Man tied to parents' murder in Missouri arrested in West Michigan
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. — A man who allegedly shot and killed his parents in Missouri is facing charges for a home invasion in West Michigan.
Jason Sessoms, 19, was arrested Saturday on the following charges, according to court documents obtained by News Channel 3:
- First-degree home invasion
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Attempt to disarm a police officer
- MV unlawful driving away of automobile
- Resisting and obstructing a police officer
His bond was set at $2 million cash/surety.
Days before Jason Sessoms' arrest in West Michigan, a witness told officers they were informed Wednesday the Sessoms family were staying at a Kansas City, Missouri extended stay hotel, and were going to Georgia because Jason Sessoms believed "someone in the Kansas City area put a hit on him."
The family had left for Georgia, but returned to Kansas City because their youngest son had forgotten his school computer.
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Thursday, a family member received a text asking for a return call.
When that family member called back, Jason Sessoms answered the phone, telling the caller that someone was out to get him.
Family members would not hear from the 19-year-old, his brother or his parents after the call, documents detailed.
At about 1:58 a.m. Saturday, officers with the Covert Township Police Department reported they arrested Jason Sessoms for burglary of a home, noting he had two semi-automatic weapons in his possession.
Sessoms' 10-year-old brother was also found, and told investigators his brother shot and killed their parents in a Kansas City motel room, according to documents.
This led officers to the room near North Corrington Avenue at 3:42 a.m.
Inside, officers found both boys' parents on a bed with gunshot wounds, five spent .22 caliber shell casings from on and near the bed, two live .22 caliber rounds near the refrigerator, a walking stick next to the bed and a pillow with gunshot damage, documents detailed.
When asked about his parents on Sunday, Sessoms told investigators his family was living out of hotels, and his parents told him and his brother to "go have fun."
At one point, Sessoms claimed a Hispanic "tall and buff" man knocked on their motel room door when they were together, and they didn't answer.
However, when they eventually answered the door, Sessoms stated the man entered the room, killed his parents and wanted to hurt him, but left. He then left with his brother on a "road trip."
Investigators told the 19-year-old they knew he killed his parents.
Jason Sessoms, in turn, claimed his father told him to kill him, and he only killed his mother "so she didn't suffer, in his mind that was the right thing to do," according to documents.
He then claimed both of his parents said to kill them as he was "going to jail regardless," telling investigators his parents were going to send him away from his brother and he was "pretty mad" about it.
In addition, the 19-year-old claimed he killed his parents because of the mob.
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Before he shot his parents, the 19-year-old told investigators he was trying to talk to his father when he realized his parents and brother were asleep, and couldn't find some of his money.
He then realized his mother spent it on the hotel room, which "disappointed" him, documents detailed.
Using a pillow and a gun he bought for "self-defense," the 19-year-old shot his mother twice in the head, waking his father.
As his father reached for his own gun, Jason Sessoms fired a shot, but heard the bullet ricochet off of the metal plate in the back of his father's head. He then shot his father three times more times, documents detailed.
As of Tuesday, Jason Sessoms remains held at Van Buren County Jail.
"I was really happy with the way our team and the Kansas City team, along with the prosecutor's office worked together to get a good resolution to this, or charges to both crimes, and hold somebody accountable," Covert Township Police chief Jay Allen told News Channel 3.
He is scheduled to appear for a probable cause hearing on April 9.
