everything’s true.. I write humor, confessions, essays, and lived experiences
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