One More Spin | "Blood is Thicker: The Farris Wheel" | "48 Hours" Podcast Episode 6 | Forensic Files

This is one of the most unique cases I've ever been involved in. Personally as a as an attorney, as a prosecutor,
[music] or anything that I've read or seen. Jeffrey Fowles prosecuted the [music]
case against Melody Farris when she went on trial for the murder of her husband Gary. [music]
It was October 2024, six years after Gary's [music] charred remains were found in a burn pile on the Farris
property. The type of murder that happened in this case under [music] the facts doesn't
happen a lot, but if it were to happen, it would be in this family. This family,
the Farris family. [music] When prosecutor Fowles began his opening statement, he introduced them one by one
to the jury, sharing a photograph [music] of Gary, Melody, and their four children on
Emily's wedding day. They looked happy, but as we know by now, looks can be deceiving.
You're going to hear about the Farris will. Unfortunately for this family is they
have drama. They are not a perfect family. Listening stoically, her lips [music]
pursed at the defense table, was the matriarch, Melody Farris. Dressed in all black [music] with
shoulder-length gray hair and a strand of elegant pearls [music] around her neck. Her eyes followed the prosecutor
as he told jurors about her motives for killing her husband. Money, [music] sex, and a new life with
her traveling salesman lover. >> [music] >> The truth, sad as it is, as hard as it is,
is that the defendant murdered and desecrated her own husband. Over the course of the weeks-long trial,
all the Farris family secrets, jealousies, and resentments would air out in public.
Melody sat and watched as each of her children took the stand. Three of them, Chris, Scott, and Emily, testified
against their mother. I felt something was very off. There was red flags. [music]
>> She became more hostile. She was more aggressive with us. I just had my suspicions that she had something to do
with this. Can you describe what it was like to watch each of your children take the
stand? The most heart-wrenching, >> [music] >> gut-wrenching thing I had ever sat there
in my entire life. Because I knew they were lying. Only youngest daughter Amanda distanced
[music] herself from her siblings, refusing to believe her mother was [music] capable of murder.
She has told me that she's not guilty, and all I can do is believe that until >> [music]
>> somebody can prove she is guilty. So, I would like to believe that my mother had
nothing to do with this. That burden of proof was on the prosecution. And while there was lots of [music]
circumstantial evidence, there was no eyewitness, no confession, and no damning DNA evidence. Investigators
never found the suspected murder weapon, that .38 snub-nose revolver Scott claimed was in the basement. [music]
Not to mention something else, something literally big, that the defense [music]
argued just didn't make sense. The sheer weight of Gary, um and the fact that [music] it's it's
just not possible that he could have been moved by a 120-lb [music] woman, um if the murder scene was in
fact within the house. But as the defense worked to sow [music] doubt, a surprise witness came forward.
I have worried about this for a long [music] time. I'm Peter Van Sant from 48 Hours. This
is Blood is [music] Thicker, the Farris Wheel. Episode 6, One More Spin. In the fall of 2024, jury members heard
evidence about the crime scene, the digital data from the phone records, and Gary's CPAP machine.
Not to mention testimony from one of Melody's former lovers, Ted Wiley. And of course, there was Melody's most
recent paramour, Rusty Barton. Can we agree that your job is to tell us the truth? Correct.
The whole truth? And nothing but. Prosecutor Jeffrey Fowles questioned Rusty on the stand and knew he [music]
had to challenge this colorful southern personality. He's charming, he's [music]
charismatic, he's smart. He had the ability to to talk and also push back when he wanted to. So, but
Rusty was extremely [music] reluctant. Hostile in the sense that he did not want to be there, and reluctant in the
sense that he had already changed his story. If you recall, Rusty changed his story
about when Melody revealed to him that Gary was in the burn pile. He first [music] told police Melody said
Gary was in the burn pile early on the 4th of July, >> [music] >> before law enforcement was alerted that
Gary was even missing. But then, Rusty retracted and said Melody told him the burn pile story after the remains were
discovered. But [music] Fowles told me he had a strategy when it came to this tale of
two stories. [music] You basically give the jury two options, the first statement, the second
statement, and they get to believe which one they believe and use that one. So, our goal with Rusty was to get him to
paint the relationship he had with the defendant, talk about the affair, talk about how close they were, talk about
the plans that they had for each other. Fowles asked Rusty about his relationship with Melody.
