Matthew Cecchi

[Keyser Soze]

This was HORRIBLE! This scum bag, Brandon Wilson, stalked this poor 9 year old child into the restroom and slit his throat because he said "God" told me to do it...



Matthew Louis Cecchi (August 12, 1989 - November 14, 1998) was a 9 year old boy who was murdered in Oceanside, California. Matthew, along with his family, had been attending a reunion at a paid camping area at the beach in Oceanside Harbor. His aunt escorted him to the public bathroom, just steps away from his family campsite but he never came out. According to court documents, a teenager soon entered behind Matthew. Matthew's aunt saw the teenager come out a few minutes later. Matthew was still inside. Worried, his aunt decided to go inside to find him. She saw Matthew lying on the floor in a pool of blood. His throat was slashed from ear to ear. The aunt screamed and several bystanders came inside. They tried unsuccessfully to give him CPR; Matthew was already dead.
The teenager was in fact 20 year old Brandon Wilson. Wilson told investigators God told him to kill Matthew and then go on a killing spree. In January 1999 he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. When he was found guilty he begged the jury to give him the death penalty. The jury agreed with him and a judge sentenced him to deathrow at San Quentin State Prison. He awaits execution

http://www.courttv.com/archive/trial...91499_ctv.html

[Kathyf]

Thats horrible! I wish they would kill these people immediately

[Jazbabee]

When they receive the death penalty, they need to be put to death within a certain time frame, and not alloed to languish on death row !! This is horrible !!

[GODDESS6]

the guy who did this was so devilish looking at his trial, he scared the crap out of me, PURE EVIL~

[Bake]

I remember this story...sad....

[magblax]

Here is an interesting link http://www.angelfire.com/band/pumpki...donwilson.html ... it is a "save Brandon Wilson" site (ugh) but there is intersting and creepy interview quotes by him at the bottom of the page. The guy is insane. I remember when this happened. The poor little guy was just at a family reunion at a park. Ever since this I have been paranoid about my boys going into public restrooms alone. I used to stand at the door and talk with them .. yelling "are there any weirdos in there with you?"..they would yell back "no"..I would say " if you feel there is someone in there that scares you I'm coming in"...and then sometimes some poor guy would come out looking all self-consience. I don't care if they lable Brandon as innocent by reason of insanity...he deserves to be taken out!

[Jazbabee]

Here is an interesting link http://www.angelfire.com/band/pumpki...donwilson.html ... it is a "save Brandon Wilson" site (ugh) but there is intersting and creepy interview quotes by him at the bottom of the page. The guy is insane. I remember when this happened. The poor little guy was just at a family reunion at a park. Ever since this I have been paranoid about my boys going into public restrooms alone. I used to stand at the door and talk with them .. yelling "are there any weirdos in there with you?"..they would yell back "no"..I would say " if you feel there is someone in there that scares you I'm coming in"...and then sometimes some poor guy would come out looking all self-consience. I don't care if they lable Brandon as innocent by reason of insanity...he deserves to be taken out!

Ugggghhhhh !!!!!!! The author of this page seems to be almost as whacked out as Brandon himself. I only read the first part, and found it disgusting that ANYONE in their right mind would want to pity this fool!!!!!
Enough Said !!!!!!

[Kathyf]

When they receive the death penalty, they need to be put to death within a certain time frame, and not alloed to languish on death row !! This is horrible !!

It just takes too long.

[MorbidMolly]

Ugggghhhhh !!!!!!! The author of this page seems to be almost as whacked out as Brandon himself. I only read the first part, and found it disgusting that ANYONE in their right mind would want to pity this fool!!!!!
Enough Said !!!!!!

That about says it for me....

[Keyser Soze]

the guy who did this was so devilish looking at his trial, he scared the crap out of me, PURE EVIL~

I agree. We watched it all on court tv, and I had to leave the room many many times. Especially when he would lash out at the mother.

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Thats horrible! I wish they would kill these people immediately

Yep, once the verdict is reached and the sentence passed, it's time to meet your maker...none of this languishing on death row for 20-30 years on the taxpayer's backs.
Besides, isn't that MORE cruel than just getting it over with? I mean who wants to sit in solitary for 30 years, knowing what's waiting? Isn't THAT cruel and unusual punishment ???

