Fund will help survivors of mass murder

Posted: Friday, October 15, 2010 8:01 pm

By ADRIAN SAINZ
Associated Press
MEMPHIS (AP) — A fund was established Thursday to help the “miracles of Lester Street,” the three children who survived stab wounds inflicted by their uncle in a Memphis house massacre that left six people dead.
The Dotson Children’s Benefit Fund will help pay for medical costs, education and other expenses for 11-year-old Cecil Dotson Jr., 8-year-old Cedric Dotson and Ceniyah Dotson, a 2-year-old girl just two months old when Jessie Dotson rampaged through the house in March 2008.
Dotson was sentenced to death by a jury Tuesday for fatally shooting and stabbing his brother Cecil Dotson, two nephews and three others. An ex-convict, Jessie Dotson shot his brother in the head during an argument, then attacked the rest to eliminate witnesses.
Public donations will enter a special needs trust overseen by Probate Court set up shortly after the attack. It has $139,000 currently.
The money can be accessed by a court-appointed guardian who petitions for funds needed to help Ida Anderson, who is caring for the children.
Anderson is the mother of shooting victim Marissa Williams, who was Cecil Dotson Sr.’s girlfriend and mother of the children.
Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons said at a news conference Thursday attended by Anderson that public inquiries about helping the children spurred the creation of the fund.
“The three surviving children are the true miracles of Lester Street,” Gibbons said. “This community has an opportunity to come together to give these surviving children some chances in life.”
Jessie Dotson was convicted Monday on six murder charges and three attempted murder charges. After shooting his brother, he shot Marissa Williams and two friends, Hollis Seals and Shindri Roberson. He then fatally stabbed and bludgeoned his nephews 4-year-old Cemario Dotson and 2-year-old Cecil Dotson Jr. II.
He then attacked the other three children with kitchen knives and boards, and they hung on despite severe wounds for 40-hours until paramedics arrived at the house in a crime-plagued Memphis district.
The surviving boys identified their uncle as their attacker in court. Prosecutor Ray Lepone repeatedly called them heroes and said Thursday they “acted like men” at the home and in the courtroom.
“Please, please step up and embrace these children,” Lepone said.
Anderson, currently unemployed, spends her time caring for the children, who weren’t present Thursday. She used the news conference to issue a statement of thanks for the public’s support.
When asked what the boys like to do, she said: “Video games.”
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Donations to The Dotson Children Benefit Fund can be dropped off or sent to the Bank of Tennessee, or to the office of guardian ad litem Valorie Smith, vsmith@jglawfirm.com.

Published in The Messenger 10.15.10

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