CRADLING her tiny two-month baby bump, pregnant 26-year-old Melissa Sowders smiled – she had so much to look forward to in the upcoming New Year.
It was the happiest she’d felt in ages but tragically just weeks later she was murdered and her body put inside a wheelie bin before being dumped in deep water.
She’d had a difficult time after splitting with her controlling ex, Matthew Sowders, so for Melissa the new baby with another man had signalled a new beginning.
The couple – who were childhood sweethearts – were in the middle of a messy divorce, and Melissa’s ex Matthew had full custody of their four young daughters.
It was heartbreaking for Melissa not to always be with her kids, but she still saw them and she knew she could no longer be with Matthew – she just needed time to get back on her feet.
And now, with a new year fast approaching and a new baby on the way, it all marked the beginning of a fresh start and a bright future – or so Melissa hoped.
Sadly however, just weeks after finding out her happy baby news, both these things were ripped away from her in the most unimaginably cruel way possible.
Melissa first met Matthew when she was in school, at the age of sixteen.
At first, they were your typical high school sweethearts, only with eyes for one another.
Speaking on Hayu documentary Murder Under the Mistletoe: Homicide for the Holidays, Melissa’s aunt Belinda Wood says: “She loved him a lot.”
However their relationship intensified when Melissa became pregnant.
Melissa’s father Jimmy Newsom adds: “She was worried about having a baby without being married so my wife and I co-signed for her to get married to Matthew.”
The couple had four daughters in quick succession but over time their relationship began to deteriorate.
Melissa confided in friends that her husband was really possessive and controlling – leaving Melissa no choice but to end things.
Melissa’s sister Amber Newsom says: “She wanted to be with her kids, but she couldn’t really take care of them by herself [so] she signed over all her rights to him for the kids.’
Matthew filed for divorce in October 2013, and Melissa started dating Jason Sanford, a former boyfriend she had known since she was a child.
It was a complicated and difficult situation for Melissa, but she seemed happy with her new romance.
The day before her disappearance, on December 25, 2013, she spent Christmas day with her family at home in Houston, Texas.
She was in good spirits. However, the next day she failed to show up for work at food outlet Taco Bell.
Melissa’s mum Sonia Newsom says: “Jason came knocking at the door.
“He said, ‘have you seen Melissa or heard from her?’ She was supposed to go by and pick him up from work that evening.
“The last time we heard from her was on Christmas day.”
She was reported missing and police learned that earlier that morning after dropping Jason off at work, Melissa had met Matthew and their baby daughter at a nearby McDonald’s.
Detective Jason Brown says: “Matthew told us he was with Melissa earlier that day so she could see the baby.
“He also told police that Melissa wanted to use the bathroom. he drove her to his apartment before assuming she walked back to McDonald’s to get her car.
At 11pm police put out an alert to look for Melissa, who was wearing black clothing and driving a white Honda.
Melissa’s mother Sonia says: “Right before Christmas time she was happier than I’d seen her in a long time because she told us she was going to have a new baby.”
Detectives quickly realise Melissa’s love life was a lot more complicated than it initially seemed.
She had moved in with Jason – who was questioned and investigated but had a solid alibi – but was also still seeing estranged husband Matthew, sometimes for sex.
Melissa’s car was then discovered, abandoned in a trucking car park, and a witness came forward to say she had gone to Matthew’s apartment and became suspicious when he wouldn’t let her inside.
In a call to police she said: “The door was open and all I could see were two feet. They were human. they weren’t moving lying on the floor in the bedroom.”
Within minutes police sent a team to investigate Matthew’s house – but there wasn’t any clear indication of a struggle or crime scene.
October 2013: Matthew Sowders files for a divorce from Melissa.
December 25 2013: Melissa spends Christmas day with her family, and is in good spirits having recently discovered she’s pregnant.
December 26 2013: Melissa meets her ex Matthew Sowders and their one-year-old daughter at a McDonald’s at around 11am. However she fails to turn up to work later that day, and her family report her missing having not heard from her.
December 28 2013: Police receive another shocking tip, from a woman claiming Matthew had confessed to killing Melissa.
December 29 2013: Police turn their attention to the creek, after the witness reveals Sowders confessed to Melissa’s murder and said he put her body in a rubbish bin and dumped it in the water.
December 31 2013: Police find a wheelie bin, but no body.
January 2 2014: Just after 9am, Melissa’s body is recovered from the creek.
April 2015: Sowders pleads guilty, and is sentenced to sixty years in prison.
Then, on December 28, police received another shocking tip, from a woman claiming Matthew had confessed to killing Melissa.
Detective Dennis Wolfford says: “She tells me the day Melissa went missing Matthew drove to her house and arrived in an older model ford truck. She said the truck was completely muddy [and] the mud was fresh on it.
“His clothes were soaking wet. She said he was very emotionally distraught and he confessed to her Melissa Sowders was dead.”
She claimed he had killed Melissa, strangling her before putting her body into a large black trash can and dumping her in the creek.
At that point, the creek was the focus of the search with the help of a private search team.
Melissa’s mum says: “I just kept thinking about her, crying and hoping that she would be OK.”
On December 31, the search team found a large, heavy duty rubbish bin in the creek.
Detective Wolfford says: “When we found the trash can, we believed someone had murdered her, but it’s very hard to prove without a body.”
Finally, on January 2 2014 just after 9am the search team located a body.
Melissa’s mum says: “I felt like I couldn’t walk. Like I was going to pass out.
Melissa’s dad says: “I felt like this was not happening… But I knew in my heart [the body] was her.”
An autopsy was conducted which revealed evidence of strangulation and blunt force trauma injuries.
She also had chemical burns on her torso and upper legs.
Detective Wolfford says: “I think Matthew Sowders poured bleach on her to try and eliminate any of his DNA or any kind of evidence, most likely from sexual assault.”
The autopsy also confirmed Melissa was pregnant at the time she was killed, and the police believed on the day Melissa went missing she went to Matthew’s apartment and he had found out Melissa was pregnant with another man’s baby.
Sowders was then arrested and charged with capital murder.
He pleaded guilty, and in April 2015 was sentenced to sixty years in prison with a chance of parole in thirty years.
Melissa’s dad says: “We were relieved. He got what he deserves.”
Tragically this time of year has never been the same again for Melissa’s family.
Her mum says tearfully: “She was just a joy to be around.
“She was always smiling. Always happy.”
Melissa’s cousin Michelle Bierman says: “Christmas is just not the same. Everybody is just grieving.”
Murder Under the Mistletoe: Homicide for the Holidays is available to watch on Hayu.