Is it awkward being here in court in front of her? It's awkward being in court, period.
So, yes. When it comes to your feelings for the defendant at this moment, how much love do you have for her?
Don't know that that's a measurable item. Fowles pressed Rusty on his decision to
recant his story a year later after Melody was in jail. There was that call we played in the
last episode where Melody confronts Rusty about talking to law enforcement. The jury heard all of it.
And you would agree with me that the defendant in this jail call was very concerned
with you talking, right? Yes. And the words she used were single-handedly hang me.
Yes. >> [music] >> That's not what an innocent person says, is it? Uh that I I don't know.
Uh Who? What she said or what I said? What she said. Well, I guess if you were locked up and
somebody had said something against you, you'd probably say that, too. Because if the jury believes what you said on
July 24th, that she had knowledge that he was in the burn pile, she's guilty of murder, right?
If it's true. I can't comment on that one. Cuz you don't want to comment today. No.
Rusty never went back to his original story on the stand, but the prosecution felt he delivered.
He was an important witness for many reasons. But Rusty was Rusty, but he was uh
We felt like we had a plan with him. We felt like we got that plan done. We we also couldn't predict the future
that Martha Jane would come into the picture later on. Martha Jane Barton. While she was
Melody's second cousin, Melody said they had more of a mother-daughter relationship.
When Martha Jane fell ill in 2014, [music] Melody helped take care of her. And that's when Melody reconnected
[music] with Rusty Barton, who she first met as a teenager. Rusty also happened to be Martha [music]
Jane's stepson. And in this country soap opera, Martha Jane didn't know her second [music]
cousin and stepson were intimate. It was only after Martha Jane saw Rusty testify that she picked up the phone and
called law enforcement. How were you feeling when you called that number? Awful. I had a heavy, heavy heart.
Did you sleep the night before? I have worried about this for a long time. And what she had to say surprised even
[music] the prosecutors. I had a gun that's missing. >> [music] >> Martha Jane told the court that years
earlier, her husband Roy, Rusty's father, got her a gun as a Christmas present to use for protection.
And what kind of gun was it? It was a .38 special, and he said it was called a Saturday night special.
This was important because Scott Farris had told the sheriff's department that he had seen that type of gun in the
basement weeks before Gary's murder, only for it to disappear the day Gary's remains were found.
Now, Martha Jane testified that she put that .38 pistol along with another gun in a chest.
And who else knew it was there? Did you have a weak moment when you told her where some things were in your
house? I did. Why was it weak? Well, [clears throat] looking back on it, it was weak.
>> [music] >> Martha Jane said she told Melody all about it around the time of Emily's
wedding in 2016. But defense [music] attorney John Luke Weaver didn't buy it. Why hadn't Martha
Jane brought up this missing gun earlier? You never said anything about a missing
gun to Melody. Okay? You never called law enforcement and uh reported this gun stolen.
>> [music] >> No. Okay. You still have not reported this gun stolen. >> I have. He asked if she had any proof that this
gun ever even [music] existed. I don't have a receipt or anything like that. In fact, in '79,
you didn't have [music] to I'm sure you didn't have to register a gun. The defense argued there was no [music]
picture, no witness, no nothing to support Martha Jane's claim besides [music] Martha Jane herself.
I know I had a gun then, and I know I don't have a gun now. >> [music] >> Could they convince the jury that there
was enough doubt in this case to acquit Melody? Her attorneys turned on the detectives.
At the end of the day, it was kind of a failure of who was in charge of this investigation. So, they never actually
had a plan. [music] Every case, it's our job to raise doubt. But in this case, we felt that the
investigation was not conducted properly by the state, [music] so we felt like we had to do it. Defense
attorney John Luke Weaver told me he not only had to be a lawyer in this case, but also a detective of [music] sorts.
We talked in 2024. And we felt like we had to do it through the trial ourselves live in front of the
jury. That's what we feel like we needed to do [music] uh to bring justice for Melody. So,
Weaver and his co-counsel began [music] poking holes. They started with the prosecution's assertion that Melody
first shot Gary in the kitchen. The forensic evidence doesn't line up with that. If you if you're to say that
the shooting would happen in the kitchen area, you would expect [music] far more
blood. And and there just really wasn't. It It's It They've never been able to give an explanation for the lack of
blood. It is consistent with a dog bite >> [music] >> instead of a shooting. Here's Amanda.
