On July 5, 2018, Detective Daniel Hayes of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Workplace, north of Atlanta, responded to a most uncommon name.
Peter Van Sant: A human physique in a burn pile. Had you ever acquired a name like that in your profession?
Det. Daniel Hayes: I had by no means personally responded to a name that — like that. No.
Sherry Farris 
The physique was later recognized as 58-year-old Gary Farris, the larger-than-life, 300-pound patriarch of the Farris property, now diminished to skeletal stays. Hayes realized Gary Farris was a rich industrial actual property legal professional, married to Melody Farris. They raised 4 youngsters: Chris, Scott, Emily and Amanda.
Det. Daniel Hayes: They’re all of their … late 20s, early 30s at this level … if not somewhat bit older.
Hayes additionally realized Gary and Melody have been married for 38 years and lived in a home on their superbly manicured 10-acre farm. Son Scott, who had served within the Military, managed the day-to-day operations on the farm, and lived in an house above the barn.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Scott’s fundamental perform at this level in his life … is to be the farmhand.
It was a seemingly idyllic life, till Gary’s stays have been found on that burn pile.
Scott Farris: I by no means thought such tragic factor would occur there.
Melody Farris: My world was spinning. … I needed to search out out what occurred.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GARY FARRIS?
Melody instructed Hayes the final time she noticed Gary alive was in the course of the night on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
Melody Farris: He got here in and needed to know if I used to be going to arrange dinner. … and I mentioned, Gary, there’s sufficient meals in that fridge there to feed Cox’s military … I mentioned, if you do not need it, then go get one thing to eat.
Peter Van Sant: And that is it? That was the final time?
Melody Farris: That was the final phrases that have been spoken to him.
Melody instructed Hayes her husband then went right down to his bed room within the basement. Gary had sleep apnea and slept alone together with his CPAP machine. Scott mentioned he had additionally final seen his father on July 3 at lunch. Scott spent the remainder of the day trip together with his mates. He returned residence that night time round 11:30 p.m., and says he instantly observed a glow within the distance.
Scott Farris: Once I pulled within the driveway …. you possibly can look off within the course the place the burn pile was and you possibly can see it was burning.
A burn pile — usually a dumping spot for yard waste and brush.
Scott Farris: … my dad did speak about … he was gonna burn that stuff on that — on that pile.
The following day, July 4, Scott and Melody instructed investigators they did not encounter Gary.
Melody Farris: It was commonplace to not see Gary.
It wasn’t till the following day, July 5, Melody says, she realized Gary was lacking. Two of the grandchildren who had spent the night time requested to experience the RTV – or tough terrain automobile – with Gary, who they known as Large Daddy.
Melody Farris: And I instructed them, I mentioned, “go ask Large Daddy to go experience it with you all” … They usually mentioned they could not discover him.
Daughter Amanda was there, too. Son Chris arrived quickly after, and all of the adults began looking the property — till Scott observed some bones among the many ashes on the burn pile.
John Luke Weaver/ Michael Ray 
Scott Farris: I will always remember it till the day I die.
Melody Farris: His phrases have been, “Oh I discovered him.” … “What do you imply you discovered him?”
When the forensic crew arrived they started documenting the burn pile, working previous darkish to sift by means of the ashes. That is when the bullet was discovered lodged in Gary’s rib, and what had began as a doable unintended demise — turned a homicide investigation.
Peter Van Sant: Why would any person need to burn a physique?
Det. Daniel Hayes: Cowl up against the law. You destroy proof.
Elsewhere, investigators searched the home, the barn and even the pond. They discovered a shotgun in the home. A number of different weapons and ammunition have been found within the barn. Each Melody and Scott allowed investigators to check their fingers for accelerants. The checks got here again unfavourable. Scott additionally instructed the detectives one thing intriguing: he had lately seen a pistol within the basement that was now lacking.
Scott Farris: It was simply very odd.
And one other factor Scott discovered odd was that his mother had his dad’s pockets.
