Daughter's threat against mother allowed as evidence in upcoming murder trial

Evidence that a New Florence woman threatened to kill her mother years before she and two teen-aged boys, according to Westmoreland prosecutors, conspired to commit murder is admissible at trial, a judge ruled Monday.

Prosecutors contend that investigators overheard Melissa Sue Fox-Beacom say to her mother, “I am going to kill you one day.” following a prior court appearance.

Police said Fox-Beacom, 51, followed through on her threat when she and two accomplices planned and participated in a plot that led to the Dec. 11, 2023, fatal shooting of 71-year-old Alice Robson.

Matthew Bates of Ligonier Township and Robert Jack of Washington, both now 19, were also charged in connection with the shooting.

According to court records, Bates and Jack have each accused the other of firing the two fatal head shots as Robson sat in a chair nearby where her grandson slept. Her body was found buried under a rear porch at her Furnace Lane home.

Prosecutors contend Fox- Beacom and her mother had a volatile relationship that simmered for years. It included allegations of assault and threats first raised in 2017 that was the subject of a protection-from-abuse order and later allegations of indirect criminal contempt and a subsequent conviction.

According to court records, Fox-Beacom pleaded no contest to a simple assault charge in 2021 against her mother. Fox-Beacom was ordered to serve two years on probation for the assault that left her mother with minor facial injuries.

Those court proceedings and the overheard threat are evidence prosecutors said they will use to convince a jury she was involved in Robson’s murder.

“It shows a violent and tumultuous relationship,” said Assistant District Attorney Steven Reddy.

Defense attorney Tim Dawson unsuccessfully argued the evidence of a prior threat is prejudicial and occurred too long ago to be used against Fox-Beacom in her pending murder trial.

“This is old and stale,” Dawson said. “It’s not like this was months leading up to the murder.”

Fox-Beacom earlier this year was found competent to stand trial. The defense has asked a mental health professional to evaluate Fox-Beacom to determine if she can be found criminally responsible for her mother’s death. That report is pending.

A trial date for her and her two co-defendants has not been set. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik- DeFazio said she will conduct a hearing in July to determine when a trial for one or all of the defendants can begin.