And my husband said, "Damn, Gary, like what happened to your leg?" He said, "That damn dog bit me." Meaning
Molly, her little black Molly her little terrier dog. So, So, Molly was a kind of the an ankle
biter. Yeah. Essentially. Yes. I don't like I don't like that dog. Um for lack of a better term. But you
you saw with your own eyes this injury to your dad's [music] leg. Yes, it was bad. And what about that bullet
detectives found in the basement? There's not a There's zero amount of blood around the bullet.
Nothing is out of place. Nothing is broken. Every single witness testified that there was nothing out of place in
those spots. But that bullet had Gary's DNA on it. How did it get there then? If the shooting didn't take place in the
house, how did it get there? Are you suggesting someone planted it? I think that's possible.
I asked about Gary's blood on the tractor. The defense said it doesn't make sense that blood came from moving
Gary's body because there was none of his blood in the bucket of the tractor. And what about Melody's blood on the
RTV? They claimed she had simply cut her finger minutes earlier when she broke a
dinner plate during an argument. And how do you interpret this cell phone analysis that shows his phone moving
from the house to the burn pile where authorities believe he's dead and that the person who's carrying that phone
must be Melody? So, they actually didn't give us the full scope of the information. They They just gave us
little brief snippets. We saw that he went to dinner the night before, but we didn't necessarily see for hours
throughout the night where the phone was located. And furthermore, there was no one sent to testify who actually worked
for Google. This was a Google geofence, and we had a member of essentially the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office who was
tendered as an expert, and she she became the all-knowledgeable person on Google geofences at that time. And so, I
don't I don't know that that's necessarily reliable evidence. What about that motive? What do you have to
say about that? Well, I I do want to note this. So, Melody, of course, for them, that just made the
most sense. That was just easy. That was the easy route to go. But what in reality was Melody didn't want for
anything. And when you look at the pictures, I mean, her house was immaculately decorated. She had
fantastic clothes and shoes, and Gary let her have whatever she wanted because that was his her money as well. Um
everyone all the children would say, "Well, that was Dad's money." But they're married, and under Georgia law,
what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine in marriage. According to investigators,
uh she was in love with Rusty. He had looked at some wedding rings, and they are
claiming that these two were planning on getting married and living happily ever
after with Gary's money. >> They don't know that. That was sheer speculation. Who else had motive to kill
Gary in your opinion? Scott Farris. And his motive would be? Financial. He He wanted the property. He was jealous.
He wanted to be his father. But he couldn't. Scott told police about a missing gun.
What do you think of the missing gun story? He made it up. There was never a missing
gun. >> [music] >> During the defense's cross-examination [music] of Scott Farris, John Luke
Weaver pressed him about the .38 snub-nosed revolver Scott said he saw in the basement before Gary's death.
And you didn't um tell anybody about that gun. You didn't talk to your dad about it.
No, because I forgot. I completely kind of forgot about it. You didn't talk to your mother about it.
No, because she wasn't in town. Well, she was obviously in town at some point. The defense was suggesting to jurors
that Scott's behavior was fishy. He didn't tell his parents [music] about seeing the gun or that he noticed it had
disappeared. But Scott did alert detectives that it was missing as soon as they arrived at
the farm before they found the bullet in Gary's rib cage. 10 hours. 12 hours before this bullet is found.
>> [clears throat] >> You have set them off looking for things. You have been controlling where they go
and what they do. Have you not? No, I'm not controlling. I just asked them to search the house
to see if they could find that gun because I knew something bad had happened. Weaver bored in, turning up the
pressure. Did you shoot him at the barn, Scott? I never shot my father. Did you take that bullet and put that
bullet in the floor in your mother's house? I never knew of that bullet. Then, Weaver cleverly used Scott's own
body as potential evidence. He asked him to stand up, which revealed Scott's height of over 6 ft 5 in.
And how much do you weigh? Currently, I'm about 280. You can have a seat. You understand that you are the only
person on the property who could have physically pulled off what the District Attorney's
Office and the state has alleged that your mother did. You're aware you're the only person.
Why? Because Melody Farris stands a mere 5 ft 4 in, and according to police reports, weighs just 120 lb, allegedly
not big or strong enough to lift her giant husband. And Weaver wasn't done making his point.