[jsjsjsjs]

HI I'm new here.

I was just wondering if anyone had any updates on this case, and also, is there any footage on line of the court scenes taking place. Finally, could someone lease direct me to at least two images of the victim himself? I am very intrigued about this case, because in 1998, I arrived in America (I'm Australian) for a holiday, the very same day this murder took place!

[PJo]

Hi there,

There was another thread about this case, that may fill in the details for you. You can find it here:
http://www.findadeath.com/forum/show...Matthew+Cecchi

There are also articles on it, if you Google the names involved.

[jsjsjsjs]

Hi there,

There was another thread about this case, that may fill in the details for you. You can find it here:
http://www.findadeath.com/forum/show...Matthew+Cecchi

There are also articles on it, if you Google the names involved.

Thanks, but I can only find one picture of the victim, the one in that thread. I remember when I was over there I saw more. And I can't find any videos either.

[jsjsjsjs]

Hi everyone, I'm quite new here, and would really be very interested on some updates. Does anyone also have any video footage of the crime, or any other photos of Matthew?

This crime really struck a cord with me, as it happened the same time I was travelling to America for a holiday. I think it's absolutely disgusting what Brandon Wilson did, and I remember feeling quite sad and disgusted for much of my holiday due to this.

[lulubaines]

Hi everyone, I'm quite new here, and would really be very interested on some updates. Does anyone also have any video footage of the crime, or any other photos of Matthew?

This crime really struck a cord with me, as it happened the same time I was travelling to America for a holiday. I think it's absolutely disgusting what Brandon Wilson did, and I remember feeling quite sad and disgusted for much of my holiday due to this.

No pics or footage, but welcome to the funhouse!!

[baroque1]

Here is an interesting link http://www.angelfire.com/band/pumpki...donwilson.html ... it is a "save Brandon Wilson" site (ugh) but there is intersting and creepy interview quotes by him at the bottom of the page. The guy is insane. I remember when this happened. The poor little guy was just at a family reunion at a park. Ever since this I have been paranoid about my boys going into public restrooms alone. I used to stand at the door and talk with them .. yelling "are there any weirdos in there with you?"..they would yell back "no"..I would say " if you feel there is someone in there that scares you I'm coming in"...and then sometimes some poor guy would come out looking all self-consience. I don't care if they lable Brandon as innocent by reason of insanity...he deserves to be taken out!

Haha....I do that too!

[findadeathaddict]

this guy needs to be hung in public

[bloodrocuted]

Booo...

This guy gives LSD a bad name. I'm sure he was insane to begin with, though.

[cachluv]

This is one of the ones that has always stuck with me also. I saw it on 20/20 years ago. They showed clips of this loony in court, telling the jury he was glad he was found guilty, he was glad he did it, and the only way to stop him would be to kill him.

I saw the videoclips of his confession. He was re-enacting the crime for the cops, and he was obviously happy to do it. He laughed and made fun of the boy and the noises he made while he was dying, and made fun of how scared the kid was, and showed them exactly what he did to the child INCLUDING pulling part of his throat out of the open slash AND leaving bloody handprints all over the crotch of Mathew Cecchi's pants.

The only way they caught him was he was assaulting a woman after this and got caught.

"A few days later, Brandon Wilson is arrested in Los Angeles after he stabs a Hispanic woman on the street. He was seen licking her blood off his hand and laughing."


He was one of the scariest people I've ever seen. His complete GLEE at what he'd done gave him (what looked like to me) a hard-on while he was making his confession. Honestly, after 20/20 went off that night I had tears rolling down my face for about an hour.

[endsleigh03]

This also stuck with me. Barbaric.

[cachluv]

The Trial


Brandon pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and his trial began on September 13, 1999. Wilson told investigators he killed Matthew because God told him to do it and then go on a killing spree. Wilson's public defender, Curt Owen, portrayed him as an insane young adult who heard voices. He had no permanent place of residence and he had been abusing LSD since he was 14. Curt Owens told jurors that Wilson had experienced urges to kill since he was a teenager. At age 13 Brandon was profoundly affected by his parents divorce. The divorce apparently made Wilson develop a hatred against his mother. He had fantasies of killing her. Wilson believed he was a warrior for God. Wilson was also disturbed by the sudden death of one of his closest friends in a car accident. According to his attorney, Brandon graduated high school and received a $25,000 settlement for injuries he sustained in a car accident. Brandon used the money to travel the country and find God. is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

But the jury rejected all those arguments upon viewing a police videotape of Wilson describing the attack on Matthew Cecchi. Brandon appeared happy and proud of his actions. He smiled and laughed several times as he demonstrated to a police officer how he attacked the boy. Brandon even admitted he knew his actions were wrong.



