Mason Sisk: Alabama teen convicted of capital murder for killing dad, stepmom, and 3 siblings
LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALABAMA: An Alabama boy accused of shooting dead his dad, three siblings, and stepmom has been convicted of capital murder. Mason Sisk, now 17, of Elkmont, carried out the murders after learning that the victim was not his biological mother. The incident took place in 2019 when Sisk was 14. The victims were Sisk's father, John Sisk, 38; his stepmother, Mary Sisk, 35; his two half-brothers, six-month-old Colson and six-year-old Grayson, and his half-sister Aurora, aged five.
Jurors were shown a video where Sisk admitted to the murder, saying he was "fed up of all the fighting," according to AL.com. Sisk reportedly tried to poison his stepmother by putting peanut butter in her coffee before carrying out the shootings. He knew his stepmom was allergic to peanuts.
READ MORE
Here's why Shamaiya Hall is charged with capital murder, but Lindsay Clancy isn't
'He doesn’t have anyone really to help him'
Shay Golden, Sisk's defense attorney, said he is disappointed with the outcome. "Information we believed to be relevant was never really allowed to be discussed or considered. We have prepared for that, that’s part of the legal process. You prepared for the worst-case scenario. We’re confident we’re solid on the ground for appeal. It just feels like this inevitably will have to be tried again,” Golden said, according to WAFF 48. “I know that he’s [Mason’s] disappointed. It’s difficult, he emotes in his way, [and] he doesn’t have anyone really to help him with that. We talked about it. He knew this was something to be considered the entire time was the possibility that the issues were setting up for appeal might come into play.”
During closing arguments, prosecutors showed text messages where Sisk bragged about effectively using a gun to slaughter his family. He also wrote about seeing the life drain from their eyes. Sisk's team attempted to dismiss this saying these remarks were just jokes. In the months before the murders, Sisk allegedly burned live animals and broke into his school.
On September 2, 2019, when the murders took place, Sisk called 911. He told responding deputies that he heard gunfire upstairs while he was in the basement of their home in the 2500 block of Ridge Road in Elkmont. He later admitted to the murders and took cops to the murder weapon, which was a 9mm pistol. A 2020 report from a juvenile probation officer said Sisk "had not shown any sign of remorse" for allegedly committing the murders, according to Daily Mail.
What's next for Mason Sisk?
Sisk faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders and will be sentenced on July 25. He does not face the death penalty because of his age at the time of the slayings. Sisk and his team are planning to appeal the verdict, according to Golden.
What is the punishment for capital murder in Alabama?
A person convicted of capital murder in Alabama can be sentenced to life in prison or given the death penalty. According to Kirk Drennan Law, the state has 175 inmates on death row at present. Since 1976, it has held 67 executions.
"Capital murder trials are split into two parts. There is first a trial where a jury of your peers will determine guilt or innocence. It is the job of the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," the website says.
It adds, "If you are convicted of capital murder, there is a second trial, called the sentencing trial. During this trial, either the judge or jury hears aggravating and mitigating circumstances to increase or lessen the degree of criminal responsibility for the crime."