← Back to United States casesAnthony Martinez and Skyler Collins Allegedly Murdered by Steven Wessleck, Diane Dykus, and others, Brooksville, Florida, United States
Case Summary
According to the source, 19-year-old homeless Steven Wessleck became involved in a sexual triangle with 14-year-old Diane Dykus and her mother, Sherry Dykus, while the group used methamphetamine. The source reports that the trio sought Steven's $3,000 college scholarship and planned to obtain a vehicle so they could collect the money. During a staged ride involving Steven's friend Skyler Collins and her boyfriend Anthony Martinez, Sherry allegedly strangled Skyler with a rope, Steven stabbed Anthony, and Diane helped control the vehicle. Anthony died at the scene and Skyler survived. Police identified and arrested the three participants. Steven and Sherry were sentenced to life imprisonment, while Diane, tried as an adult, received a 10-year sentence.
Basic Information
Country: United States
State/Province: Florida, United States
City/Region: Brooksville
Incident Type: Murder
Relationship Status: Love triangle
Relationship Duration: Approximately 3 weeks
Affair / New-Partner Context
Recorded context: Affair started / overlapping relationship
Reported initiator: Unclear / not reported
Relationship timing: During marriage or ongoing partnership, before separation
Incident Date: June 16, 1997
Incident Sequence and Additional Victims
Primary reported outcome: Homicide
Reported self-harm outcome: No suicide or attempt reported
Reported sequence: Order not reported / unclear
Additional victims reported: 1
Additional victim events:
- Skyler Collins — Romantic rival; Seriously injured; Order not reported / unclear
Relationship Journey
Relationship Origins:
- Friends circle
Relationship Stages:
- Dating
Analysis
Contributing Factors:
- Cheating / Infidelity
- Financial Issues
- Drugs / Alchohol Use
- Domestic Conflict
- Love obsession
- Suspicion of infidelity
Red Flags:
- Secretive communication patterns
- Unexplained spending or money transfers
- Deception after incident
- Escalation Pattern / Violence
- Suspects identified
- Secret affair
- Manipulative behavior
- Missing Suspect
- High-Conflict Household
Motives:
- Money / Financial Gain
- Control/domination
- Fear of exposure
Relationship Outcomes:
- Legal case ongoing
- Homicide before marriage
- Arrest made
- Protective order issued
- Relationship ended
- Deadbody recovery
Source Video
Video hosted by YouTube · Viewer discretion advised
People Link Graph
Anthony Martinez and Skyler Collins Allegedly Murdered by Steven Wessleck, Diane Dykus, and others, Brooksville, Florida, United States
Relationship Journey Graph
Origin
- Friends circle
How the relationship or connection began.
Status
- Love triangle
Approximately 3 weeks
Stages
- Dating
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Warning Signals
- Secretive communication patterns
- Unexplained spending or money transfers
- Deception after incident
- Escalation Pattern / Violence
- Suspects identified
- Secret affair
- Manipulative behavior
- Missing Suspect
- High-Conflict Household
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Pressure Points
- Cheating / Infidelity
- Financial Issues
- Drugs / Alchohol Use
- Domestic Conflict
- Love obsession
- Suspicion of infidelity
- Money / Financial Gain
- Control/domination
- Fear of exposure
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
Incident
1997-06-16
Outcome
- Legal case ongoing
- Homicide before marriage
- Arrest made
- Protective order issued
- Relationship ended
- Deadbody recovery
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
AI Intelligence Assessment
Relationship Pattern
Romantic Triangle
Pattern Analysis
The reported relationship pattern involved an overlapping sexual triangle between Steven, Diane, and Sherry, combined with a mother-daughter criminal partnership. The source describes methamphetamine use, financial desperation, manipulation, weak interpersonal boundaries, and an escalating plan to obtain transportation and money. The relationship-connected conflict became lethal when Anthony and Skyler were used as targets in the reported carjacking.
Investigative Notes
The source reports that Anthony died at the scene after being stabbed and that Skyler was seriously injured. Skyler identified Steven, Sherry, and Diane from photographs. Investigators reportedly found the trio at or near Anne Thompson's home, where the stolen Mustang was being cleaned, spray-painted, and stripped of belongings. Sherry was arrested after deputies and K-9 units found her near the property. Roger later helped police arrange a meeting that led to Steven and Diane being arrested without incident approximately 16 hours after the murder. Sherry reportedly admitted choking Skyler while claiming she released the rope; Steven eventually admitted stabbing Anthony but later attempted to shift blame to Diane. The source reports convictions and sentences of life for Steven and Sherry and 10 years for Diane, who was tried as an adult.
