A jury in Westmoreland County is expected to start deliberations today in the trial of two people charged with killing Alice Robson in December of 2023.
Robson’s daughter, Melissa Fox-Beacom of New Florence and Matthew Bates of Ligonier Township are charged with criminal homicide, conspiracy to that charge, solicitation and abuse of a corpse. Authorities say the two worked with Robert Jack, formerly of Fairfield, to kill Robson. During the trial yesterday, Jack said that Fox-Beacom hated her mother and regularly discussed her wish that she was dead. Witnesses also testified that Fox-Beacom wanted to regain custody of her disabled son from Robson and move into her home. Jack admitted in court to being the one to pull the trigger. Her body was found three days later in a crawlspace under
Jack also informed the court that he was offered a sentence of 40 to 80 years in prison on a charge of third-degree murder in exchange for his testimony. That case is still pending.
