‘I want to plead innocent’: Man accused of killing mother, stabbing her husband in Powhatan appears in court for first time

POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The man accused of killing his mother in Powhatan County over the weekend was in court for the first time on Tuesday, Feb. 10.  

Thirty-one-year-old Cody Mulchi is accused of stabbing his 52-year-old mother Melissa Ann Seamster to death and wounding her husband Darrel Seamster on Saturday, Feb. 7. 

Melissa's daughter told 8News off camera that her mother was always there for anyone who needed her and that she loved her grandkids.  

Little information was shared in court, where Mulchi was appointed a public defender, about what led up to the stabbings.

It was around 7:45 p.m. when the Powhatan County Sheriff's Department was called to Red Lane Road for a domestic assault.  

Deputies found Melissa and Darrel with severe stab wounds. Darrel is in stable condition. Melissa died on the way to the hospital. Deputies found Mulchi nearby and arrested him.

She was a mom, grandma and friend. 

Mulchi appeared in court over a video stream, his left eye badly bruised and swollen. He's charged with malicious wounding, assault and battery against a family member and second degree murder.

Mulchi said he was innocent before his attorney advised him not to say anything further. 

Deputies tell us they are still investigating. Mulchi is being held at the Pamunkey Regional Jail without bond and will next be in court in May.