[music] During his closing argument, he decided this one [music] unresolved issue could
lead to an acquittal for Melody. He turned to some props he had stacked up in the courtroom. This bag is 40 lb
of peace. I've got a few more bags to go. Weaver walked across the courtroom, away
from the jury, to pick up a bag of rock salt. One after another, he carried the 40-lb
bags of salt back and dropped [music] them in front of the jury box. Weaver was stacking enough rock salt to
equal the more than 300-lb weight of the victim, Gary Ferris. When you add this up,
that someone who weighs 100 and 20 pounds can move this. That is a doubt. And it's all wrong.
Weaver placed all of the bags of salt into two larger brown construction bags. Then, with considerable strain, he tried
to drag them across the floor. This is 300 and 20 pounds. And I'm 185 pounds. Weaver gritted his teeth and pulled the
salt a few feet before giving up. And that's all I have. Out of breath, he put his hands on his
hips and lowered his head as if he'd finished a sprint. He wanted jurors to see for themselves
how nearly impossible it was for him to move that 300-pound pile. The doubt I contend to you
absolutely exists. I'm sorry I had to do this demonstration. But they didn't. Melody's fate was now in the hands of
the jury. They had heard from just about [music] everyone on the Ferris wheel, except
one, Melody herself. Yet, it was what she later said in the courtroom after the trial and then in an
exclusive interview with me that set the Ferris wheel [music] spinning into outer
space. I wanted the truth out there, and this is why I am making the statement. The Melody Ferris trial [music] had
garnered national attention. And after 3 days of deliberating, the jury was deadlocked.
We got the text [music] message that the jury gave a note to the judge that they were hung.
Scott Ferris remembered [music] receiving the news. Immediately, we were all sick to our
stomach [music] cuz we didn't know what that meant. When informed that there was one
holdout, one juror [music] preventing a final verdict, the judge ordered the jury to go back and try again.
A day later, on November 4th, 2024, [music] the jury announced they had made a determination. And then it sent your
head crap. [snorts] >> [music] >> We don't know if she's they found her guilty or not guilty.
>> [music] >> And then it's the most nerve-racking thing you get I don't think you ever know how that
feeling is. Full of fear and anticipation, Melody stood. Her eyes welled up with tears.
We, the jury, as to count of count five, we find the defendant guilty. We, the jury, as to count four,
find the defendant guilty. Melody put both hands over her mouth as the verdicts for the five counts against
her were read aloud. And we, the jury, as to count one, find the defendant guilty.
Melody [music] was found guilty of two counts of murder, aggravated assault, [music] concealing the death of another,
and making a false statement. Jurors told me [music] what ultimately clinched their decision was the evidence
showing Gary's phone moving [music] back and forth from the burn pile to the house when Melody was the only other
person at the [music] farm. Is the verdict agreed to by you? Yes. And is it still your verdict? It is. All
right. You may be seated. That's all for jurors. Sitting [music] back down, Melody buried
her face in her hands. Scott told me he felt relief. Because we got justice for my father.
We fought 6 [music] years to get answers. And hopefully [music] find find out the
truth. But the legal process wasn't over yet. One month later, >> [music] >> it was time for sentencing.
Yes, your honor. We are here on the state of versus Melody Wagner Ferris in 23 CR07.
>> Melody returned to the [music] courtroom, this time wearing an orange uniform.
The prosecution played a video of Gary Ferris >> [music] >> with his baby granddaughter
and then read a statement from Emily on behalf [music] of the family. Scott and his brother Chris were present
to listen. Emily wrote, "Gary was not just our beloved [music] father, but our confidant and our rock."
She added, "This loss is only made worse by [music] the betrayal of trust we feel
for our mother." And then came a dramatic [music] moment years in the making. All right, Ms.
Ferris, do you have a statement? I do. I've written this so that I can get the words.
After staying silent during the [music] trial, Melody went on the attack. I want the world to know who did this.
