Detective Daniel Hayes of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in Atlanta responded to an unusual call on July 5, 2018. The body found in a burn pile was later identified as Gary Farris, a wealthy commercial real estate attorney. Farris was married to Melody Farris and had four children. The family lived on a farm managed by son Scott. The discovery of Gary’s remains shocked the family. Melody last saw Gary alive on July 3, 2018, and realized he was missing the next day. The investigation revealed a dysfunctional family dynamic known as the “Farris Wheel.” Scott expressed suspicions about his mother’s involvement in Gary’s death. Despite tensions within the family, Scott denied the possibility of his father having an affair. … He was not that kind of man.
Hayes then inquired Melody about a possible affair.
Peter Van Sant: What was her response?
Det. Daniel Hayes: She denied any involvement.
Detectives discovered Gary Farris’ blood and a second bullet, which matched the one found in his rib bone, in the basement of the Farris home.
John Luke Weaver/Michael Ray
Police noticed what seemed to be blood drops on the kitchen floor, the stairs leading to the basement, and the basement floor. Testing confirmed that these spots were indeed Gary’s blood. Additionally, a .38 caliber bullet was found on the basement floor, matching the one found in Gary’s rib bone from the burn pile.
Peter Van Sant: Does this indicate a progression of an attack on Gary?
Det. Daniel Hayes: That’s the interpretation we made as we examined the evidence. It seems like something may have started upstairs, moved down the stairs, and ended in the basement.
Hayes directly asked Melody if she had any involvement in her husband’s death.
DET. HAYES (police interview audio): So you’re saying you didn’t harm Gary in any way?
MELODY FARRIS: No.
DET. HAYES: And you have no idea who did?
MELODY FARRIS: No.
Hayes was doubtful. In Melody’s purse, investigators found birth control and a credit card in the name of another man: Roy Barton.
Peter Van Sant: When someone lies to you … what does it indicate?
Det. Daniel Hayes: It suggests they are hiding something.
INSIDE THE FARRIS FAMILY DRAMA
When the credit card with the name Roy Barton was found, investigators did not recognize the name.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Roy Barton. … Later discovered to be Rusty Barton.
Rusty Barton, a farm equipment salesman, traveled frequently in central Tennessee. Melody was assisting in caring for Barton’s ill stepmother, who was also her cousin, in 2014. This is when Melody and Rusty began a romantic relationship.
Det. Daniel Hayes: We learned that Rusty … is Melody’s lover, with whom she has been having an affair for a considerable amount of time.
Peter Van Sant: Did you develop feelings for Rusty?
Melody Farris: I cared for him. Still do. But was I in love with him? No.
Investigators delved deeper into the relationship between Melody and Rusty.
Peter Van Sant: How serious was the relationship between Melody and Rusty?
Det. Daniel Hayes: Depending on who you ask, it seemed quite serious. They were even looking at wedding rings.
Peter Van Sant: Planning to get married could be seen as a motive for murder.
Melody Farris: You don’t marry someone you’re having an affair with.
Scott revealed that Melody and Rusty’s affair was widely known within the family.
Scott Farris: She thought she could keep it a secret, but we all found out. Everyone knew.
Even Gary knew. When daughter Emily got married in 2016, Melody shocked everyone by inviting her lover to the wedding.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Your husband was present at the same event while you were dancing and having a good time with another man. It upset Gary and the entire family.
Peter Van Sant: That wasn’t a wise decision on your part, was it?
Melody Farris: No, looking back, it wasn’t.
“It has been referred to as the ‘Farris Wheel,’ but it was our ‘Farris Wheel,'” Melody Farris remarked on her family’s dynamics. “It was our life.”
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It appeared that the “Farris Wheel” was gaining speed, with household drama escalating.
Scott Farris: None of us like the term ‘Farris Wheel.’ But if you want to know who was the driving force behind it, it was Melody Farris. She always stirred up drama.
Det. Daniel Hayes: It’s like a real-life soap opera.
A soap opera, Hayes believed, revolving around Gary’s wealth that others desired.
Det. Daniel Hayes: There was a lot of discord, fights over money, and jealousy.
The Farris siblings, Emily, Chris, Amanda, and Scott.
Scott Farris
Gary had always been generous towards his children, even in adulthood. Investigators discovered he had helped Emily purchase a house and financially supported Chris with his business and children.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Melody turned against her children because she felt they were exploiting their father’s wealth.
However, Melody argued that she was upset because her children were taking advantage of their father’s generosity.
Melody Farris: Chris, our eldest, was stealing money beyond belief.
Chris stated that he and his father did not argue about money. Detective Hayes looked into the arrangement Gary had with Scott.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Scott worked on the farm, and Gary provided him with spending money.
Melody Farris: Scott became lazy and spent most of his time playing golf, going to the lake, or hanging out with friends.
Peter Van Sant: Who financed all of this?
Melody Farris: He used credit cards from Gary.
Scott refuted these claims, stating that he and his father had a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Scott Farris: I was there to help him with the farm. There was no freeloading.
Scott explained that it was Melody who faced financial difficulties with Gary, mainly due to her extravagant spending on her affair with Barton.
Scott Farris: She would disappear for weeks, and thousands of dollars would be spent from the account.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Text messages revealed that Gary confronted her about her spending and warned that they needed to control it.
Peter Van Sant: So, Melody was at risk of losing her financial support?