Scott Farris: And I mentioned, “the place’d you discover that?” And he or she mentioned, nicely, it is within the console of his automobile. And I discovered that very, very odd ‘trigger my dad by no means left his pockets in his automobile.
As Hayes’ investigation continued, he was studying all concerning the Farris household’s dysfunctional dynamic – which got here to be often known as the “Farris Wheel.” In a tape-recorded dialog with Melody, she instructed the detective there had been pressure between Gary and Scott.
MELODY FARRIS (police interview audio): He and Scott would get into it fairly closely. I imply, you understand, and so they’d come blows simply over issues as a result of Gary was so anal about all the things. I imply, Scott’s scorching. … I imply he’s — he is scorching tempered.
However when detectives requested Scott what he thought occurred, he pointed the finger of suspicion at his mom.
SCOTT FARRIS (police interview audio): I’ve at all times had this intestine feeling, if one thing ever occurred to my dad, that any person wanted to examine her out.
With the Farris Wheel beginning to flip, detectives requested Scott if his father was having an affair.
Scott Farris: My father didn’t try this. He was a one-woman sort of man and he married that lady. … He was not that type of man.
Hayes then requested Melody if she was having an affair.
Peter Van Sant: What did she inform you?
Det. Daniel Hayes: She mentioned no.
John Luke Weaver/Michael Ray 
Police centered in on what gave the impression to be drops of blood on the kitchen flooring, the steps resulting in the basement and on the basement flooring itself. When spots within the basement have been examined, they have been confirmed to be Gary’s blood. Police additionally discovered a .38 caliber bullet on the basement flooring. The identical sort discovered lodged in Gary’s rib bone from the burn pile.
Peter Van Sant: And does that counsel in any approach, some type of development of an assault on Gary?
Det. Daniel Hayes: That is what we interpreted as, uh, as we began it’s that probably one thing occurred upstairs, led down the steps, and into the basement.
Hayes requested Melody point-blank if she had something to do with the demise of her husband.
DET. HAYES (police interview audio): So your assertion is you did not do something to hurt Gary?
MELODY FARRIS: No.
DET. HAYES: And you do not know who did?
MELODY FARRIS: No.
Hayes was skeptical. Investigators had discovered, in Melody’s purse, contraception and a bank card with one other man’s identify on it: Roy Barton.
Peter Van Sant: When somebody’s mendacity to you … what does that counsel?
Det. Daniel Hayes: They’re responsible of one thing.
INSIDE THE FARRIS FAMILY DRAMA
When that bank card was present in Melody’s purse, investigators didn’t acknowledge the identify on it.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Roy Barton. … Later discover out is Rusty Barton.
Rusty Barton was a farm gear salesman who hung out on the street in central Tennessee. In 2014, Melody was serving to to maintain Barton’s sick stepmother, who occurred to be her cousin. That is when Rusty and Melody turned intimate.
Det. Daniel Hayes: We realized that Rusty … is Melody’s lover that, uh, she’s having an affair with and has had an affair with … for fairly a while.
Peter Van Sant: Did you fall in love with Rusty?
Melody Farris: I cherished him. Nonetheless love him. Was I in love with him? No.
Investigators needed to know extra concerning the couple.
Peter Van Sant: How severe is that this relationship between Melody and Rusty?
Det. Daniel Hayes: Will depend on who you requested. The proof confirmed that it — it gave the impression to be fairly severe. They have been researching marriage ceremony bands.
Peter Van Sant: You understand, in case you have been planning on getting married, it seems like a motive for homicide.
Melody Farris: You do not marry the particular person you have been having an affair with.
Scott says Melody and Rusty’s love affair was the world’s worst saved secret.
Scott Farris: She thought she was sensible sufficient to cover it from all people, however all of us discovered, all of us knew.
Together with Gary. And when daughter Emily acquired married in 2016, Melody scandalized the marriage by inviting her lover for all to see.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Your husband is there on the identical venue and also you’re dancing and consuming and — and having time with this different man. … It was upsetting to Gary, uh, you understand. … It was upsetting to all of the household.
