What happens when a family holiday figure hides a horrifying secret? In Effingham County, Georgia, a man who once donned a Walmart Santa suit is now at the center of a gruesome tale of murder and betrayal that has left the community stunned.
It wasn’t until recently that Mark Wright, a Georgia uncle, admitted to assisting his sister’s husband. A man who once worked with children, in the killings of his stepchildren. He admits to aiding in helping him conceal their bodies in the backyard. The grim case, spanning years, is only now inching closer to justice.
Court records reveal that Wright pleaded guilty in late August to multiple charges. These include second-degree murder, cruelty to children, false imprisonment, and concealing the deaths of two teens, Mary Crocker and Elwyn Crocker Jr., both 14. The case dates back to 2016 and 2018, when the children mysteriously disappeared. Additional family members, including Wright’s mother, were also involved and now face convictions.
Disturbing text messages uncovered by prosecutors depict how the family coordinated the crimes. One text from the children’s killer to his mother-in-law described the burial of Mary’s body, to which the Grandma chillingly responded, “Cool! How deep?” These communications underscore the horrifying level of casual cruelty involved.
Starvation, Skeletal Remains, and a Grim Discovery
Investigators only discovered the bodies after receiving a tip about Mary’s disappearance in late 2018. A police search ultimately led to the couple’s backyard, where the bodies were found. Neither child had ever been reported missing. This also complicates the investigation and leaves authorities and the community reeling, according to Law & Crime reports.
“Sick folks. This reminds me of the Mansons: the family that slays together,” one commenter writes.
“What horrible creatures!” another adds.
Mary Crocker’s body showed extreme signs of starvation. With her weight below the 1st percentile and a body mass index of just 8.6. Elwyn Jr.’s skeletal remains left investigators unable to determine his exact cause of death. Both deaths are being ruled homicides.
The community is in shock to learn neither child had ever been reported missing. It wasn’t until a tip about Mary’s disappearance in late 2018 that police searched a property in Effingham County, leading straight to the backyard burial site.
With sentencing looming in October, Mark Wright’s admission shines a harsh light on the terrifying ways trust can be manipulated inside a family. The story is a chilling reminder. Sometimes, the monsters are hiding in plain sight. However, some right behind the smiles of a man in a Santa suit.
Hunter Spears 
