Despite pleas from defense attorneys that the evidence points elsewhere, a judge ordered Marcus Wesson to stand trial on charges he killed nine of his children.
Judge Lawrence Jones' decision Monday came during the close of a preliminary hearing that began last week.
Wesson, 57, has pleaded innocent to shooting his 25-year-old daughter and eight of his other children ranging in age from 1 to 17. However, his attorneys suggested Monday that the suspect's oldest daughter shot her siblings before turning the gun on herself.
``The evidence is woefully slim that points to Mr. Wesson as the shooter,'' defense attorney Pete Jones told the judge in arguing for a dismissal of the charges.
Wesson will also stand trial on 13 charges of sexual abuse dating to 1988, the judge ruled. The abuse accusations include multiple charges of continuous sexual abuse and forcible rape against females who lived with him, including family members. Five of the six victims were under 14 when the attacks occurred.
Wesson's attorneys called the sexual abuse charges ``vague'' and plagued with ``jurisdiction'' problems.
Police said Wesson engaged in a lifestyle of incest and polygamy, fathering children with his own daughters and nieces. They say Wesson held total control over his family and likened himself to God.
Testimony by police related tales of Wesson's alleged fascination with David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidian cult who died in a deadly 1993 confrontation with federal agents in Texas, and of a suicide plan devised by Wesson in which his children would kill each other should authorities ever try to break apart the family.
Police were initially called to Wesson's home on March 12 when two women claiming to be the mothers of children inside came to retrieve their kids.
After Wesson emerged from the home with blood on his clothes, police found a pile of bodies entangled in bloody clothes in a back bedroom. Each victim was shot once in the eye and, according to coroner's reports, died almost instantaneously.
Police testified that officers found a .22-caliber gun and a knife under 25-year-old Sebhrenah Wesson's body, the eldest daughter. Her body was also positioned slightly to the side of the pile of other victims, police testified.
Authorities have conducted gunpowder residue tests on some of the victims' hands but no physical evidence against Wesson has yet been made public.
Prosecutor Lisa Gamoian insisted the evidence supports the charges.
Police said Wesson had convinced his own daughters that fathering his children is what God would want. He also would ask their permission before sexually abusing them, police said.
Kiani Wesson, one of Marcus Wesson's daughters with whom he fathered two children, defended him after the ruling. Both of Kiani Wesson's children were among the victims, police said.
``We all had choices and did what we wanted ... Nothing was ever forced upon us,'' Kiani Wesson said.
Wesson is held without bail. He is due back in court April 27. A trial date has not been set. If convicted on the murder charges, he could face the death penalty.