On September 28, 1999, the jury quickly returned a guilty verdict. Brandon's reaction to the verdict was a happy one. During the penalty phase, Brandon took the unusual step to testify. He urged the jury to give him the death penalty. He told the jury that society would be a better place without him. He admitted having no remorse for Matthew Cecchi, and told them he was capable of killing another child and enjoying it. The jury agreed and gave him the death penalty. Just a few weeks shy of the one year anniversary, Brandon Wilson was sent to death row at San Quentin State Prison. is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar.

[Seagorath]

There was also that creep that raped and killed the little girl in the restroom in Vegas...Anybody remember that one? It was all over the news back in the 90's, and I remember the guy crying in court. Both of these cases are very similar...

Sherrice Iverson,7, murdered in Primm, NV on May 25, 1997 -- Sherrice was kidnapped, raped and strangled by Jeremy Strohmeyer, 18, in a bathroom stall at the Prima donna Casino, South of Las Vegas. Strohmeyer pleaded guilty to all counts in a deal resulting in 3 sentences of life without parole and 1 sentence of life with parole possible after 20 years.

Girl, 7, Raped and Slain At a Casino in Nevada

A 7-year-old girl was raped and strangled in a hotel-casino, apparently by a young man who was captured on a surveillance videotape after following her into a women's bathroom.
The body of the girl, Sherrice Iverson, was discovered inside a locked corner stall in the bathroom at the Primadonna Casino in Primm, about 40 miles from Las Vegas.
No immediate arrests were made.
The girl was killed early Sunday after security guards warned her father three times that night not to leave her alone in an arcade while he and her 14-year-old brother were gambling, said a person connected with the casino who would speak only on the condition of anonymity.
The surveillance tapes show the girl possibly playing hide-and-seek in the arcade with two men in their late teens or early 20's. At 3:48 A.M. the girl darted into the women's restroom, and one man followed her. The man came out alone 25 minutes later.

[jsjsjsjs]

This is one of the ones that has always stuck with me also. I saw it on 20/20 years ago. They showed clips of this loony in court, telling the jury he was glad he was found guilty, he was glad he did it, and the only way to stop him would be to kill him.

I saw the videoclips of his confession. He was re-enacting the crime for the cops, and he was obviously happy to do it. He laughed and made fun of the boy and the noises he made while he was dying, and made fun of how scared the kid was, and showed them exactly what he did to the child INCLUDING pulling part of his throat out of the open slash AND leaving bloody handprints all over the crotch of Mathew Cecchi's pants.

The only way they caught him was he was assaulting a woman after this and got caught.


"A few days later, Brandon Wilson is arrested in Los Angeles after he stabs a Hispanic woman on the street. He was seen licking her blood off his hand and laughing."

He was one of the scariest people I've ever seen. His complete GLEE at what he'd done gave him (what looked like to me) a hard-on while he was making his confession. Honestly, after 20/20 went off that night I had tears rolling down my face for about an hour.

I remember arriving in California, and heard so many people speaking about it. It has all the features of a horror movie. I feel so sad for Matthews' family. I know his aunt and mum held him whle he died, I doubt either one of them will ever get closure for this sick act performed on heir nephew/son. Also, his young brother, father, and all else who loved him. I hope 10 years on they are doing the best they can considering the circumstances, and my heart goes out to them. Juast imagine the pain Matthew endured.

Also, as for Brandon, I really feel he deserves capital punishment. But kill him the same way. Put im up aaginst a urinal, and get some man double his size to slit his throat with a knife, and stab him to death. I know and love God, and the fact that Brandon tried to use God as an excuse (or reason, if he actually did believe this) for doing what he did. This is the work of Satan.

However, I never saw any of it on the news or television. Do you have any links I could follow, for example, that 20/20? I would probably cry too, but would still be interested to see it.