Peter Van Sant: That wasn’t a pleasant transfer in your half, was it?
Melody Farris: No. In hindsight, no.
CBS Information 
It appeared the “Farris Wheel” was spinning quicker, with family drama changing into extra frequent.
Scott Farris: This complete “Farris Wheel” time period, none of us actually prefer it. However in case you wanna know who the motor was of turning that “Farris Wheel,” was Melody Farris. … She at all times stirred up drama, at all times.
Det. Daniel Hayes: It is a real-life cleaning soap opera, that is it.
A cleaning soap opera, Hayes believed, that revolved round what Gary had and others coveted: cash.
Det. Daniel Hayes: Numerous bickering, quite a lot of fights over cash, quite a lot of jealousy.
Scott Farris 
Gary had at all times been beneficiant towards his youngsters, at the same time as adults. Investigators realized he helped Emily purchase a home and financially assisted son Chris together with his enterprise and youngsters.
Det. Daniel Hayes: It made Melody flip in opposition to her youngsters as a result of the youngsters have been spending cash.
However Melody claims she was solely upset as a result of the youngsters have been profiting from their father’s wealth.
Melody Farris: Chris, our oldest one, had been stealing cash. Such as you can’t imagine.
Chris says he and his father didn’t argue over cash. Detective Hayes appeared into the settlement Gary had struck with Scott.
Det. Daniel Hayes: He labored on the farm and Gary gave him spending cash.
Melody Farris: He had gotten the place he simply wouldn’t do something. He was on a regular basis enjoying golf, going to the lake, going out together with his mates.
Peter Van Sant: And who was paying for all of this?
Melody Farris: He was taking, you understand, bank cards from Gary.
However Scott says that is not true in any respect and that the association he had together with his father labored nicely for each of them.
Scott Farris: I used to be there to assist him with the farm. … There was no mooching.
Scott says it was really Melody who’d run right into a monetary roadblock with Gary, largely due to her lavish spending on her affair with Barton.
Scott Farris: She would go away for weeks at a time after which 1000’s of {dollars} shall be spent out of the account.
Det. Daniel Hayes: We discovered textual content messages the place he confronted her and mentioned, you understand … your … spending is finished. We gotta get a deal with on this.
Peter Van Sant: So what you are saying is that it was Melody who was dealing with the potential of getting her — her cash lifeline minimize off?
Scott Farris: Just about. Sure.
Peter Van Sant: Was he indignant at your spending?
Melody Farris: No. … I had a debit card. It had his identify on it. I used to be free to make use of it nonetheless I needed to.
Whereas Melody and Rusty Barton lived in numerous states, cellphone data present they lived their lives in fixed communication.
Det. Daniel Hayes: She’s on the telephone with him each hour of on daily basis.
Together with the early morning hours of July 4, 2018, a day-and-a-half earlier than Gary was discovered. When questioned by investigators, Barton instructed them that Melody had mentioned one thing alarming.
RUSTY BARTON (police interview audio): So, in all probability the final minute of the final dialog, she mentioned, “Gary is within the burn pile.” No, she mentioned, “he’s within the burn pile.” And I mentioned, “what?” And he or she mentioned, “he is within the burn pile.” And I mentioned, “don’t say one other phrase and don’t inform me something. I don’t must know that.”
At the moment, solely the killer might have recognized Gary was on the burn pile. Had Melody Farris confessed to homicide? Because the investigation continued, she was now the detective’s No. 1 suspect.
Scott Farris: I instructed them all the things I knew.
Scott remembered one thing that occurred together with his mom the day earlier than Gary vanished. It now looks like foreshadowing.
Scott Farris: She comes out of the home with a plate in her hand and he or she’s screaming and cussing. And he or she throws the plate up in opposition to the wall of the home and … shatters all of it into items. And he or she says, “I am unable to wait ‘until that f****** man’s useless. I am unable to wait ‘until I haven’t got to stay with him anymore.”
