Woman found guilty of aggravated murder

3/10/2013

A central Toledo woman who made the unconventional decision to represent herself in an aggravated murder trial was found guilty on all charges today.

A jury in Lucas county Common pleas court returned the verdict against Melody Williams, 49, after deliberating for just 80 minutes.

Ms. Williams, 49, was charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated arson, and two counts of tampering with evidence stemming from the July 4, 2011 shooting death of L.C. Lyons, Jr., whose body was found inside his burning home.

Jennifer Donovan, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told the jury in her opening statement that firefighters arriving at Mr. Lyons’ home at 5128 Inland Dr. in Sylvania Township found him naked, lying in his bed in a pool of blood. He had been shot once in the head, and an autopsy would show that he was shot to death before the fire was set, she said.