Marissa Jeanne Vaziri was one of the three children of Iranian-American wrestler The Iron Sheik whose real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri. She was gruesomely murdered by her boyfriend, Charles Warren Reynolds in May 2003 at 26. Reynolds was charged with murder in connection with the strangulation death of Marissa before he died in 2016.
Following her death, Marissa’s family members especially her father, were so devastated that the WWE Hall of Famer tried to take the laws into his hands before he was stopped. Fifteen years after Marissa’s murder, The Iron Sheik died at his home in Fayetteville on June 7, 2023.
Marissa Jeanne Vaziri’s Life and Sudden End
Marissa Jeanne Vaziri was born on August 28, 1976, in Fayette County Georgia to her parents, Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri and Caryl Vaziri. She was the oldest of her parents’ three children. Marissa’s younger sisters are Nicole and Tanya.
According to reports, Marissa got involved with a man named Charles Warren Reynolds. Although her family and close friends never trusted her boyfriend of one month, she went ahead to accommodate him in her apartment at the Alexander Falls complex.
On May 3, 2003, it happened that the two were having a party at their shared apartment when they had a physical confrontation. However, this did not alert either their guests or neighbors.
The following morning, reports say Reynolds called his pastor to come to the apartment to pray for him. After praying, Reynolds took the pastor to a room where Marissa was lying lifeless on a bed. In the police report, Reynold confessed to killing his girlfriend adding that they were both drinking and on pills.
In another report, it was stated that Reynolds strangled Marissa while she was asleep. He admitted to having murdered her stating that ” She’s such a good girl, but she wouldn’t calm down.”
Jessica Blankenship, a friend of Marissa Jean Vaziri would later reveal that Marissa discovered that Reynolds had been in prison for nine years for almost killing a man during a fight. She also added most people knew Reynold was weird but could not say how.
Marissa’s friend also added that before that time, there was tension in the relationship as Reynolds became very possessive and abusive as well. Blankenship went further to say that on the day Marissa was killed, she sent her an email stating that she wanted Reynolds to leave her apartment but she felt pity for him as he had nowhere to go.
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What Did The Iron Sheik Do After Marissa’s Death
Following the death of his beloved daughter, The Iron Sheik became distraught that he even tried to take the laws into his own hands. The decorated wrestler tucked a razorblade into his cheek and walked into a Georgia courtroom.
While in the courtroom, he tried to attack Reynolds, who broke into tears and apologized for the murder after the judge asked him to address the court. Thankfully, Marissa’s mother, Caryl had warned the rest of the family regarding her husband’s intentions so he was stopped.
Although The Iron Sheik did not end up killing his daughter’s former boyfriend and killer, Charles Reynolds would later die of undisclosed causes while serving a life sentence in prison in 2016.
The Iron Sheik became addicted to drugs following Marissa’s death. His family tried to help him but to no avail, until his wife walked out on him and returned two years later with an ultimatum that the father of three cut ties with his friend who helped him acquire drugs.
As of 2013, Marissa’s father revealed he was sober for four years. Moving on, The Iron Sheik went on to become a controversial figure on social media.
On June 7, 2023, The Iron Sheik passed away at his home in Fayetteville Georgia at the age of 81.