Gary Farris himself took out his telephone and recorded video of the plate shards scattered on the bottom. Three days later he was useless.
HOW DID GARY FARRIS’ BODY END UP ON THE BURN PILE?
On June 18, 2019, after an virtually 12-month investigation, detectives say they’d gathered sufficient proof to cost Melody Farris with the homicide of her husband, Gary Farris.
Peter Van Sant: Why did it take a 12 months to arrest Melody?
Det. Daniel Hayes: We have been ready on the post-mortem outcomes and the constructive identification of Gary Wayne Farris’ physique.
However for Hayes, there have been unanswered questions. How did Melody get Gary’s physique out the basement door and to the burn pile about 50 yards away?
Sherry Farris 
Peter Van Sant: She weighs, what, 130 kilos?
Det. Daniel Hayes: Round that I imagine.
Peter Van Sant: And Gary … is six-foot 4, six-foot 5, 300 kilos. … how on the planet might that lady have moved that physique?
Det. Daniel Hayes: With the tractor, with the RTV.
Two items of equipment that have been discovered on the farm.
Det. Daniel Hayes: She admitted that she drives [the] RTV on a regular basis … and has operated the tractor.
Hayes seized the 2 autos as proof. He took me to the lot the place they’re saved.
Peter Van Sant: How might every of those autos have been used to get Gary’s physique onto that pile?
Det. Daniel Hayes: Uh, each have been able to pulling quite a lot of weight. This tractor has a bucket on the entrance that’s designed to scoop heavy masses.
Det. Daniel Hayes: We discovered tractor marks. However there have been tractor marks all around the property, however there have been none essentially clearly main proper as much as the burn pile.
Peter Van Sant: What did you discover as your forensic folks took a take a look at these autos?
Det. Daniel Hayes: Uh, we discovered blood, proof of blood on the autos.
Peter Van Sant: Are you able to present me the place?
Det. Daniel Hayes: I can. So on the tractor, we discovered blood proof on this space (factors to the step).
Gary’s blood. However nothing was discovered within the entrance bucket. On the RTV, Hayes says, Melody’s blood was discovered on one of many gear shifters; nothing was discovered within the again. Hayes thought of different situations.
Det. Daniel Hayes: There’s additionally a idea that she did it beneath her personal — her personal energy … rolling him right down to the burn pile. … it is downhill all the best way to the burn pile.
Peter Van Sant: Is there any blood that was found going from the home to the burn pile?
Det. Daniel Hayes: Not that we discovered.
Peter Van Sant: So this nonetheless stays a thriller, would not it?
Det. Daniel Hayes: It does.
It was a thriller, too, for prosecutors Meaghan Frankish and Geoffrey Fogus.
Geoffrey Fogus: We do not know precisely how she acquired him into the burn pile. …
Meaghan Frankish: She was a farm lady. … She was resourceful. … We all know she killed him. … how she did it would not actually matter ‘trigger we all know she did. ‘Trigger he was there.
The case took greater than 5 years to convey to trial. Throughout that point, a deep divide fashioned within the Farris household. Three of the youngsters, Chris, Scott, and Emily have been all satisfied their mom murdered their father. Gary and Melody’s youngest youngster, Amanda, believed in Melody’s innocence.
Peter Van Sant: What did it imply for you that your daughter Amanda stood by you throughout all this time and has believed in your innocence?
Melody Farris: She’s lady. (crying)
When the trial lastly started in October 2024, prosecutors Frankish and Fogus spoke to jurors with absolute certainty.
GEOFFREY FOGUS (opening assertion): The reply to the query — who did it? — sits proper there, Melody Walker Farris.
The motive? In line with prosecutors, Melody needed Gary useless so she might money in on his multimillion-dollar property and stay fortunately ever after together with her lover of the previous 4 years — Rusty Barton.
Peter Van Sant: Why should not folks imagine you had the best motive to homicide Gary?
Melody Farris: I knew nothing about our monetary scenario. Completely nothing.
