Man who confessed in church to killing wife rejects deal

Kim Smith

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.

A Las Vegas man who walked into church and confessed he killed his wife has decided he doesn't want to enter a plea agreement after all.

Frank Marques, 43, was scheduled to plead guilty to first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon Wednesday, but backed out of the deal at the last minute.

Now, instead of facing a 40-year to life sentence, Marques could receive a no-parole life sentence if a jury convicts him in the Aug. 7 shooting death of his wife, Candace Weckhorst, 35.

Deputy Public Defender Will Ewing said he had advised Marques to take the plea agreement.

Ewing would not comment on Marques' reason for reneging on the deal, citing lawyer-client confidentiality. Marques, who is awaiting trial in the Clark County Detention Center, declined an interview request.

When Chief Deputy District Attorney L.J. O'Neale was asked why he believes Marques broke his promise, he said "I have no idea, but it was his decision to make."

O'Neale said there will be no deals offered in the future.

The Rev. Bill Kenny said Marques came to an early morning Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church at Torrey Pines Drive and Tropicana Avenue on Aug. 8.

"He knelt in front of me and said, 'Father, I need your blessing,' " said Kenny, a 58-year-old priest who has been at the church for 24 years. "I put my hand on his head and blessed him. He then said, 'Father, I murdered my wife.' "

Kenny said he watched Marques as he pulled up his shirt, showing a gun he said was used in the crime.

Kenny finished the Mass and then called police.

Marques waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Las Vegas Justice Court Aug. 27 and announced his intention to enter the plea agreement.

District Judge Sally Loehrer will schedule Marques' trial date on Monday.