Thanks.

[jsjsjsjs]

There was also that creep that raped and killed the little girl in the restroom in Vegas...Anybody remember that one? It was all over the news back in the 90's, and I remember the guy crying in court. Both of these cases are very similar...

Sherrice Iverson,7, murdered in Primm, NV on May 25, 1997 -- Sherrice was kidnapped, raped and strangled by Jeremy Strohmeyer, 18, in a bathroom stall at the Prima donna Casino, South of Las Vegas. Strohmeyer pleaded guilty to all counts in a deal resulting in 3 sentences of life without parole and 1 sentence of life with parole possible after 20 years.

Girl, 7, Raped and Slain At a Casino in Nevada

A 7-year-old girl was raped and strangled in a hotel-casino, apparently by a young man who was captured on a surveillance videotape after following her into a women's bathroom.
The body of the girl, Sherrice Iverson, was discovered inside a locked corner stall in the bathroom at the Primadonna Casino in Primm, about 40 miles from Las Vegas.
No immediate arrests were made.
The girl was killed early Sunday after security guards warned her father three times that night not to leave her alone in an arcade while he and her 14-year-old brother were gambling, said a person connected with the casino who would speak only on the condition of anonymity.
The surveillance tapes show the girl possibly playing hide-and-seek in the arcade with two men in their late teens or early 20's. At 3:48 A.M. the girl darted into the women's restroom, and one man followed her. The man came out alone 25 minutes later.

Yeah, I read about that too, and it disgusted me just as much. My thoughts are just the same as they are for Matthew and Brandon. May Sherrice rest in peace. I believe her killer gained her trust b laying hide and go seek with her, then raoped, tortured and killed her. Absolutely disgusting!

[cachluv]

Matthew's father was unable to attend that particular family outing that day. He blamed Matthew's mother for his death and they divorced soon after he died. I think that's really sad.

I looked high and low for that episode of 20/20. If you write to them they can probably send a transcript but I can't find anything else as far as video on the Net.

[jsjsjsjs]

Matthew's father was unable to attend that particular family outing that day. He blamed Matthew's mother for his death and they divorced soon after he died. I think that's really sad.

I looked high and low for that episode of 20/20. If you write to them they can probably send a transcript but I can't find anything else as far as video on the Net.

That's okay, thanks very much for tyring. I will e-mail 20/20.

As for the father, he had leukaemia and as you said, couldn't attend. I don't think he should blame the mother, I mean, you'd think a 9 year old boy would be able to use a bathroom without being killed! However, in cases like these, it is normal to want to blame someone/something. It's always bewildered me how many parents divorce after a child's death, you'd think they would be comforting each other, it's pretty ironic.

Also, I've been trying to find updates on how Brandon is at jail, I know he's not been executed yet. Is it still 100% going to happen? Also, his brother would be 13, I've been searching the net for updates on how is family is coping a deacde on, but all information tends to be from 1998-1999 only.

[cachluv]

From what I've been able to find Brandon Wilson hasn't let his attorneys appeal his sentencing. He asked specifically to be put to death.

I can't find anything either, once his execution time approaches the story will make news all over again and this time we'll get updates.

Every few months or so I search for more info on this one, like I said this one has stuck with me.

[jsjsjsjs]

From what I've been able to find Brandon Wilson hasn't let his attorneys appeal his sentencing. He asked specifically to be put to death.

I can't find anything either, once his execution time approaches the story will make news all over again and this time we'll get updates.

Every few months or so I search for more info on this one, like I said this one has stuck with me.

Yeah, me too, it's funny how certain crimes strike a cord with you. Another one like this was the murder of Ebony Simopson, because she was also 9 years old. She was an Australian schol girl, walking home, and was raped and drowned. Terrible. There is no death penalty in Australia though, so her prisoner got life in jail.

How long does it take for people to be put to death in the U.S? I can't believe he's still not been executed after 10 years!

[cachluv]

You know I can't imagine why it takes so long. Some people are on death row for decades before they are put down. I can't imagine why, when the person admits to the crime and wants to die. He should get bumped to the front of the line.

[jsjsjsjs]

You know I can't imagine why it takes so long. Some people are on death row for decades before they are put down. I can't imagine why, when the person admits to the crime and wants to die. He should get bumped to the front of the line.