Prosecutors say on the night of July 3 – two days earlier than Gary’s physique was discovered – Gary and Melody acquired right into a battle within the kitchen and Melody shot him.
GEOFFREY FOGUS (opening assertion): He goes downstairs, attempting to get away. She shoots him once more.
Geoffrey Fogus: There is a blood path from the kitchen … after which went down the steps.
Of their opening assertion, protection attorneys Michael Ray and John Luke Weaver attacked the prosecution’s claims… and instructed jurors there is a innocent clarification for these blood drops.
MICHAEL RAY: (opening assertion): These blood trails by no means lead out of the home upstairs or downstairs.
MICHAEL RAY (opening assertion): Gary had been bitten by certainly one of Melody’s canines on the ankle and was bleeding as he walked down the steps.
John Luke Weaver: We’re speaking tiny little droplets of blood. That might not be per a taking pictures. … you’ll count on much more blood.
And daughter Amanda would testify she noticed that wound on her dad’s leg. The protection additionally argued Melody is harmless and raised these questions on how Gary’s physique acquired to the burn pile.
John Luke Weaver: Melody Farris at her measurement … it’s inconceivable that she moved that physique from the placement the place the state says his physique was to a burn pile. It’s completely inconceivable.
The protection additionally raised questions concerning the homicide weapon.
MICHAEL RAY (opening assertion): The place is the gun? … No thought.
They supplied up another suspect: Melody’s personal son.
Peter Van Sant: And his motive could be?
John Luke Weaver: Monetary. … He needed the property.
MICHAEL RAY (opening assertion): One huge factor you are gonna hear, and also you’re gonna hear it quite a bit, is Scott Farris.
The protection argues that Scott — from the very starting — tried to attract consideration of investigators away from him.
MICHAEL RAY (opening assertion): 13 minutes after legislation enforcement arrives Scott Farris is already blaming his mom. From the very starting, Scott is saying, Melody, Melody, Melody … Main legislation enforcement down this path.
When the prosecution put Scott Farris on the stand, they requested him instantly.
Courtroom TV/Pool 
GEOFFREY FOGUS (in court docket): Did you homicide your father?
SCOTT FARRIS: I completely didn’t homicide my father … I really like my father. He was the spine (crying) — He was the glue to our household.
Sitting simply toes away, Melody says Scott’s testimony was an act.
Melody Farris: The Scott that was in that courtroom was not my son. … He was nicely rehearsed.
On cross-examination the protection identified that Scott, at 6’8,” 280 kilos, was the one particular person on the farm bodily able to transferring Gary’s 300-pound physique.
SCOTT FARRIS (in court docket): Due to my measurement and measurement of my father, sure, I used to be gonna be checked out like that. However I had nothing to do with it.
To assist set up a motive for homicide, prosecutors known as Melody’s lover, Rusty Barton, to the stand.
GEOFFREY FOGUS (in court docket): You — you are from Alabama, is that proper? Excuse me, Tennessee. I apologize. …
RUSTY BARTON: I am from Tennessee.
GEOFFREY FOGUS: And you’re a Tennessee –
RUSTY BARTON: There is a huge distinction.
GEOFFREY FOGUS: That is true. And also you’re —
Geoffrey Fogus: He is charming … he is sensible.
And he says he captured the center of married Melody Farris.
GEOFFREY FOGUS (in court docket): You have been in love together with her, truthful to say?
RUSTY BARTON: Sure.
GEOFFREY FOGUS: And he or she was in love with you, truthful to say?
RUSTY BARTON: Sure. …
GEOFFREY FOGUS: Recall looking for marriage ceremony bands on the web?
RUSTY BARTON: I do.
GEOFFREY FOGUS: What sort of marriage ceremony bands did y’all take into consideration? …
RUSTY BARTON: We talked about plain gold bands. …
GEOFFREY FOGUS: Inform the jury what you mentioned …
Fogus additionally requested Barton about that incriminating name.
RUSTY BARTON (in court docket): She mentioned that Gary was on the burn pile.
