Naman Shrestha
In the episode titled ‘Just Don’t Want To Go to Jail’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Signs Of A Psychopath,’ the primary focus is on the horrific murders of 50-year-old Mark Weekly and his 6-year-old granddaugher, Meredith Jessie, in Lakeland, Florida, in the summer of 2015. The killings sent shockwaves across the entire community while grief took over the victims’ loved ones. The investigation turned on its head with a chilling confession from the perpetrator, which is featured in the documentary along with exclusive interviews with officials linked to the investigation.
Mark Weekly and Meredith Jessie’s Remains Were Found Weeks After They Were Killed
Born on November 19, 1964, to Lory and Marjorie Weekly, Mark Ivan Weekly grew up in a nurturing environment alongside his brothers, Steve and Mike Weekly. Though not much is known about his personal and professional background, we know that he was a father of one, Cheyanne Jessie. From what we can tell, he was respected in the community and devoted his life to his family and work. He was a doting father to Cheyanne and did everything he could to give her a better life. With a heart full of love and warmth, the family welcomed Cheyanne’s daughter, Meredith LeeAnn Jessie, on May 26, 2009. He was naturally delighted at the arrival of the little ray of sunshine and wholeheartedly embraced his role as a grandfather.
By the time he turned 50, Mark had been a resident of Florida, particularly at Drane Field Road in Lakeland. Meredith was the light of his life, and he never missed an opportunity to create beautiful memories with her. Cheyanne often dropped the 6-year-old off at her grandfather’s, well aware that the two looked forward to the time they spent together. However, everything changed on August 1, 2015, when the authorities received a call from Cheyanne, who reported her young daughter and father missing. The 25-year-old informed the authorities that Mark was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had requested her to leave Meredith with him for a while, since he only had a few months left and desired to stay close to his beloved granddaughter.
While the authorities had begun looking into the matter, a tragic lead surfaced just a day later, putting a stop to the search. On August 2, 2015, the authorities uncovered the remains of Mark and Meredith tucked away in the shed of his neighbor. As per reports, the remains were stuffed in the plastic storage bins. It was soon divulged that the 6-year-old was stabbed and fatally shot in the head, while her grandfather sustained three gunshot wounds to his head and multiple stab wounds in the chest, resulting in his death. According to police records, the investigators examined the evidence and ultimately theorized that the double homicide took place on July 18, 2015.
Mark Weekly and Meredith Jessie’s Killer Initially Claimed Self-Defense
As part of the investigation, the detectives interviewed the victims’ loved ones, including Cheyanne Jessie. When she was brought in for questioning, she made some shocking claims. She alleged that she was in the middle of a physical altercation with her father, Mark Weekly, who allegedly threatened her with a knife. She told the investigators that when Meredith came to help her, her armed father stabbed the girl in the throat. According to her, it was then that she shot Mark to death in self-defense. After hearing Cheyanne Jessie’s account, the detectives noticed several inconsistencies in her story.
Not long after, she decided to confess her crimes and come out clean to the authorities. On July 18, 2015, Cheyanne entered the Drane Field Road residence and stabbed her father at least 12 times before shooting him in the head three times. She also reportedly stabbed her 6-year-old daughter multiple times and shot her in the back of the head. After committing the brutal killings, she allegedly took inspiration from the CBS crime drama ‘Criminal Minds’ and placed the remains in two plastic storage bins, which she stored in a shed belonging to their landlord, who lived nearby. According to reports, her boyfriend, Matthew “Cody” Munroe, wanted to part ways with her due to Meredith’s alleged behavioral issues. Thus, blaming Mark and Meredith for the cracks in her relationship, she decided to kill them.
Eventually, she was officially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of evidence tampering. She was held in custody without bond. For a short while, the authorities suspected that another individual could have helped her in the crimes. After her arrest, most of Mark’s family members weren’t surprised that Cheyanne was responsible for the murders. Mark’s sister-in-law, Gaye Weekly, told Bay News 9, “When they said they found Mark and Meredith, that they were murdered, I said Cheyanne did it.” She also claimed that she had been planning the murders for months, as she allegedly even cut and dyed Meredith’s hair in order to make it difficult for the authorities to identify her remains.
Cheyanne Jessie is Currently Incarcerated at a Florida Prison Facility
Four years after Mark Weekly and Meredith Jessie were killed, Cheyanne Jessie stood trial for their murders in July 2019. After the prosecution and defense presented their arguments in front of the 12-member jury, the jury deliberated for less than four hours before reaching a verdict. The 29-year-old woman was found guilty of all the charges against her, including first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. On top of that, the jury also unanimously recommended the death penalty for Meredith’s murder and life imprisonment for the murder of Mark Weekly. Less than a couple of years later, in February 2021, Cheyanne Jessie was sentenced to life in prison for the murders. As of today, she is serving her sentence at Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala, Florida.
Read More: Royal Abram and Matrell Johnson Murders: Where is Andre Richardson Now?