Investigation Confusion
The source describes conflicting accounts during interrogation. Sherry initially denied involvement, later admitted choking Skyler, and claimed she had not intended to kill her. Steven initially blamed Sherry and later described the stabbing as accidental, despite the source stating that Anthony was stabbed multiple times. Diane did not confess and reportedly refused to implicate Steven. Some names and spellings vary in the transcript, including Wessleck, Weslick, Wessle, Wesselik, Dykus, and Dyus.
Case Reconstruction / Puzzle Pieces
The reported case began with Steven's involvement with Diane and Sherry in a meth-fueled sexual triangle. After the group exhausted its money, Steven discussed his $3,000 college scholarship, and the source says the money became a planned means of financing travel and obtaining more drugs. Because the group lacked transportation, Steven contacted his friend Skyler for a ride while asking whether she would come alone. When Skyler brought Anthony, the source reports that the group proceeded with a carjacking plan involving a rope and knife. At a secluded intersection, Sherry allegedly pulled a rope around Skyler's neck, Steven stabbed Anthony, and Diane took control of the steering wheel. Anthony escaped the vehicle but died from blood loss. Skyler's identification, the stolen vehicle, the altered car, reported statements at Anne's home, interrogation admissions, and later arrests connected the participants to the incident.
Risk Assessment
The source describes a high-risk combination of drug dependence, homelessness, financial desperation, sexual boundary violations, manipulation, prior reported violence, access to a knife and rope, and rapid escalation from fraud and theft to planned violence. The presence of multiple participants who reportedly reinforced one another's conduct increased risk to outsiders and made the situation difficult to predict. This assessment is source-limited and does not independently establish psychological diagnoses or criminal responsibility.
Key Takeaways
The source illustrates how overlapping sexual relationships, coercive or manipulative dynamics, drug dependence, financial desperation, and prior instability can combine with criminal opportunity. Important warning signs included secrecy, boundary violations, exploitation of a vulnerable partner, planning around transportation and money, weapon preparation, and normalization of violence. The account is useful for pattern comparison but contains dramatized narration, expert interpretation, inconsistent spellings, and limited independent documentation in the supplied material.
AI Case Q&A
What early signals mattered most?
The most significant reported early signals were methamphetamine use, homelessness and financial desperation, Steven's disclosure of his $3,000 scholarship, Sherry's alleged manipulation of Steven, the overlapping sexual relationship, and the request that Skyler come alone. Steven's questions about Anthony's size and identity reportedly indicated concern about the potential physical confrontation.
Which clues helped connect the case?
Skyler's account and identification reportedly connected the attackers to the incident. Additional reported clues included the stolen Mustang, the rope and knife, the trio's presence at Anne Thompson's home, attempts to clean blood and repaint the car, statements made at the house, Sherry's later admission, and Steven's eventual admission that he stabbed Anthony.
Which evidence types appeared strongest?
The source presents eyewitness and survivor testimony, emergency calls, police identification procedures, the recovered or observed vehicle, physical evidence involving blood and the alleged weapons, suspect statements, and later admissions as important evidence types. The supplied report does not provide a complete forensic inventory or court record.
Witness / Eyewitness Statements
Skyler reportedly described the group entering the car, Sherry placing a rope around her neck, Steven stabbing Anthony, and Anthony escaping before collapsing. Passersby and a firefighter-EMT reportedly observed Anthony bleeding and called or supported 911 response. Anne reportedly saw the group and the altered vehicle at her home. Roger reportedly assisted police in arranging a meeting with Steven and Diane. Sherry and Steven gave conflicting statements during interrogation.
How did follow-up reports change the understanding?
Follow-up reporting changed the understanding from a suspected carjacking to a coordinated attack involving three participants. Sherry's initial denials were followed by an admission that she choked Skyler. Steven first blamed others, then admitted stabbing Anthony, although he later characterized the act as accidental and tried to shift blame to Diane. The source ultimately reports convictions and prison sentences for all three.
What remained unclear?
The supplied report does not provide the exact incident date, the precise location of the intersection, full forensic findings, or complete court documentation. It also does not independently resolve the participants' precise intent at every stage, the extent of Diane's planning, or the exact legal charges and procedural history. The source's inconsistent spellings and dramatized commentary create additional uncertainty.