Bear in mind, Barton had instructed investigators that decision had taken place earlier than Gary was discovered. However a 12 months later, after Melody was arrested, Barton modified his story, saying the decision occurred after the physique was found. He mentioned he had the dates flawed.
RUSTY BARTON (in court docket): What I instructed you was right, however when it occurred was not right.
However prosecutor Fogus did not purchase it and claims Barton was attempting to assist Melody.
PETER VAN SANT: You imagine him?
GEOFFREY FOGUS: No. … He was nonetheless in a relationship together with her. … He did not know the way this was going to prove.
On the time of the homicide, Barton was hours away in Tennessee. He was by no means charged with something referring to the demise of Gary Farris.
Extra witnesses would testify, and later, Melody — who was silent all through the trial — would deal with the court docket in a dramatic and explosive assertion that would go away her household reeling.
A FAMILY DIVIDED ON THE STAND
Day after day, Melody Farris confronted witnesses decided to see her pay for the alleged homicide of her husband.
None appeared extra dogged than her personal youngsters. Like Chris, Emily, and Scott.
CHRIS FARRIS (in court docket): I simply had my suspicions that she had one thing to do with this.
EMILY FARRIS (in court docket): She turned extra hostile. She was extra aggressive with us. She was demanding cash.
SCOTT FARRIS (in court docket): I imply, she at all times, you understand, talked dangerous about my dad. … it is like she at all times tried to brainwash us. Like he was, you understand, such a horrible particular person.
Courtroom TV/Pool 
Peter Van Sant: Are you able to describe what it was like to observe every of your youngsters take the stand?
Melody Farris: Essentially the most heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching factor I had ever sat by means of in my complete life.
Peter Van Sant: As a result of?
Melody Farris: I knew they have been mendacity.
Peter Van Sant: I’ve to inform you … you appeared so stoic throughout all of it.
Melody Farris: It was that the time that I might stroll outta that courtroom at nighttime, I used to be able to scream on the high of my lungs.
Melody says three of her youngsters try to pin their father’s homicide on her for one easy purpose.
Melody Farris: Cash. Completely cash.
One of many ultimate witnesses known as by prosecutors was Lindsay Harris, who leads the Intelligence Division within the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Workplace.
LINDSAY HARRIS (in court docket): I used to be requested in 2018, July of 2018, um, to investigate some telephone data …
Harris says she was in a position to monitor the exact actions of Gary Farris’ cellphone on the household farm as a result of Gary had an Android telephone with its Google Location Companies turned on.
Lindsay Harris: This helps us know when the machine is touring even inside a sure space.
Harris found that on the morning of July 4, when investigators imagine Gary’s physique was already on the burn pile, his cellphone moved from the home to the burn pile and again to the home.
Cherokee County District Legal professional’s Workplace 
Lindsay Harris: 100% the machine strikes from 7:58 to 9:05. … Somebody have to be transferring it.
Prosecutors say that somebody might solely have been Melody Farris.
Meaghan Frankish: We knew that … the one particular person residence … was Melody.
Lindsay Harris says that in that point, Scott’s telephone was miles away from the farm.
Lindsay Harris: Scott leaves the residence round 6:30 a.m. on July 4th. He doesn’t return to the house till 8 p.m.-ish, 8:30 p.m. on July 4th.
The protection tries to problem this seemingly highly effective proof by questioning the accuracy of Harris’ findings.
John Luke Weaver: You’ll be able to clearly see that typically the circle’s very giant, typically it is small, and typically it says you are completely nowhere near the place you’re.
The protection known as seven witnesses; certainly one of them was Gary and Melody’s youngest daughter Amanda.
AMANDA BRUCE (in court docket): She has instructed me that she’s not responsible and all I can do is imagine that till any person can show she is responsible. So, I wish to imagine that my mom had nothing to do with this.
