In the quiet town of Fox Lake, Wisconsin, the life of 27-year-old Sesalie Dixon came to a tragic end on December 4, 2016. Her body was discovered in the passenger seat of a pickup truck parked inside a garage. An autopsy would later reveal that she had died from three gunshot wounds to the head. The truck belonged to her boyfriend, Laverne Ware Jr., and the garage was at the home of his mother, a residence that he owned.
The investigation into Sesalie's death quickly focused on those closest to her. On that Sunday afternoon, the Dodge County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the residence after receiving a call from Vernon Mickey, the live-in boyfriend of Ware's mother, Marjorie Jones. Mickey reported a possible homicide, telling dispatchers that he believed Ware and Jones were involved and that Sesalie had been missing since the previous night. He had observed what he thought was blood in the garage. When law enforcement arrived, they found Sesalie's body in Ware's truck, noting that blood had dripped from the passenger door seams.
Laverne Ware Jr. was taken into custody, and both his mother, Marjorie Jones, and her boyfriend, Vernon Mickey, were brought in for questioning. It was revealed that Sesalie was not only Ware's girlfriend but also his first cousin. Initially, Ware was charged with hiding a corpse, but the charges were later upgraded to first-degree intentional homicide, incest, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jones and Mickey were also charged in connection with the crime, with Mickey facing a felony count of harboring a felon. He later agreed to a plea deal in exchange for his truthful testimony.
During the trial, the prosecution presented a compelling case against Ware. A fellow inmate, Malik Critton, testified that Ware had confessed to the murder, stating that the motive was because Sesalie was falling out of love with him and was planning to leave. According to Critton, Ware admitted to beating and then shooting her. The defense attempted to shift the blame to Ware's mother, suggesting she was upset with Sesalie for allegedly stealing money and prescription pills. However, a jury ultimately found Laverne Ware Jr. guilty on all five felony counts, including first-degree intentional homicide.
In June 2019, Laverne Ware Jr. was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Sesalie Dixon. The judge set his first eligibility for extended supervision for December 4, 2076, making it highly unlikely he will ever be released. During the sentencing, Sesalie's family members gave emotional victim impact statements, expressing their profound loss and pain. While Ware admitted to the incest charge, he maintained his innocence in her murder.