Yeah, I agree. It doesn't suit anyone for it to take so long. Also, as for Matthew, one thing I can't understand, isb that there are numerous photos of Brandon on the internet, but I've oly been able to find one of Matthew (the one in this thread). I've been trying very hard to find other photos of Matthew, but can't. That seems to be the case usually though, more emphasis is placed on the crminal, than the victim, and often, the justice system benefits the criminal, more than the victim.

[Nicki]

I work in a popular store in CA. I see people come in and send their 4 and 5 year old children to the bathrooms by themselves all the time. I still think about what happen to Matthew and can't believe mothers and fathers would take those chances in this day and age. Really, you can't garantee who has gone into that bathroom before the children. Very scarey!

[jsjsjsjs]

I work in a popular store in CA. I see people come in and send their 4 and 5 year old children to the bathrooms by themselves all the time. I still think about what happen to Matthew and can't believe mothers and fathers would take those chances in this day and age. Really, you can't garantee who has gone into that bathroom before the children. Very scarey!

I agree, I think parents with children 10 and under should take them into the toilet. People think 8 and over is fine, but just point the to this case, and they see reason.

One thing I could never understand though, is how the aunt didn't hear what was happening in the toilet. Surely Matthew would have screamed in agony?

[cachluv]

Brandon Wilson did everything that he did to Matthew Cecchi within 30 seconds. He already had him picked out. Matthew had a female family member standing outside the bathroom waiting for him. Wilson walked past her, into the men's room and seconds later walked out past her again. He came up behind Matthew very quickly, grabbed him from behind with his hand over the boy's mouth, slit his throat and pulled it apart, grabbed the boy's pants on the crotch area and threw the boy to the ground. Matthew wasn't able to make noise with his neck open and he lost consciousness almost immediately. Wilson was very proud that he was able to do it so quick and get away. Wilson didn't even use the restroom, he only followed the boy in to kill him. It all went quickly, there was no time to scream.

[jsjsjsjs]

Brandon Wilson did everything that he did to Matthew Cecchi within 30 seconds. He already had him picked out. Matthew had a female family member standing outside the bathroom waiting for him. Wilson walked past her, into the men's room and seconds later walked out past her again. He came up behind Matthew very quickly, grabbed him from behind with his hand over the boy's mouth, slit his throat and pulled it apart, grabbed the boy's pants on the crotch area and threw the boy to the ground. Matthew wasn't able to make noise with his neck open and he lost consciousness almost immediately. Wilson was very proud that he was able to do it so quick and get away. Wilson didn't even use the restroom, he only followed the boy in to kill him. It all went quickly, there was no time to scream.

That is tragic! I knoew most of that, but had no idea he wasn't able to muster a sound. Imagine trying to scream for help, but you literally can't. The thing is, I can just imagine the whole scenario. Matthew is playing innocently with his cousins and younger brother, and is with his family, having a great time. He goes to the bathroom, and is dead within minutes. How terribly blunt and disgusting, and what kind of person stalks a young boy, and does tha to him?! Just imagine if you were the aunt walking in there, and seeing that, and the subsequent people who entered.

I still cann't understand why they are wasting taxpayers money by keeping Brandon alive. Why not just hurry up and do it?! When is he going to be executed, 50 years?

[Seagorath]

This story makes me so, so, so sick...damn, why does crap like this have to happen?

[cachluv]

AND (I believe) they would never have caught him if he had not assaulted someone else a few days later. When he drew blood out of his next victim he laughed and licked it off his hands, right in front of her.

[jsjsjsjs]

AND (I believe) they would never have caught him if he had not assaulted someone else a few days later. When he drew blood out of his next victim he laughed and licked it off his hands, right in front of her.

One thing I never understand, from all the articles I've read, is HOW exactly did the know he was the same one who killed Matthew? Also, I can't believe what he did to that woman, in daylight I think it was too! I don't think she suffered serious pain though, did she? don't think the article said.

