NEW FLORENCE WOMAN LOSES APPEAL

A New Florence woman convicted of orchestrating the execution-style slaying of her mother in St. Clair has lost her appeal to overturn her first-degree murder conviction and life sentence.  the Trib reports that Judge Meghan Billik-Defazio on Thursday rejected the appeal of Melissa Sue Fox-Beacom.  Fox-Beacom claimed the evidence presented at trial was not enough to convict her of first-degree murder in the death of Alice Robson.  Prosecutors said Matthew Bates, 20, of Ligonier Township and Fox-Beacom, along with 20-year-old Robert Jack of Fairfield, conspired to kill Robson in her home as part of a child custody dispute and domestic unrest.