The Murders of Danielle Marzejka and Seren Bryan
For today’s case, I watched another episode of The Murder Tapes. This is season 4 episode 1, titled ‘The Back of the Shed.’ I went a little out of order when I was choosing which cases to do, but I’ve never heard of this case either. This case is even newer than the last one, it happened in 2018.
Background
For the background, I’m going to talk about both of the victims that were found and then go into the investigation, capture and conviction of the killer.
The first victim was an 18 year old girl named Danielle Marzejka. Danielle’s brother, Kevin, described her as a “beautiful soul,” who always found the positivity in everything. Kevin also said Danielle didn’t like the typical things that most girls her age liked and was happy doing her own thing.
The second victim was Seren Bryan, Danielle’s 19 year old boyfriend. Seren was staying at Danielle’s on the night of the murder. Seren was described as very quiet and artistic. His mom, Diane, said that her son didn’t talk much about his relationship with Danielle, but was very happy. She also said Seren liked to write and draw in his journals when he didn’t want to communicate with anyone else.
Seren and Danielle
The Murders
On August 26, 2018, a 911 call came in to report two people missing. The caller was Kevin Marzejka, Danielle’s brother. He said that Danielle and her boyfriend had been missing and that there was a strange smell coming from their shed.
The Clinton Township, Michigan police went to the Marzejka house to investigate. When they arrived, Kevin and his dad, Robert were outside. They explained that Danielle and Seren were missing, and that they had gone into the shed to look and that there was a “smell of death,” coming from it.
During this episode, the police had their body cams on and recorded themselves going into the shed. Inside they located black garbage bags, and found two bodies. The bodies were eventually identified as Danielle and Seren. The bodies had signs of asphyxiation. There was duct tape on their mouths and around their necks. The police also found a small mallet, bloody clothes and bed sheets.
The Investigation
Kevin and Robert were both asked to come into the police station that night around midnight.
Kevin was cooperative, and was asked about Danielle and Seren’s relationship. Kevin said it was good, and that they were often on their own because his dad was an alcoholic. Kevin also told the police that he and his dad went to look in the shed, after Robert realized his key was missing.
In the next room, Robert was being interviewed and he said he was with his other son, Robert Jr., all day. However, his story about the key and the shed was inconsistent with Kevin’s. He first said it was his key, and then when he was confronted with the other story, he said he realized his key was missing and it was actually Kevin’s.
The next step for the police was to go back to the house to search it after finding out Robert Jr., was their new suspect and that he also lived at the house.
The police didn’t find anymore evidence in the shed, so they realized that the murder didn’t happen out there. They were able to get a warrant for the house and found a horrible scene. They used Blue Star in Danielle’s bedroom and found many traces of blood and blood spatter on the walls. They also found more evidence in Robert Jr.’s room. They found bloody sheets and duct tape. The evidence all pointed to Robert and that he tried to clean up.
The Search for Robert Jr.
Not much was said about Robert Jr., in this episode, but he was a loner and bounced around from job to job. He worked a lot with his father at construction companies. From how it sounded, he was not close with his brother or sister.
On August 28, the police were able get a search warrant for Robert’s phone. Robert had called a cab company on August 23, the last day Danielle and Seren were seen alive. They interviewed the cab driver and he said he had taken Robert to Walgreens and Wendy’s.
Next, the surveillance from Wendy’s was looked at. Robert appeared calm and didn’t have any noticeable blood or injuries on him. He walked over to a bus station next, and the police found out Robert was going to meet his dad. They also realized Robert was not with his son that day like he said.
Tracking a Killer
A few days later, another police officer in Toledo, Ohio called about Robert Jr., after seeing information about Robert on the news.
Robert was next seen in a store buying a cell phone, only this time he was in disguise. He was wearing a blonde wig and sunglasses. The police said that he was trying to blend in more, but that it was a horrible disguise. Robert bought a cell phone, and then a few minutes later returned it for cash.
Next, the police received information that Robert had bought a bus ticket at 11:36pm to go to Cincinnati under an alias name. The police departments had to call in the U.S. Marshals.
On August 29, the police received a tip that Robert was headed to a library in Cincinnati and they planned to capture him there. Robert was still wearing his blonde wig and sunglasses, and the U.S. Marshals were able to capture him. He was transported back to Clinton Township and held in custody.
Robert Marzekja Jr.
Trial and Conviction
On August 31, the police question Robert back in Clinton Township. Robert told the police he wanted to talk, and asked what his charges were. The police told him he was being charged with premeditated first degree murder. He asked what premeditated meant, and the police told him it meant to plan it out.
Just when the police thought he was going to confess, he asked if he could call his brother Kevin. The conversation was recorded, and Kevin asked him if he was going to plead guilty and Robert said no.
Robert never confessed, but he went to trial. On November 23, 2019, after only 40 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Robert guilty and he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He apparently showed no emotion.
Other
Kevin was interviewed at the end of the episode. He said he doesn't hate his brother, but he’s not his brother anymore and doesn’t forgive him for what he did.
Seren’s mom, Diane, said she is currently working on a program called Seren Shining Arts, a program to give kids sketchbooks to help them communicate through writing and drawings.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I was actually shocked by the ending of this episode, I thought it was Danielle’s dad the whole time, until they started to look into Robert Jr. Dad Robert seemed sketchy af and didn’t care at all that his daughter was dead, let alone found in their shed in a damn garbage bag.
I think Robert Jr., had some mental health issues, WHICH DOES NOT GIVE HIM THE RIGHT TO MURDER SOMEONE, LET ALONE HIS OWN SISTER. I personally don’t think he understood what he was being charged with though, you can hear him ask the police what does this and that mean. He deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life.
Sources
https://people.com/crime/michigan-teenage-girl-boyfriend-murdered-by-her-brother/