AMANDA BRUCE (in court docket): There’s simply a lot ache. I am simply — there isn’t any good final result. He is by no means coming again. He’ll by no means be there once more. (crying) And that is simply the worst half about all of it. And realizing that my mom can probably spend the remainder of her life in jail is terrifying.
It was now time to wrap this case up with closing arguments.
MEAGHAN FRANKISH (closing assertion): She had loads of motives. … she despised Gary. She hated that he was gifting away their cash, her cash. That was the primary motive. … Rusty was a bonus.
In its closing, the protection did some heavy lifting to show how tough it might be for somebody Melody’s measurement to in some way get her 300-pound husband onto that burn pile.
Courtroom TV/Pool 
John Luke Weaver: I simply — it — it is not sensible. … After which the truth that they — they’ve offered no precise proof as to how she did that, meaning there’s doubt.
On Oct. 30, 2024, the jury acquired the case. However after three days of deliberations, they despatched a be aware to the choose saying they have been deadlocked. The choose instructed them to present it yet one more attempt.
Melody Farris: I used to be completely numb. … You do not know what to suppose.
And only a few hours later, Melody Farris was discovered responsible on all 5 counts in opposition to her, together with malice homicide, felony homicide and making false statements.
Melody Farris: It was horrible. … They carried me instantly over to the jail. … I used to be alone. Curled up within the fetal place.
Jurors Sheila Albright and Chris Hyatt say the cellphone proof satisfied them of Melody’s guilt.
Chris Hyatt: As soon as we agreed on the time of demise, then it was OK, nicely, how is that this telephone transferring after Gary’s physique is — it was within the burn pile. … who was on the property at the moment.
Peter Van Sant: And who was?
Chris Hyatt: Melody.
As for the query of how Gary acquired to the burn pile, Sheila Albright had a idea.
Sheila Albright: In my thoughts I believed that she first shot him inside the home ‘trigger there was proof of that. … I believed possibly he had run out the door, attempting to get from — away from her. … And possibly she took him by gunpoint right down to the burn pile … I feel that possibly the burn pile is the final place she shot him.
For Scott and a few members of the Farris household, the responsible verdict introduced reduction — though their very own mom was now a convicted assassin.
Scott Farris: As a result of we acquired justice for my father. We fought six years to get solutions. … My father cherished my mom … he fought for my mom. … He was a really loving father.
However there could be no love proven by Melody at her sentencing when she was given the chance to specific regret and ask the choose for leniency.
MELODY HARRIS (at sentencing): I’ve waited for years to make this assertion to everybody.
However as a substitute of asking the choose for mercy, she named who she mentioned was the actual killer.
A CONVICTED MOTHER ACCUSES HER OWN SON OF MURDER
MELODY FARRIS (at sentencing): … I would like the world to know who did this. … I do know Scott killed his father. … He took my husband, the daddy of Chris, Emily, and Amanda. He took Large Daddy from our grandchildren.
However Melody was removed from finished tormenting her son.
MELODY FARRIS (in court docket): Scott, that is unforgivable. Scott, I’ve spent my complete life loving and defending you. However this, I refuse to cowl for you.
When Melody Farris used her sentencing listening to to accuse her son Scott of being Gary’s true assassin, a few of these within the courtroom have been floored.
Courtroom TV/Pool 
Det. Daniel Hayes: I am again on the … prosecution desk … we’re all type of like, “I can’t imagine that is occurring.”
Meaghan Frankish: So, I used to be not ready for that. … It was stunning that that’s the alternative she believed was hers to take.
Scott, sitting behind his mom together with his household, merely stared in disbelief.
Courtroom TV/Pool 
Scott Farris: Oh, I used to be infuriated. … She did her final ultimate jabs. … That reveals you what she was like.
Peter Van Sant: One final flip of the knife.
Scott Farris: One final flip … to make any person’s life a dwelling hell as a result of it did not go her approach.
Choose David Cannon had little persistence.
JUDGE CANNON (in court docket): All proper. Ms. Farris, I am gonna minimize you off.
However Melody continued.
