One of the defendants found guilty of the December 2023 murder of an elderly New Florence area woman has appealed the conviction, joining his co-defendant in claiming the evidence does not support the verdict.
In February, 20-year-old Matthew Bates was found guilty of first degree murder, solicitation and conspiracy to murder, along with abuse of a corpse, in the shooting death of 71-year-old Alice Robson, the mother of 52-year-old Melissa Fox-Beacom, who was also convicted of the same offenses. Both Bates and Fox-Beacom were sentenced last month to life in prison. A third defendant, 20-year-old Robert Jack of Fairfield, is awaiting trial, with a status conference scheduled next month and with his mental competency in question. He has admitted to being the actual triggerman and testified against the other two.
Robson’s body was found buried underneath the back porch of her home along Furnace Lane in Saint Clair Township.
In the appeal, as detailed on TribLive.com, Bates’ attorney contends that Jack is a “cold-blooded killer”, whose “rash actions” could not have been predicted by Bates and Fox-Beacom.
Fox-Beacom appealed her conviction last month and documents and transcripts were filed in both appeals on June 22nd. No court action has been scheduled yet in either case.
Comments