Prosecutors say victim was shot in the head and hidden beneath porch after family murder plot
GREENSBURG, Pa. — Two defendants convicted in the murder of a 71-year-old Pennsylvania woman whose body was hidden beneath her porch have been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announced that Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio sentenced 51-year-old Melissa Fox-Beacom and 20-year-old Matthew Bates following their convictions earlier this year.
A jury found both defendants guilty in February on charges including first-degree murder, criminal solicitation, criminal conspiracy and abuse of a corpse.
Prosecutors said Fox-Beacom, Bates and a third defendant, Robert Jack, conspired to kill Alice Robson of St. Clair Township.
Investigators said Robson, who was Fox-Beacom’s mother, was shot twice in the head on Dec. 11, 2023, while sitting in the living room of her Furnace Lane home.
Authorities said her body was discovered three days later concealed inside a crawlspace beneath the porch of the residence.
During trial testimony, prosecutors alleged Bates provided the firearm used in the killing to Jack at the direction of Fox-Beacom and Bates.
Investigators later recovered the weapon from Donegal Lake.
Robert Jack remains awaiting court proceedings in the case.
Assistant District Attorneys Adam Barr and Steven Reddy prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Key Points
- Two defendants were sentenced to life without parole in the murder of a 71-year-old Pennsylvania woman
- Prosecutors said the victim was shot twice in the head and hidden beneath her porch
- Authorities said the victim’s daughter helped orchestrate the killing
