Police: Man charged in Waller deaths planned Columbine-like attack New details revealed after he's charged in his family's slayings

Trey Sesler is charged with capital murder in the deaths of his parents and older brother. Trey Sesler is charged with capital murder in the deaths of his parents and older brother. Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Police: Man charged in Waller deaths planned Columbine-like attack 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

A Waller man accused of fatally gunning down his parents and older brother was also planning a Columbine-style massacre at a local high school, authorities said.

Trey Eric Sesler told investigators he and at least one other former Waller High School student were planning such a shooting at the high school, said a law enforcement source who requested not to be identified. Investigators are questioning that friend and another concerning the plot, the source said.

Authorities charged Sesler, 22, with capital murder on Wednesday in the deaths of his mother, father and brother. Law enforcement found their bodies the day before at the family home on Farr, led there by concerned relatives.

Sesler appeared to have an obsession with the Colorado tragedy, where two seniors went on a shooting spree, killing 12 classmates and one teacher before taking their own lives in 1999, the source said. His friends seemed to entertain Sesler's idea, but whether they would follow through was unclear, the source said.

Investigators are taking Sesler's claims about the plot seriously. He seemed to have an interest in guns and, according to police, used recreational drugs and had recently been asking where he could get body armor.

Late Wednesday afternoon, authorities continued to search for guns they said they believed Sesler, an online animation critic, may have kept at a home in Hempstead, the police source said. Authorities were also searching Sesler's computer and YouTube channel.

Police at house Monday

Sesler was captured Tuesday night after a daylong manhunt. Authorities spotted him in Magnolia and watched for several hours as he sat inside a 2010 black Ford Mustang before taking him into custody. He is being held in the Waller County Jail on a $3 million bail, said Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis.

Lawton Ray Sesler Jr., 58, his wife, Rhonda Wyse Sesler, 57, and their son, Mark Alan Sesler, 26, were found dead at their one-story, ranch-style home. Each had fatal gunshot wounds that appeared to have come from a high-powered rifle, authorities said. Officials had been at the house on Monday, investigating a report of shots fired about 5:30 p.m. They found nothing, police said, but returned on Tuesday afternoon.

In the ransacked home, authorities also found remorseful words written on the walls in black marker that appeared to come from Sesler, said Michael Williams, a crime scene investigator and detective with the Waller Police Department.

"He basically said it in the first person, stuff like, 'I love my family,' " Williams said.

Strange call to police

Williams said that about two weeks ago, Trey Sesler allegedly made a strange call to police.

"He just called us one day about something bizarre," said Williams. "He said he was sitting in the backyard and that a bullet whizzed by his head and that he had gotten his guns and he was ready."

Relatives who live in the area told police they were concerned about the safety of Sesler's immediate family, Williams said.

Whether Sesler was being treated for any mental health problems was unclear. However, Williams said he appeared delusional.

Over the last 4½ years, Sesler developed an online following as "Mr. Anime" - an alter ego who was the star and producer of hundreds of videos offering Japanese animation reviews. His YouTube channel, Lens Cap Productions, also features several amateur short films, some of which included his brother as an actor.

Taught for 30 years

Jackie Mize-Wren, who lives across the street, recalled seeing Sesler, his brother and other friends playing in the front yard with the video camera. She described the family as homebodies, who loved to decorate during Christmas.

Lawton and Rhonda Sesler were married 34 years. She worked at the Waller Times. He taught at Robinson Elementary in the Cy-Fair Independent School District and grew up in Waller. District officials said staff and students at Robinson were saddened by the news of Lawton Sesler's death.

"With more than 30 years of teaching experience, he made the difference in the lives of hundreds of students during his career," officials said in a statement. "He was a Spotlight teacher in 2000 and 2006, selected for his outstanding contributions as a teacher."

lindsay.wise@chron.com anita.hassan@chron.com