Prominent Attorney's Wife Sentenced to Life in Prison After Being Found Guilty of Murdering Him, Burning His Body

Mar. 15, 2025

Melody Farris appears at her sentencing on Dec. 5.Photo:courttv

courttv

The wife of a prominent Georgia attorney has been convicted of killing her husband and burning his body.

During the sentencing, Farris reaffirmed an accusation she made at trial that her son, Scott Farris, was the one who killed his father, and called for the judge to act as the “13th juror” and throw out her conviction.

“I’ve had six plus years of being told not to talk, don’t say that, take legal advice,” Melody said, expressing regret for not testifying during the trial last month, per FOX. “I could walk out of this courtroom today and drop over dead. I want to make sure that my children, my grandchildren, and Gary’s family, and to be honest, at this point in time, the entire world who has viewed this … I have waited for years to make this statement to everyone.”

Cannon directed her to stay on topic and only discuss her sentencing, according to the outlets.

“I know that in my heart, body, and soul, who did this. And I am begging for help. I’m begging you, Judge Cannon. Please do not send me to prison for something I didn’t do,” she continued. “I did not do this. If I had done this, I would take this charge gladly.”

Farris did not express emotion as the judge read the sentence aloud, courtroomvideoshowed.

Stock image of a police car.Getty

Getty

In July 2018, Scott discovered Gary’s remains on the family’s 10-acre farm in Alpharetta, Ga., in a pile of ashes and called police, according to theTribune Ledger News.Investigators originally believed that Gary, who was 58, suffered a medical emergency and fell into the fire himself. However, after police found a bullet lodged in one of Gary’s rib bones, his death was declared a homicide.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the Farrises had been arguing about money, and Melody’s two previous affairs that were revealed during the investigation had strained their relationship. Melody was also the beneficiary of Gary’s $2 million life insurance policy, theTribune Ledgerpreviously reported, and police testified that they found a trail of blood in the couple’s home.

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Melody’s defense attorney alleged during the proceedings that Scott had reason to kill his father and that he often borrowed money from Gary, a point of contention in the family, per theLedger.The defense also argued that Scott was the only suspect who owned .38 caliber ammunition, which was the type of bullet found in Gary’s remains.

Scott denied his mother’s allegations during the trial, testifying that he did not kill his father and did not help dispose of his body.

Defense attorney Michael Ray previously argued during the trial’s opening statements last month that police had “confirmation bias” throughout the investigation and that “everything that was done in this case was tailored specifically to attempt to convict Melody in the death of Gary Farris,” per theLedger.

source: people.com