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.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 10:17:54 GMT
NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:02 GMT
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:32 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:32:52 GMT
We've been following their journeys since the fall: 170 contestants fighting for the title of Extreme Weight Loss Champion. Now it's time for the crowning moment! 13abc's Kelly Heidbreder introduces us
We've been following their journeys since the fall: 170 contestants fighting for the title of Extreme Weight Loss Champion. Now it's time for the crowning moment! 13abc's Kelly Heidbreder introduces us to this year's winner…Robin Chlebowski!
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:20:37 GMT
If a tornado threatens, get into the basement. If you don't have a basement, a small, interior room in the lowest floor of your home is relatively safe. Avoid rooms with windows. Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado.
If a tornado threatens, get into the basement. If you don't have a basement, a small, interior room in the lowest floor of your home is relatively safe. Avoid rooms with windows. Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:10:38 GMT
More jobs may be on the way at the old Jeep plant. One company has announced it will open business there and others are now interested in the site. At one time, 40,000 people worked at the site just
The 111-acre Overland Industrial park broke ground on a new road that will lead to construction of buildings to house new businesses.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 10:17:54 GMT
NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:02 GMT
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:22 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:22:27 GMT
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit the families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit victims' families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:08:56 GMT
A Toledo family who moved to Moore less than a year ago only had minutes to take cover. "Its devastation buildings are ripped down families lost their homes houses are flattened." It's been a difficult
A local woman who moved to Moore Oklahoma almost a year ago survives a deadly tornado. 21 year old Kristina Legree says the twister touched down a mile for her home.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:18:53 GMT
A suspended TPS teacher charged with receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty to receiving child porn on his home computer. Bruce Omlor, 49, was suspended from Riverside
A suspended TPS teacher charged with receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty to receiving child porn on his home computer. Bruce Omlor, 49, was suspended from Riverside Elementary earlier this year.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:11:44 GMT
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was arrested Tuesday. Deputy Paul Little was charged with filing false reports, unlawful transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon, and intimidation of a witness. Little
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was arrested Tuesday. Deputy Paul Little was charged with filing false reports, unlawful transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon, and intimidation of a witness.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:32 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:32:52 GMT
We've been following their journeys since the fall: 170 contestants fighting for the title of Extreme Weight Loss Champion. Now it's time for the crowning moment! 13abc's Kelly Heidbreder introduces us
We've been following their journeys since the fall: 170 contestants fighting for the title of Extreme Weight Loss Champion. Now it's time for the crowning moment! 13abc's Kelly Heidbreder introduces us to this year's winner…Robin Chlebowski!
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:31 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:31:44 GMT
EVENING NEWS HEADLINES - MAY 21, 2013 ARSON FIRES Toledo fire investigators are looking into a series of fires in the city. Crews responded to four fires within about an hour of each other today. The
Toledo fire investigators looking into a series of fires in the city; Lucas County sheriff's deputy behind bars tonight.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:20:37 GMT
If a tornado threatens, get into the basement. If you don't have a basement, a small, interior room in the lowest floor of your home is relatively safe. Avoid rooms with windows. Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado.
If a tornado threatens, get into the basement. If you don't have a basement, a small, interior room in the lowest floor of your home is relatively safe. Avoid rooms with windows. Mobile homes are not safe in a tornado.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:10:38 GMT
More jobs may be on the way at the old Jeep plant. One company has announced it will open business there and others are now interested in the site. At one time, 40,000 people worked at the site just
The 111-acre Overland Industrial park broke ground on a new road that will lead to construction of buildings to house new businesses.
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