MELODY FARRIS (in court docket): And I plead with you, throw this verdict out. Assist me get justice for the proper particular person. (sniffle) As dangerous because it sounds, I need to be there to observe him chained and shackled and dropped at justice.
As a substitute, it was Melody who could be led away in chains. The 64-year-old was sentenced to life in jail, with the potential for parole after 30 years. She additionally acquired a further 5 years for concealing Gary’s demise by burning his stays and making a false assertion to police.
Melody did not take the stand in her trial. As a substitute, she selected to inform her story solely to “48 Hours.”
CBS Information 
Peter Van Sant: I simply watched one of the vital extraordinary moments inside a courtroom that I’ve ever seen in my profession. … What would you like folks to learn about you and this case?
Melody Farris: I would like everybody, however particularly my youngsters, my grandchildren, and at this level, the world, I did not do that. I do know who did. And it is our son, Scott, with out a shadow of a doubt. I do know he did it.
Scott Farris: I completely had nothing to do with my father’s demise. And it was 100% Melody Farris who murdered my father. That’s the reality.
Peter Van Sant: Why do you suppose she accused you of killing your father?
Scott Farris: ‘Trigger I used to be a straightforward goal. … I lived on the property. I am former army.
Melody claims she hadn’t spoken up till now out of maternal loyalty. She says her personal mom, now deceased, suspected Scott all alongside and requested Melody to take the blame. However now her time as Scott’s protect was over. Melody says she believes Scott set her up from the start. And he or she says she is aware of why.
Melody Farris: Scott needed that property to be his. He had made that recognized to numerous folks. … It is the proper homicide. You kill your daddy. You set your mom up. She goes to jail. You get all the things.
Peter Van Sant: You perceive, although, that to folks listening to this, they’re pondering here’s a mom keen to sacrifice … her son … to save lots of her personal pores and skin.
Melody Farris: I do.
Peter Van Sant: What would you say to that?
Melody Farris: This can be a mom’s worst nightmare.
Melody stands by her declare that Gary was on the point of minimize Scott off financially.
Melody Farris: Gary had made it very well-known that Scott wanted to get a job. … Issues have been fixing to alter on that property.
However Scott says Gary by no means issued an ultimatum that he get a job and by no means accused him of not pulling his weight.
Scott Farris: My dad really made feedback to me saying, “hey, depart some work for me,” you understand? ‘Trigger he wasn’t there in the course of the week. … He’s like, “nicely, do not minimize the pasture but. Let me do it.”
Melody says she instructed Detective Hayes she’d seen Scott performing suspiciously the day earlier than Gary’s physique was discovered.
Melody Farris: I mentioned I noticed Scott come from that burn pile.
Peter Van Sant: Did she inform you that?
Det. Daniel Hayes No.
Peter Van Sant: And why would she lie now?
Det. Daniel Hayes: It’s important to take a look at the timing of the assertion. … She has nothing to lose. She’s gonna … make all types of off-the-wall claims at this level which are simply not provable.
Regardless of a sentence that can probably imply spending the remainder of her life in jail, Melody stays decided to show her innocence.
Peter Van Sant: Sooner or later you imagine you’ll stroll a free lady once more.
Melody Farris: I definitely hope so. I do. However I shall be sitting there proper behind my son in court docket.
Peter Van Sant: And for individuals who imagine you bought precisely what you deserved, you say?
Melody Farris: I did not do it. I didn’t do it.
Scott Farris: She is aware of she did it. … She must cease with the lies. Simply come clear. Cease attempting to wreck all of our lives as a result of it did not work out for you.
Scott Farris: I nonetheless have not been ready to determine why she would do that. I do not know if I ever will.
Melody Farris shall be eligible for parole in 2054. She shall be 94 years outdated.
Betsy Shuller, Susan Mallie and Asena Basak are the producers. Hannah Vair is the sphere producer. Elizabeth Caholo is the affiliate producer. Ryan Smith and Jenna Jackson are the event producers. Gary Winter, Joan Adelman and Wini Dini are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the manager story editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer.
