'Had no idea about his past': Holly Guess' sister slams 'evil' Jesse McFadden who shot dead his wife and 5 teens
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Warning: The article contains recollection of crime that may be triggering to some readers. Discretion is advised.
HENRYETTA, OKLAHOMA: Seven people were discovered dead on Jesse McFadden's farm the day before he was due to testify in court regarding allegations of child pornography. The victims' family was left feeling "broken and devastated" after learning that McFadden shot and killed his wife and five teenagers before turning the gun on himself.
Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice claimed that each victim was shot one to three times in the head, according to the Sun. Chief Prentice added that it appeared as though the mother and teenagers at the Henryetta residence seemed to have been shot dead while attempting to flee the shooter. All of the victims were found outside, but authorities think that the bodies may have been staged after they died, according to FOX23.
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Who were the victims?
Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 16, who went missing, as well as McFadden's wife Holly Guess, 35, and her three children Rylee Allen, 17, Michael Mayo, 15, and Tiffany Guess, 13, have been officially confirmed as the victims.
Webster's mother claimed that her daughter and Brewer left for a sleepover at the McFaddens on April 29, 2023. The two had previously stayed with the family several times and were close to them. An Amber Alert was issued for the girls two days later, just five hours before emergency workers located the lifeless bodies in McFadden's house.
'People who perpetrate crimes like this are evil'
Regarding the motivation for the murder, Chief Prentice stated, "People who perpetrate crimes like this are evil. Normal folks like us can't understand it," according to the Sun. Holly's sister Heather Pettigrew stated that Michael, Tiffany, Rylee, and Holly's remains had been released and were being picked up from a funeral home.
Pettigrew stated that plans are already being made for a memorial service to honor the lives that were sadly cut short. She said, "We are broken and devastated at the loss of my sister and my nieces and nephew as well as my niece's friends who were like sisters to her. We know they were all shot in the head and I am just thankful that it was quick and they didn't have to suffer," according to the Sun.
'I had no idea about his past'
Pettigrew denied knowing McFadden had a criminal past or that he and Holly had any significant problems when questioned about their relationship, according to the Sun. Prison records maintained by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections stated that McFadden was found guilty of first-degree rape in 2003 and was freed in 2020.
Pettigrew said, "I had no idea about his past or that he was capable of these horrible actions. Her children were her world. She never mentioned anything about him having court or anything, they argued sometimes as do every couple but other then normal arguments I had no indication of any troubles with any of them," according to the Sun.