In the summer of 2012, a tragedy unfolded in north Tulsa that cut short the lives of a young woman and her unborn child. On June 4, 19-year-old Marshay Wesson was discovered in the driver's seat of her car, the engine still humming. She had been shot seven times, a violent end to a young life with dreams of completing her GED. Marshay, known for her straightforward attitude and talent for hair braiding, was pregnant at the time of her death, expecting a son she had named Kenton.
The
investigation into her death led authorities to Kenneth Lee Hopkins, then 28 years old. Prosecutors alleged that Hopkins was the father of two of Marshay's children and her unborn son. The motive for the brutal crime, according to the state, was to avoid paying child support. Evidence presented during the trial included the murder weapon, which was found in the car of another woman who had two children with Hopkins. This woman testified against him in court. Hopkins' cell phone was also presented as evidence, showing its last use was eight hours before Marshay's body was found.
Following the legal proceedings, a jury found Kenneth Lee Hopkins guilty on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Marshay Wesson and her unborn son, Kenton. The court sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, closing a painful chapter for a grieving family and community.
