TESTIMONY UNDERWAY IN NEW FLORENCE MURDER TRIAL

Testimony got underway yesterday in the trial of two people accused of killing Alice Robson and hiding her body under a porch.  The Trib reports that Melissa Fox-Becaom of New Florence and Matthew Bates are both charged with homicide, conspiracy, solicitation and abuse of a corpse in connection with the 2023 death of Beacom’s mother.  In opening statements, assistant DA Steyen Reddy said he will focus on how much Fox-Beacom wanted her mom dead along with the testimony of the third suspect in the case, Robert Jack.  Defense attorneys Tim Dawson, representing Fox-Beacom, and Adam Gorzelsky, representing Bates, agreed in their opening statements it will be clear from testimony neither of their clients shot Robson. Instead, they said jurors will be tasked with determining what level of responsibility Fox-Beacom and Bates have in the slaying.