Scott Farris: Essentially. Yes. Peter Van Sant asked Melody Farris if her husband was angry about her spending, to which she responded no, explaining that she had a debit card with his name on it that she was free to use as she pleased. Despite living in different states, Melody and Rusty Barton communicated constantly, with phone records showing that they were on the phone every hour of every day. On July 4, 2018, just before Gary Farris was found dead, Barton recalled Melody saying something disturbing about Gary being in the burn pile. This information raised suspicions, as only the killer would have known that detail. As the investigation progressed, Melody became the prime suspect. Scott Farris, Gary’s son, remembered an incident the day before Gary disappeared where Melody expressed her desire for Gary’s death. The next day, Gary recorded video of Melody throwing a plate and expressing her hatred towards him. After almost a year-long investigation, Melody was charged with Gary’s murder. Detectives questioned how Melody, a petite woman, could have moved Gary’s body to the burn pile, suspecting she used machinery on the farm to do so. Blood evidence found on the vehicles further incriminated Melody. Prosecutors were convinced of Melody’s guilt, citing her motive of wanting to inherit Gary’s assets and be with her lover, Rusty Barton. Despite the family’s divide on Melody’s guilt, the trial began in 2024 with prosecutors confident in Melody’s involvement in Gary’s death. Geoffrey Fogus observed a blood trail from the kitchen leading down the steps. Defense attorneys Michael Ray and John Luke Weaver contested the prosecution’s claims, suggesting a harmless explanation for the blood drops. Michael Ray stated that the blood trails did not lead out of the house, explaining that Gary had been bitten by one of Melody’s dogs and was bleeding as he walked downstairs. John Luke Weaver pointed out the small droplets of blood, arguing that it was inconsistent with a shooting. The defense also argued Melody’s innocence and questioned how Gary’s body ended up in the burn pile, stating that it was impossible for Melody to move the body. They also raised concerns about the murder weapon and proposed Melody’s son as an alternative suspect, suggesting financial motives.
Scott Farris denied murdering his father in court, claiming his love for him. Melody believed Scott’s testimony was rehearsed and claimed he was the only one physically capable of moving Gary’s body due to his size. Prosecutors called Melody’s lover, Rusty Barton, to establish a motive for murder, highlighting their relationship and discussions about wedding bands. Barton’s conflicting statements about a call regarding Gary’s body raised suspicions about his credibility. Despite being hours away at the time of the murder, Barton was not charged in connection with Gary’s death. Melody remained silent throughout the trial but later delivered a dramatic statement in court.
Melody faced accusations from her own children, who testified against her in court. Chris, Emily, and Scott expressed suspicions and negative experiences with their mother, alleging her involvement in their father’s murder. Melody found it difficult to watch her children testify, believing they were lying and motivated by money. She described the experience as heart-wrenching and expressed her frustration at not being able to speak out during the trial. “In court, Lindsay Harris, who leads the Intelligence Division in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, analyzed phone records for the prosecution. She discovered that Gary Farris’ cellphone moved from the house to the burn pile and back to the house on the morning of July 4, when investigators believe his body was already on the burn pile. The prosecution argued that only Melody Farris could have been the one moving the phone, as Scott’s phone was miles away from the farm at the time. The defense questioned the accuracy of Harris’ findings, calling seven witnesses including Amanda Bruce, the youngest daughter of Gary and Melody. Amanda expressed her belief in her mother’s innocence despite the pain of losing her father and the potential consequences for her mother. The case concluded with closing arguments from both sides, with the defense emphasizing the difficulty of Melody moving her 300-pound husband to the burn pile. Ultimately, the jury was deadlocked after three days of deliberation but reached a guilty verdict on all counts against Melody after further deliberation. Jurors cited the cellphone evidence as a key factor in their decision. Melody expressed shock and devastation at the verdict, while some members of the Farris family found relief in finally getting justice for Gary. At her sentencing, Melody accused her own son, Scott, of being the real killer, further adding to the family’s turmoil.” I refuse to cover for you,” she said firmly. During her sentencing hearing, Melody Farris shocked the courtroom by accusing her son, Scott, of being the true murderer of Gary. This revelation left many in the courtroom stunned. Despite Scott’s denial of the claim, Melody persisted in her accusations. The emotional outburst led to Melody being sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years. She also received an additional five years for concealing Gary’s death and making false statements to the police. In an exclusive interview with “48 Hours” correspondent Peter Van Sant, Melody continued to proclaim her innocence, while Scott maintained his belief that his mother was the one responsible for his father’s death. Despite the sentencing, Melody remains determined to prove her innocence and hopes to one day walk free again. The producers of this story are Betsy Shuller, Susan Mallie, and Asena Basak, with various other contributors listed. Gary Invierno, Joan Adelman y Wini Dini son los editores. Anthony Batson es el productor principal. Nancy Kramer es la editora ejecutiva de la historia. Judy Tygard es la productora ejecutiva.
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Peter Van Santo es un corresponsal galardonado de “48 Horas”, donde sus informes sobre crímenes reales y justicia se presentan en múltiples transmisiones y plataformas de noticias de CBS. Durante una carrera que abarca casi cinco décadas, Van Santo ha cubierto muchos de los eventos más significativos de nuestra vida. Además, Van Santo presenta el exitoso podcast “La sangre es más espesa”.