Crime & Safety

Hearing Set for Man Accused of Murdering Woman Found in Burning Murrieta Apartment

Evidence in the case against Marquise Denzell McGlown, accused in the death of Shanae Christiana Wesley, will be presented during a hearing Thursday at Southwest Justice Center.

Nearly one year later, the man accused of murdering a 23-year-old Murrieta woman whose badly burned body was found Oct. 31, 2012 in her apartment is due in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

The death penalty will be sought against Marquise Denzell McGlown, 23, of Hemet, who has been charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder, arson of an inhabited structure and vehicle theft, according to John Hall, spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Also attached to the murder charge are special allegations of lying in wait, murder during the commission of a rape, and murder during the commission of a burglary, Hall said.

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The body of Shanae Christiana Wesley, 23, was discovered at about 6:45 a.m. Oct. 31, 2012 when Murrieta police and fire personnel responded to Waterstone Apartments, 24850 Hancock Ave. for a report of a fire.

Wesley’s 3-year-old son survived the flames in good health when a neighbor who happened to be an off-duty, seasonal firefighter came to his rescue.

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Investigators believe Wesley and McGlown met through a mutual friend the night of Oct. 30 at the Bull Pen, a bar in Temecula.

Murrieta police detectives identified McGlown as the suspect in the crime, and he was arrested Nov. 2, 2012 in Hemet on a parole violation.

On Nov. 19, 2012, the DA’s Office charged McGlown in the case. District Attorney Paul Zellerbach has since decided to pursue the death penalty against McGlown, Hall said.

“Based on the evidence, it is alleged that McGlown raped and murdered Wesley, then set a fire in her apartment in an apparent attempt to cover up his crimes,” Hall said. “McGlown then fled the scene by stealing Wesley’s car and on Nov. 2, 2012, Wesley’s 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt was recovered by police in a parking lot in Hemet, not far from McGlown’s residence.”

On Dec 7, 2012, McGlown pleaded not guilty to the crimes.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky of the DA’s Homicide Unit.

Thursday’s hearing begins at 8:30 a.m. at Southwest Justice Center near Murrieta, and should take several hours as a judge reviews the evidence. Murrieta police investigators and other witnesses will also likely testify as the judge takes the evidence into consideration.

McGlown remains jailed without bail at Southwest Detention Center.


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