Sobs and muted cheers could be heard in Halifax County Circuit Court yesterday when a jury returned a guilty verdict against Denny Coggin Melton for the murder of his ex-wife's sister.
The five woman, seven man jury took less than an hour to find Melton, 45, of Semora, N.C., guilty of killing Rhonda Lynn Bowes Stone, 30, by shooting her through the window of her trailer on Mt. Carmel Road in Alton last August.
They spent even a shorter amount of time coming up with a recommended sentence of life in prison.
Testimony indicated that Melton blamed Stone for coming between him and his ex-wife, Lora Bowes, and hampering any chances they might have at reconciling.
Stone's mother, Shelby Elliott, testified that Melton was not friendly with Stone, especially after he and Stone's sister, Lora, got a divorce approximately two years ago.
Elliott said when Stone moved into a trailer on Mt. Carmel Road, she called her mother that afternoon and asked her not to tell Melton where she had moved.
"She didn't like him and was afraid if he was around there would be trouble," Elliott testified.
But apparently he found out where she'd moved to, Commonwealth Attorney John Greenbacker Jr. said, because just days before her murder Melton stopped at a nearby home and commented that "that woman down there (Stone) doesn't deserve to live."
John Hamlett and Mary Hairston, who live behind Bowes & Bowes Store near Stone's trailer, testified that Melton, who had never been to their home before, drove up in their yard the night of August 4, three nights before the shooting.
Hairston said Hamlett went back inside the house after Melton apologized for driving on their lawn and then said to her that "Rhonda was a sorry piece of ----," and that someone like her "ought to be shot dead."
Then the night of the murder, August 7, between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Melton returned to the residence behind Bowes & Bowes and chatted for several minutes before driving away in his late-model two-tone pick-up truck, Hairston said.
Kenneth Reaves Sr., who has lived along Mt. Carmel Road his entire life and has known and worked with Melton for about a decade, testified that around 9:45 p.m. that same night he went out to shut off his irrigation system and saw Melton's truck parked at the green trash boxes near Stone's trailer.
Reaves' son, Ken Reaves Jr., who also lives along Mt. Carmel Road, was home with his family and several friends at that time and said he heard his dad's truck go by around 9:45 p.m. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes later there came a knock on the door.
"Rhonda's two little girls (who were three years old at the time) knocked at the door. They said something had happened. That their mom had been cooking something sweet on the stove when a pot blew up," Reaves testified.
Immediately Robert and Mark Radcliffe, who were at Reaves' home, drove over to Stone's trailer to see if they could help.
Mark Radcliffe testified he opened the door and saw Stone lying on her back on the floor by the stove and went to call 911, while his brother Robert unsuccessfully attempted to revive Stone by performing CPR.
But it wasn't an exploding pot that killed Stone. She was shot in the back through the kitchen window of her home at close range with a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with buckshot, Halifax County Investigator Ricky Hicks, Special Agent Larry Shorter and Virginia Medical Examiner Venus Azar testified.
Azar testified that Stone was hit by 11 buck shot pellets and also suffered an abrasion from where the wad from the shell hit her.
According to family members, when they saw their mother collapse, the young twins put on their shoes and went to the neighbor's house for help.
Law enforcement officers arrived at Melton's Semora home the following morning shortly after 3 a.m. and, while they never found a gun, they did recover 12 gauge shotgun shells loaded with buckshot, Halifax County Major Ray Link testified.
Melton was arrested the following day and jailed on murder charges.
Approximately 72 hours after the murder Sherwood Forlines with Camp 23 Department of Corrections, brought a tracking bloodhound out to the scene. Forlines testified the dog went from the window around the back of the trailer then right to the green trash boxes where Melton's truck had been parked the night of August 7.
Greenbacker introduced several pieces of evidence including a number of samples of shattered glass from the trailer, a tattered blind from the kitchen window, the shotgun wad that was found under Stone's body, and the clothing that Melton was wearing at the time of the murder and at the time of his arrest.
Using this evidence and testimony from forensic scientist Richard Van Roberts with the Virginia Department of Health, Greenbacker showed how the shooter would have to have been close to the window when the shot was fired.
Roberts testified that a splinter of glass recovered from the shirt Melton was wearing during the time of the murder had consistent optical properties with the glass recovered from the shattered window.
Then there were the statements Melton made while he was in the Person County and Halifax County jails.
Person County Jail inmate David Lee Freeman testified that he spoke with Melton shortly after he was arrested and was told by his fellow inmate that he was in jail for "killing a woman who was a b----."
Freeman also said Melton told him that if his brother (Anthony Melton, who was Stone's boyfriend) had been there he "would have killed him too, and the kids."
An inmate at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority in Halifax County, Christopher A. Davis, also testified that Melton confessed to the crime.
"He told me that Ms. Stone came in between him and his wife, Lora, and that he'd do anything to keep his wife," Davis, who testified as part of a plea agreement, said. "He said he parked at the dumpsters, walked to the house and could see her through the window."
Davis testified that Melton told him that he "had buried the gun so deep no one would ever find it."
Linda L. Morphew, a jailer at Blue Ridge, also testified that Melton incriminated himself in statements he'd made in her presence at the jail.
"I was near (Melton's) cell the night of Sept. 19 talking to another inmate who'd asked when I'd get out of school. He wanted to say goodbye because he was getting out," she testified. "I heard a voice say, 'Well, I'll be here even if he isn't.' I recognized the voice (as Melton's) but wanted to double check and asked who's me? I did a visual ID and he answered, 'I'm the one that killed that woman."
"There are individuals out there that have a veneer that covers an awful lot of evil. For years they may keep it in check. Denny Melton acted on his sense of evil," Greenbacker said before the jury went out to consider Melton's sentence. "This was a bestial crime. It wreaked havoc with the lives of her children."
While the conviction and recommended life sentence plus three years for a conviction of the use of a firearm while committing murder gave Stone's family some comfort, for the most part their feelings were those of relief and closure.
"I hope justice has been done," Mrs. Elliott said outside the courthouse. "When she died a part of me died and it won't come back to life. Not only did I lose a daughter, the children lost a mother. I can only pray it happens to no one else."
Circuit Court Judge confirmed the guilty verdicts and revoked Melton's bond until a presentencing report can be completed. A sentencing date will be set at the beginning of the next term.

