Before social media influencers became household names, a young man in Waller was building a following on YouTube under the name “Mr. Anime.”
Trey Sesler made videos about anime and homemade movies, sometimes featuring friends and family. But in March 2012, the 22-year-old became known for something far more disturbing – the murders of his parents and brother.
Rhonda, Lawton and Mark Sesler were found shot to death inside their family home. The house had been ransacked, and disturbing messages were written on the walls.
Sesler was arrested the following day in Magnolia and later confessed to the killings.
But investigators say what they uncovered went far beyond the murders, potentially targeting dozens of students.
“I think if we wouldn’t have got him that night in Magnolia, he would’ve done it the next day,” retired Waller Police Chief Phil Rehak said.
In a new episode of Texas True Crime, ABC13 reporter Jessica Willey revisits the case through interviews with investigators, former friends and Sesler’s defense attorney. The episode also features his videotaped confession and new details from correspondence with Sesler behind bars.
More than a decade later, those closest to the case are still grappling with what happened and why.
Watch the full episode of Texas True Crime: “Mr. Anime Massacre” anywhere you stream ABC13.
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