A Toledo woman accused of murder is representing herself in court. Melody Williams is accused of shooting and killing a Sylvania Township man then setting his home on fire.
It's day four of her trial. A lot of the evidence in the case is circumstantial evidence against Williams and she is determined to prove to the jury she is innocent.
It's a move we don't see often in Lucas County. An alleged murder suspect acting as her own attorney. Melody Williams is accused of shooting LC Lyons in the head then setting his home on fire.
Police say the motive was robbery. Detective Jim Rettig took the stand today and testified the victim was a known drug dealer and pimp. Rettig told the court through interviews he learned from one of the victims on again off again girlfriends, that.
"It was not uncommon for LC to have his jewelry laying out in the bedroom on a dresser. She said he frequently had large amounts of cash laying out," said Sylvania Township Detective Jim Rettig.
Prosecutors say after Lyons' house was set on fire. His car was stolen and found near Williams 14th street home. Inside the car police found green tipped diamond matches the same matches found at the crime scene and at Williams home.
Williams maintains she did not commit the murder. Dressed in a black suit she questioned the detective about the safe found in the victim's home, the crack cocaine found in a bedroom and a laptop computer.
"We're talking about a del lap top, crack cocaine, marijuana and you said in your professional opinion these are not items that would be taken by a robbery in the course of a robbery is that correct," said Melody Williams.
"Things of value the crack cocaine was not in the open it was hidden and over the last couple of years at least in my experiences of investigating burglaries. The only thing you see stolen is jewelry because of the price of gold how it sky rocketed people will steal jewelry. I very rarely see computers and TV's anything like that stolen they're big bulky to carry out jewelry is the hot item," said Detective Rettig.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:43 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:43:07 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am. There will also be no afternoon
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am. There will also be no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:24 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:24:34 GMT
A twister ripped through the Lake Township area almost three years ago. The community is pretty much back to normal, but residents still remember the horror that hit their neighborhood in 2010.
Lake Township residents recall a twister that ripped through their area almost three years ago.The Oklahoma tornado victims are on the minds of those in Lake Township who suffered deaths and damage in 2010.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:04 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:04:03 GMT
Two Toledo firefighters suffered minor Monday morning after a fire in West Toledo. It happened in the 3600 block of Berkerly near Berdan.
Two Toledo firefighters went to the hospital Monday after a fire in West Toledo. It happened in the 3600 block of Berkerly near Berdan. One was treated for a minor burn and the other for heat exhaustion. The injured firefighters returned to duty Monday.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:49 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:49:55 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled flames at two homes on the east side Tuesday morning. A firebomb ignited the porch of a home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue. Three adults and two children were inside. They were able to make it out safely.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:31 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:31:38 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Rescue crews are working through the night after a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least...
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:43 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:43:07 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am. There will also be no afternoon
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am. There will also be no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:49 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:49:55 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled flames at two homes on the east side Tuesday morning. A firebomb ignited the porch of a home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue. Three adults and two children were inside. They were able to make it out safely.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:31 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:31:38 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:30 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:30:27 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews found a boater reported to be missing on Lake Erie Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:15 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:15:41 GMT
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.The fire started before 4:30 this morning on Euclid near Starr.Investigators say it was a vacant
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:18:47 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened some 14 years ago.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:14 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:14:35 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
A large tornado roared through the southern part of Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma Monday afternoon. Damage is extensive. Video showed blocks of flattened homes and vehicles tossed upside down.
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