Man Pleads Guilty To Slitting The Throats Of His Wife And Five Children
On an emotional day in court on Tuesday, a Florida man pleaded guilty to gruesomely murdering his wife and five children.
Mesac Damas, 41, of North Naples, pleaded guilty to six counts of premeditated first-degree murder in the Collier Circuit Court. Judge Christine Greider accepted Damas’s plea.
Although Damas’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 29, he has requested to skip trial and be put to death. Before exiting his plea hearing, Damas offered a public apology for his crimes.
“I just want to say I’m truly sorry, especially to the family of my wife. I don’t see them here today, but I just want to make sure for the record they know that,” Damas said, according to Naples Daily News. “I know how much they love their sister, their daughter, their grandchildren. And then I want to make sure that everyone knows that I love them the most.
“I love my people, my wife and children. But this thing happened,” Damas continued. “I don’t have an answer for it. I wish I had an answer for it, but I don’t. When I stand before the great God, I will ask him a lot of questions. From now on, I’m just going to put my trust in him, and say sorry to the whole world.”
Back in 2009, Damas confessed to murdering wife Guerline, 32, and children Michzach, 9; Marven, 6; Maven, 5; Megan, 3; and 11-month-old Morgan. All of the victims died from stab wounds and slashes to the throat.
Although Damas has always plead guilty, the trial lasted for years because of questions regarding his mental health, challenges to Florida’s death penalty law and several changes between lawyers and judges.
As for now, many wonder if Damas will be put to death as he requested or if he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
In addition to pleading guilty, Damas also waived his right to a jury trial and his right to have his lawyers present, mitigating evidence which could influence Judge Greider not to impose the death penalty.
The Florida Department of Corrections will conduct an investigation in the coming weeks to determine the best sentencing for Damas.