A proposed decrease of more than $1.5 million--or 10 percent--from the current budget highlights South Boston's suggested budget for the next fiscal year.
The budget presentation maintains the town's current tax rates, Town Manager Ted Daniel said.
In his presentation to the Town Council Finance Committee Monday night, Daniel offered a budget of $14, 276,609, encompassing expenditures in all funds.
This is down by $1,580,148 from the 1998-99 budget of $15,856,757.
As is usually the case, the General Fund and the Water and Sewer Fund account for the bulk of the planned expenditures.
The General Fund is presented in the amount of $6,783,000, a 3.7 percent increase from the current amount of $6,540,693.
On the other hand, the Water and Sewer Fund calls for a substantial cut in spending--$2,027,719, or 24 percent less than this year's $8,439,889.
"Quality community services such as police, public works, planning and zoning, parks and recreation, and financial services will continue to be provided at a reasonable cost," said Town Manager Daniel in a letter to Council that accompanied the budget draft.
Other Funds helping to make up the total town budget for fiscal 2000 are these:
Landfill Closure--$152,000, up from $82,700; Drug Task Force--zero, down from $4,000; Cemetery Fund - Reserved--$25,500, up from $18,450; Cemetery Fund - Unreserved--$127,759, up from $122,025; Capital Reserve Fund--$117,000, up from $45,000.
There is a new South Boston-Halifax County Drug Enforcement Fund this year, set at $55,180.
Also, a new line item in the budget lists $604,000 for the proposed Sutphin Road Project, a project Council hopes to fund through a Community Development Block Grant.
"An increase in State funding for police services provides the Town General Fund with increased revenues of $142,380," Daniel said.
Regarding personnel and employee compensation, Daniel said that in both the General Fund and Water and Sewer Fund, personnel expenditures reflect a 2 percent cost of living pay rise plus step increases for merit where warranted.
The budget also includes provisions for enhanced salaries for police officers, Daniel pointed out.
"The budget presentation reflects an adjustment in police salaries and grade structure to keep our police salary and benefits program competitive with area police jurisdictions," Daniel said.
"Adding to the urgency of this salary structure adjustment are approved statewide increases of 13.7 percent for county deputies and dispatchers," he noted.

As for water and sewer, Daniel said a rate study conducted by Finance Director Vandie Saunders and staff is now being analyzed "to determine the optimum water and sewer rate schedule to meet revenue requirements.
"Initial projections show that the town will continue to provide water and sewer service at affordable rates to all classifications of water and sewer customers," Daniel said.
A total of $2,862,225 is required in water and sewer sales revenues to meet expenditures, Daniel pointed out.
The Finance Committee expects to hold a series of workshops to hammer out the final details of the budget that will be adopted before July 1.

The Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual Support Day event Saturday, May 8.
Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department officials note that the event, which serves as the department's primary fund raising event of the year, will run from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and will be held rain or shine.
Highlighting the daytime activities is the annual Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department Support Day Parade which will be held at 11 a.m.
Individuals and organizations from around Halifax County and surrounding areas are invited to enter a unit in the parade.
Persons interested in entering a unit in the parade should contact Robert Worsham at 753-2197.
Fire department officials are asking individuals and organizations interested in participating in the parade to register by May 6.
The parade will form on Route 707 near the Ruritan Club and will proceed from there to the fire station where it will disband.
The big highlight of the evening activities will be the annual Street Dance which, this year, will feature the music of Southern Steel. It will be held from approximately 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.
While the parade and the street dance are the major highlights of the Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department Support Day event, there will be plenty of activity at the fire department throughout the day for visitors to enjoy.
Organizers of the event say there will be an arts and crafts show and sale beginning at 9 a.m. Persons displaying and selling arts and crafts items must reserve a space. Spaces may be reserved by contacting Faye Powell at 575-5362. The entry deadline is May 6.
Fire department spokesmen say that there will be live music throughout the afternoon and evening and that a special treat for children this year will be a pony rides.
Door prizes donated by area merchants and individuals will be given away during the event.
Needless to say, there will be plenty of delicious food available throughout the day.
Dinner will consist of a barbecue plate dinner with all the trimmings. Tickets for the dinner will be $7 per plate and tickets may be obtained the day of the event or by contacting any Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department member.
Also, the Cluster Springs firemen will make and sell Brunswick Stew for lunch.
And, there will be pizza, hotdogs, hamburgers, french fries, cotton candy, candy apples, and soft drinks available throughout the event as well.
Persons desiring further information may contact Powell or any Cluster Springs Fire Department official.

The Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department continues to seek entries for the parade and arts and crafts show that will be held in conjunction with this spring's Virgilina SummerFest.
This year's 17th Annual Virgilina SummerFest, will be held Saturday, May 29, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., rain or shine, in the heart of the Town of Virgilina.
Organizers are asking anyone wishing to reserve a space for the arts and crafts exhibit to contact Beverly Murray at 585-2657.
Persons or organizations wishing to enter a unit in the annual SummerFest Parade which will be held at 11 a.m. on May 29, are asked to contact Ralph Murray at 585-2657.
Another major highlight of the annual SummerFest is the Street Dance which will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and will feature music by Tony T and the Midnight Movers.
This year's Virgilina SummerFest will have a format similar to that of previous years.
Live music will be performed by a variety of area singing groups and entertainers between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Among the featured performers are the South Central Line Dancers from Chase City, a singing group from the House of Prayer in Clarksville, Jo Beth Cole of Virgilina, the Creedmoor Baptist Church Gospel Choir from Creedmoor, N.C., The Gospel Sensations from Chase City, and local performers Icarious and Troy Comer & Friends.
There will be arts and crafts exhibit where art and craft items will be displayed and sold, games and rides for youngsters, and plenty of delicious food provided by both vendors and the fire department.
The Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department will make and sell Brunswick Stew for the mid-day lunch meal which will begin at 12 noon.
And, the fire department will have barbecue chicken and barbecue pork plate dinners for the evening dinner meal. The barbecue chicken and barbecue pork plates will go on sale at 2 p.m.
Also, there will be special prize drawings held during the day including a drawing for a first place cash prize of $350, a drawing for a second place cash prize of $150, and a drawing for a third place cash prize of $100.
A handmade quilt made by Florence Buchanan and Alice Gravitt will also be given away in a drawing.
Tickets for the big cash prize drawing and the drawing for the quilt are available from members of the Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department.
Further details surrounding the May 29 Virgilina SummerFest will be announced in the near future.

Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett, D-Halifax, announced yesterday that he will seek his sixth term in the General Assembly in the November elections.
The delegate represents the 60th House District which includes the counties of Halifax, Charlotte and parts of Pittsylvania and Campbell counties.
Education, tobacco grower issues and economic development have been major interests during the delegate's years of service in the General Assembly.
"I was delighted that Governor Gilmore signed today the Tobacco Bill that Whitt Clement, Sen. Hawkins and I co-sponsored for our tobacco farmers and for our tobacco growing communities," said Bennett in a statement released Tuesday.
"I proudly see other states trying to duplicate our lead in Virginia in providing a financial safety net for their farmers like we have here."
Bennett's announcement follows in full:
I am pleased to announce my candidacy for reelection to the House of Delegates. It has been an honor to represent you in the General Assembly.
This is my home? The place of my birth and where I grew up. It is the home of only wife, Lessie, and where she grew up. It is where our two children were born and raised. It is our home. To be able to represent my home area in the oldest State Legislature in America is quite an honor, and thank you for that opportunity. I hope that you believe that I have earned your confidence, respect and support for re-election. I have worked hard fur you and will continue to do so.
My entire effort and calling has been to represent you, our community, in the State of Virginia, and to make our area continue to be great place to live, to protect the environment, our rivers and streams, to raise our children and to create opportunities for good jobs and good schools, to make it possible for you our children to return back here to work and live if they wish to.
Towards those ends, I am proud to have helped establish and obtain funds for the Governor's School for high school juniors end seniors across Southside Virginia where we had none before, the Staunton River Battlefield State Park, the Truck Driver's School in South Boston, the expansion of the Continuing Education Center, the Teachers' Institute for public school teachers in Halifax County to be operated by Longwood College at the CEC.
Of course, I was delighted to see the continuing success of the South Boston Museum and to have gotten for it this year $37,000 in State Funds to help further its historical and artistic mission.
I was delighted that Governor Gilmore signed today the Tobacco Bill that Whitt Clement, Senator Hawkins and I co-sponsored for our tobacco farmers and for our tobacco growing communities. I proudly see other states to duplicate our lead in Virginia in providing a financial safety net for their farmers like we have here.
I worked for welfare reform and was pleased to see the Iegislation I worked so hard for signed into law and the positive results flowing from people finding independence off of welfare.
I was pleased and honored to have served as Chairman of the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Virginia and will continue to work to see that more of its significant recommendations are funded and effected into practice.
I am pleased to see the work of 501 Coalition, which I helped to found in our effort to four-lane 501 from Halifax to? Lynchburg and will continue to work for that this coming year and the succeeding years until we achieve funding necessary to accomplish the improvement and four-laning of one of Southside Virginia's most neglected highways.
Of course, the additional funding of $108 million for the continuing improvement of Highway 58, the return of lottery profits for the benefit of local schools, HMO and medical insurance reform and the beginning of the phasing out of the sales tax on food this year were among the significant items I was pleased to support, promote and vote for.
If re-elected, I will continue to work for improvements in all of these areas and others for the benefits of all of our citizens.
Yours very truly,
William W. "Ted" Bennett, Jr.
Bennett's committee assignments include Education, Corporations, Insurance and Banking, Agriculture, Science and Technology and Mining and Mineral Resources.

A Richmond man was arrested at the Halifax County High School on weapons and trespassing charges Monday morning, according to reports from the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.
Deputy Steve Moore, Halifax County Senior High School Resource Officer, arrested Louis P. Llewellyn, 23, of Brook Road, Richmond in the Halifax County High School parking lot and charged him with possession of a 9 mm semi automatic pistol on school grounds, possession of a retractable razor (box cutter), and According to information provided through the Halifax County Sheriff's Department, another suspect was arrested last week as part of the ongoing Operation Street Sweep.
Halifax County Sheriff's deputies R. Lipscomb and T. Lewis arrested Steve Edmonds of Route 1, South Boston, Monday and charged him with one count of distribution of marijuana and one count of possession of a schedule II drug with intent to distribute.
Reports indicated that the Sheriff's Office had indictments for Edmonds stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred Feb. 21, 1998.
Edmonds is currently being held without bond in Mecklenburg County Jail in Boydton, Va.
Operation Street Sweep brings to conclusion a six-month investigation primarily focusing on the street level drug dealers. The operation has resulted in the arrest of suspects for distribution of crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana.
In this operation, the Task Force has placed 71 charges on 42 suspects. This includes several suspects that are being charged Federally.
This investigation is continuing, and authorities say further arrests are anticipated.
While conducting a search at an Alton residence Sunday, Halifax County Task Force members reportedly uncovered narcotics and drug paraphernalia and multiple drug charges are pending as a result.
According to reports from the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, Sunday at 4 p.m., deputies were dispatched to 4004 Mt. Carmel Road (Route 699) in the Alton community in reference to a subject who was wanted by the Halifax County Sheriff's Office on felony forgery charges that was supposed to be at this residence.When they arrived at the Mt. Carmel Road residence, deputies arrested Ronald Stuart Bowes, 35, formerly of Halifax County, and charged him with two felony counts of check forgery and uttering. Bowes is currently a resident of North Carolina.
During the course of events, permission was granted to search the premises, and Halifax Regional Drug Task Force and a canine unit from Camp 23 were summoned to the scene.
Reports indicated that during the search narcotics and other drug paraphernalia were allegedly found at the residence where four other individuals were present. Multiple drug charges are pending.
Bonnie Jean Dunn of Timberlake, N.C., who was also at the Mt. Carmel Road residence at the time, was arrested and charged with giving false information. She was later released.

