LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – Zachary Hess Dawson was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison today after he recently pleaded guilty to murdering his newlywed wife, Marissa (Mann-Bennett) Dawson.
On Thanksgiving Day, 2022, a recently wed couple, Zachary and Marissa Dawson had an argument that ultimately led to her death. According to reports from the initial arrest, a 911 call led police to the Dawson’s home in Alderson the morning after Thanksgiving where Marissa was found unresponsive. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Marissa was the mother of five children, all of whom were not at home at the time of the incident.
Official reports state the original 911 caller noted that Marissa’s car was missing that morning. Zachary was later found driving said vehicle in Lewisburg. After being arrested and Mirandized, Zachary Dawson reportedly admitted to killing Marissa.
The criminal complaint from Zachary Dawson’s arrest stated, Marissa “had sustained major facial trauma causing the victim to be deceased.”
The complaint also said, “It appeared the subject was thrown through the residence and striking what appeared to be several items in the residence.” The document also stated that her clothes had been changed and that the basement bathroom appeared to have been cleaned with a cleaning solvent.
READ: Alderson Man Arrested for Murder of Wife
Zachary Dawson remains in Southern Regional Jail at the time of writing but will be transferred to another prison at a later date.