[cachluv]

On the day of the murder, Matthew Cecchi, his mother and younger brother, attended a family reunion. When Matthew's aunt escorted him to a public bathroom, no one could have predicted the tragedy that would occur moments later. According to Wilson's own statements, he yanked Matthew's head back and stabbed the boy in the left side of his throat. He then severed Matthew's jugular veins, carotid arteries and ripped out the boy's larynx. After the murder, Wilson shaved his head and went to Los Angeles, where he was arrested for the alleged stabbing of another victim â?? this time, a forty year old woman.

[cachluv]

One thing I never understand, from all the articles I've read, is HOW exactly did the know he was the same one who killed Matthew? Also, I can't believe what he did to that woman, in daylight I think it was too! I don't think she suffered serious pain though, did she? don't think the article said.

---The woman lived but was injured by the stabbing. Again, he was licking her blood off of his hands and laughing, the police were nearby on the street and caught him. He freely admitted to killing little Matthew while in custody, and GLEEFULLY re-enacted the killing for police. He told them he did it. He gave them facts about the crime and crime scene that only the police would know.

[jsjsjsjs]

---The woman lived but was injured by the stabbing. Again, he was licking her blood off of his hands and laughing, the police were nearby on the street and caught him. He freely admitted to killing little Matthew while in custody, and GLEEFULLY re-enacted the killing for police. He told them he did it. He gave them facts about the crime and crime scene that only the police would know.

Eww! The pain that poor woman must have endured, probabaly more pscycological than physical, imagine if that happened to you!

I am just really really really frustrated that we have absolutely no updates on the case. I haven't ben able to find an article more recent than 1999, and the lack of photos is also bad.

[jsjsjsjs]

Also, WHERE exactly was Matthew before he went to the toilet. I know he was in the camp area, but not one article says where exactly, and how Brandon was able to spy on him, and no one spotting him, thinking it was suspicious. I know it was night, but you'd think someone would still see him.

[jsjsjsjs]

Hey, I found this link:

http://www.courttv.com/archive/confessions/neeley.html

Does it work for any of you. I keep clicking, "If you have RealPlayer installed and cannot see the video, click here", but it says page cannot find server.

[Guest]

my husband and I are paranoid about bathroom, I was pregnant with my oldest son when this happened. I will make my boys go with me to the women's room, if their dad isn't with me to take them to the bathroom. If we are at a church function, I have their uncle, dad, or older cousin take them in while I wait at the door, talking to them the whole time

[jsjsjsjs]

my husband and I are paranoid about bathroom, I was pregnant with my oldest son when this happened. I will make my boys go with me to the women's room, if their dad isn't with me to take them to the bathroom. If we are at a church function, I have their uncle, dad, or older cousin take them in while I wait at the door, talking to them the whole time

I'm exactly the same way. My wife died in 1996, and in 1998, when I was 30, I took my sons (twins, aged 5 at the time), to America for a holiday, (we're from Australia). It was so weird arriving there and heaing this story, there was quite a lot of media attention I remember. Ever since then, I have been really wary of letting young people go into toilets alone, and always went in with my sons until they were 12. I warn other parents of not doing so.

[jsjsjsjs]

I have some small news. I know someone invloved in the prison where Brandon is, and they say that he is now 30, and just as warped. He still doesn't regret the crime.

[pamela]

I attended the same school as Matt. I wasn't in his year, but my sister was. The devastation was enormous, Matt was really loved by many at the school. He was such a nice little innocent boy, and wouldn't harm a fly. What this scum did to him shocked us all, and many were paranoid about how to treat their own kids. I may have only been 7, but trust me, you remember something like this. This person deserves death, the world is a better place without him. Poor Matt was only going to the toilet, to have this happen to him is barbaric. I hope Wilson suffers a similar fate to the one Matt did.

[BMeister22]

Justice has finally been served. The killer hung himself in his prison cell. Rest in Hell!

[Mammy]

That is great news! The world got rid of two brutal murderers this week, first Oba Chandler and then Brandon Wilson. This was a horrible and senseless crime against an innocent little boy who was only using the bathroom when he was violently attacked and had his throat cut. This asshole didn't even know Matthew, he just randomly chose him. Brandon Wilson did the world a favor by hanging himself.

[Paulination]

The thing I remember most about this case was his arraignment. When the judge was asking him if he understood the charges against him he suddenly blurts out "I did it, I killed that little boy". His lawyer tried feverishly to get him to shut up. They used that as the basis of their insanity defense.