Melissa Anderson

Police found 64-year-old Melissa Anderson's body in the basement of a home in the 11000 block of Sunlind Drive, according to police. Investigators say Anderson suffered severe injuries to her head and upper torso. Joseph Michael Marino, 30, of south St. Louis County, was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. He was in custody on a $1 million cash-only bond, according to online records. He was arrested shortly after she was found. A news release from the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis said Marino was the victim's ex-boyfriend. After finding her body, officers saw Marino on Anderson's home surveillance footage around the time of her death, court records say. Police searched Marino's home and reported finding bloody clothing and shoes in his trashcan, as well as Anderson's license and some of her mail. Marino had defensive wounds on his hands and an ankle, police said. His criminal history in Missouri includes a DWI conviction in 2023, a pending DWI charge from 2024 and a pending DWI charge filed in May of this year, according to online court records. The Major Case Squad, a unit of investigators from police departments throughout the region, was called in to investigate Anderson's death.