Henry Paul Terry Jr. of 1079 Holly Court, Halifax died Sunday, March 28, 1999 at his home. He was 67 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Terry was born December 29, 1931 in Halifax County the son of Henry Paul Terry Sr. and Fannie Snead Terry and was married to Ann Whitt Terry. He was a veteran of the Army, Korean Conflict, retired maintenance mechanic with JPS Converter and was a member of Dan River Baptist Church and American Legion Post 8.
A funeral will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel today, March 31 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Joe Brewer officiating. Burial will follow in Dan River Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Terry is survived by his wife; one son, Henry Paul Terry III and his wife, Kathy of Scottsburg; and three sisters, Elizabeth T. Bates of Brookneal, Myrna T. Jones of Halifax, and Agnes T. Tucker of South Boston.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston.

James 'Buddy' Clair Horton Jr. of Roxboro died Monday, March 29, 1999 at his home.
Mr. Horton was born in Person County the son of Carrie Walker and James Clair Horton Sr. and was married to Donnie Ann Simpson Horton. He was a retired engineer from American Tobacco Company and he attended Bethany Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife; one daughter, Deborah H. Smith of Rougemont; three sons, Dennis Horton and James Michael Horton, both of Hillsborough and Alan Horton of Hurdle Mills; one brother, Larry Horton of Halifax; three sisters, Clara Morgan and Jackie Snead, both of South Boston and Nellie Perkins of Danville; and eight grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 31 at Bethany Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.

Elizabeth Knott Murray, 78, of 9056 Shotwell Road, Virgilina died Monday, March 29, 1999 at Roxboro Nursing Center.
Mrs. Murray was born in Person County, NC, the daughter of Luther and Annie Royster Knott and was married to Bradley Murray. She was a homemaker and seamstress having worked for Ideal Fastener for over 15 years. She was a member of United Christian Church.
Survivors include one son, Herbert Murray of Roxboro, NC; two daughters, Doris Vaughan of Elon College, NC and Rita Puryear of Nelson; seven brothers, Mac Knott, Don Knott, Cecil Knott, Bruce Knott, Martin Knott, all of Roxboro, Charlie Knott of Durham, NC and Robert Knott of GA; three sisters, Mary Gentry, Sandra Eakes and Violet Whitfield, all of Roxboro; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Sterling Knott.
A funeral service will be held today, March 31 at 2 p.m. at United Christian Church with Revs. Bobby Whitfield and Jim McAlister officiating. Burial will follow in the Virgilina Cemetery.

John Willard Lowery of 1219 Bold Springs Road, South Boston died Tuesday, March 30, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 83 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Lowery was born June 21, 1915 in Halifax County the son of Warren Lowery and Emma Lowery and was married to Anna Belle Lowery. He was retired from Daystrom Furniture.
The funeral will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel Thursday, April 1 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow in Black Walnut Baptist Church Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Lowery include two sons, Willard Lowery and Douglas D. 'D.D.' Lowery, both of South Boston; five grandchildren, Kim L. Pool, Karen L. Hawks, Kelly Lowery, Chad Lowery, Natalie Lowery; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife; and three brothers, Emmon, Lewis and Jack Lowery.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home tonight, March 31 from 7 until 8:30 and other times at the home.

Cynthia Cecelia Mealer Henderson of Vernon Hill died Monday, March 29, 1999 at The Woodview. She was 82 years of age.
Mrs. Henderson was born in Charlotte County on September 23, 1916 the daughter of Addison William Mealer and Annie Green Lewis Mealer and was married to Archer L. Henderson. She was a member of Oak Level Presbyterian Church where she was a devoted member of the choir. She was a retired beauty shop operator in the Vernon Hill area and a former member of Wilson Memorial Ruritan Club.
Survivors include one sister, Ruth Mealer Jennings of Richmond; several nieces and nephews; a devoted friend, Evelyn Henderson. She was preceded in death by a son, Edward Archer Henderson, and her husband.
Funeral services for Mrs. Henderson will be held today, March 31 at 2 p.m. at Oak Level Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Russell Lee conducting the service. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Oak Level Presbyterian church Memorial Fund.