(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Melody Ann Anderson reads a statement to the court Monday during her sentencing before Wood County Circuit Judge Robert Waters on charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a deceased human body in the May 2022 death of Robert “Bob” Marshall Throckmorton whom she was in a relationship with at the time.

PARKERSBURG — A Waverly woman was sentenced to over 40 years for second-degree murder and concealing the body of a man who had been reportedly missing for almost a year.

Melody Ann Anderson, 50, appeared before Wood County Circuit Judge Robert Waters Monday to receive sentencing after entering a plea agreement in August where she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and concealment of a deceased human body in the May 2022 death of Robert “Bob” Marshall Throckmorton whom she was in a relationship with at the time.

Defense attorney Angela Brunicardi-Doss asked the court to consider Anderson’s mental state at the time of the offense as she was suffering from strained emotional distress when this incident occurred.

“She and Mr. Throckmorton had been in a volatile relationship where she was the victim of repeated physical abuse for years and she shared this with multiple family members, including Mr. Throckmorton’s family,” she said. “The abuse she suffered was not her first.

“She had a difficult and traumatic childhood that led her to becoming pregnant at age 14 and she was continually physically abused by partners for years.”

On the day of Throckmorton’s death, the couple had been experiencing conflict, both verbal and physical, which led to the events that happened, Brunicardi-Doss said.

“She has acknowledged and taken responsibility for her actions,” she said. “Not only did she take a life, but she hid it for a year.

“Both her and Throckmorton’s families will continue to suffer.”

In the original criminal complaint, Anderson said the couple were together around the time of his disappearance. The report stated Throckmorton became abusive and tried to force himself on her. At one point, he left the room and Anderson indicated she retrieved a gun and hid it under her pillow and shot him in the head when he returned and tried to force himself on her. She dragged the body through the yard and buried it under an open-sided shed the next morning.

Anderson read a statement to the court where she described being physically and sexually abused by her alcoholic father at around the age of 7. She could not wait to leave home and became pregnant at the age of 14 and had another child by the age of 15. Although she dropped out of school, she did get her GED. After a few years, things changed, her husband was having affairs, drinking and became violent and controlling.

After a few years she met up with Throckmorton and started dating. After a couple of years, he was showing signs of being controlling, anger issues and PTSD.

“Once again I found I was in an abusive relationship,” she said.

After two years in jail, she has had time to reflect on how she could have handled things better.

“I should have made better decisions that night,” she said. “I realize my actions affected so many people, Bob’s family, my family, friends and others.

“The decisions I made ended Bob’s life, but I can’t change that. Believe me, I wish I could.”

The night replays over and over in her mind and Anderson said she truly loved Throckmorton. Afterwards, she was overwhelmed by the secret she was carrying and she turned to alcohol.

“So many times I came so close to making a call, but I was scared,” Anderson said.

She had attempted suicide.

She claimed she wasn’t making excuses, but giving her story. She wants to now rebuild the relationships with her family and help other women in prison.

Waters said he received several letters of support for Anderson. Brunicardi-Doss said Anderson did not have a criminal history and has become a “trusted inmate” in jail by corrections officials. Anderson wants to become an advocate in jail to help other women who suffered abuse.

“I am ready, motivated and empowered to make changes for the better where needed and advocate for others where needed,” she said. “I will use what I have learned to help others.”

Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure said the acts in this case demand a 40-year sentence as well as the additional sentence for disposing of a body.

“We feel the maximum sentence is appropriate in this case,” he said.

He talked about Anderson covering up her actions with the shooting, disposing of the body and telling his family he left and was in Kentucky with another woman. All the time, she was continuing to use his veterans benefits, including over 53 transactions.

Around the time of the incident she texted with family about getting her truck back. The investigation showed texts between the couple where they had broken up and gotten back together and where things were at so he could get in the house. She also told him she loved him at various times.

Her actions in everything she did after Throckmorton’s death showed a lack of remorse, Lefebure said.

“Through that year, she did not show any remorse,” he said.

Statements she made to family said she shot him in the back of the head while he was sleeping which is not what she told the probation office. The medical examiner reported the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Throckmorton’s mother, Patricia Schaum, spoke to the court and to Anderson who just looked down at the table where she was sitting.

“Why did you have to kill him,” she asked.

She described their relationship as a good one where her son was willing to do a lot for her.

“I have never seen a black or blue mark on you,” Schaum said. “When you killed him, you took my life, my kids’ and my grandkids’ lives.”

She talked about her son serving in the military abroad and came home and had someone who would kill him. She said the couple drank and argued, but always made up.

Schaum told Anderson if there was abuse happening, she could have left him, called the cops or gotten out another way.

“You could of left,” she said. “You didn’t have to kill him.

“I want to know why you did it.”

She wanted to know where all her son’s stuff was, photos and other items, because the family got nothing and has very little to remember him by. She wanted his Marine service photo.

“You got rid of everything he owned,” Schaum said. “Where is it?”

Waters acknowledged there were several unanswered questions and hoped Anderson would answer those at some point.

Waters described the crimes in this case as being “very serious.”

Waters sentenced Anderson to 40 years on the second-degree murder charge with a credit of 360 credit for time served and one to five years for the concealment of the body with a credit of 185 days credit for time served. Those sentences will run consecutively.

Court officials said she could be eligible for parole in a minimum of 11 years, but there would be no guarantee that she would be granted parole.

“Her actions after the shooting are not really consistent with someone who is remorseful and wants to do the right thing,” Waters said. “She covered up the killing, used his VA benefits after his death, used his debit card repeatedly many times after his death.

“What she is saying now is inconsistent. This case requires the maximum sentence that the court can give.”