I was there in the courtroom and what she said was a first for me. Not only did I not do this,
I know who did. I know Scott killed his father. There were audible gasps in the courtroom as a mother proclaimed her son
the murderer of his own father. I refuse to cover for you. Scott turned red-faced with anger,
shaking his head no as she continued. His brother Chris looked blindsided. And I plead with you to throw this verdict
out. Help me get justice for the correct person. >> [snorts] >> As bad as it sounds, I want to be there
to watch him chained and shackled and brought to justice. Her words didn't [music] influence the
judge. He sentenced 64-year-old Melody to life in prison with the possibility of parole
after 30 years. She also received an additional 5 years for concealing Gary's death by burning
his remains and making a false statement to police. For Scott, who denied [music] killing
his father, Melody's last words were a final jab. That shows you what she was like.
One last turn of the knife. >> One last turn. Last to make somebody's life a living hell because it didn't go
her way. That's the woman that we had to deal with. >> [music] >> Now, my question is, did y'all interview
her before her sentencing or after? After. Oh. So, she went from the courtroom to y'all. Yeah.
Yes, right after that breathtaking sentencing, Melody walked straight from the courtroom to our interview chair.
Peter Van Sant. >> Hi. She sat down in front of me with both her hands and feet shackled.
I just watched one of the most extraordinary moments inside a courtroom that I have ever seen in my career. What
do you want the world What do you want this audience to know? I didn't do this. I know who did.
Without a shadow of a doubt. I know my son did it. And why would he do that? Was that an
attempt to frame you? Oh, I'm sure. I'm positive. I would bank my life on it. It was as my now son-in-law said, "It's
the perfect murder." You kill your daddy, you set your mother up, she goes to prison, you get
everything. And you believe that's what this was, a conspiracy to kill his own father
and to frame you for it. >> Without a shadow of a doubt. I asked about that phone call with Rusty
at 2:30 a.m. on July 4th. Did she tell Rusty that Gary was in the burn pile? I never told him that. Not
then. I told him that Gary had started the burn pile and that I was concerned that
he was going to catch the woods on fire. I pointed out that she was caught in lies with investigators from the start.
Like her affair with Rusty. I did lie to them about Rusty. And you realize when you lie, it it
destroys your credibility. >> I didn't I did not want to be have innocent people brought into something that
didn't have to be. And in hindsight, I should have told them right off the bat. I told him I did not have a second
phone, but yet that second phone was taken out of my purse where it was when Detective Hayes searched it.
I know he took it. All right. When you were asked if you had a second cell phone and you said no,
you were lying there, too, right? So, there's a couple of lies now you're telling.
And you, like I said, you lie to to investigator, that's just red meat. You the two of you were not talking
about getting married. And you're telling me the truth, right? Cuz you know if you were planning on
getting married, it sounds like a motive for murder. And what about what Martha Jean said on
the stand about her missing gun? I know Martha Jean well. I know that when she gets angry
there's pure venom that spews out of her mouth. Did you have anything to do with
her missing gun? And why do you think she said this? I don't know. I don't know. I have not
talked to her. As for her accusation about Scott's role, she told me she believed her other
children were aware. I do. You do? I do. I know I I'm Emily, I'm not so sure about. Emily, I'm
I mean, Amanda, I'm positive she knows. How about Chris? Chris? Oh, yeah. I think him, you know, he knew from the
get-go. Why would why would your children, Gary's children, all agree or cover up
for Scott on this? Are you Money. Absolutely money. Chris and Scott, you saw it,
denied they had anything to do with their father's death and at times were emotional about it.
What did you think as you watched that? The Scott that was in that courtroom was not my son. You understand though
that to people listening to this, they're thinking here is a mother willing to sacrifice
not only her son Scott, but potentially two of her other children to save her own skin. What would you say to that?
This is a mother's worst nightmare. It is. It is beyond There, you know, it has been called the Ferris wheel.
And it was, but it was our Ferris wheel. It was our life. I never intended for it
to be put out on for the public at all. Never wanted anybody to know. Do you [music] think you will ever be
able to repair your relationship with your children or >> [music] >> will you want to?
Oh, absolutely I want to. I pray every day it will. Despite all that's happened?
>> Despite all that's happened. Despite three of their >> [music] >> beliefs that you are a killer?
>> They're much older. And for those who believe you got exactly what you deserved,
[music] you say? I didn't do it. I did not do it. Melody has requested [music] a new
trial, arguing that the evidence does not support the verdict and that the state failed to prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that she was guilty. As of this recording, a judge is scheduled [music] to consider Melody's
motion in June 2026. No one else has been charged in connection [music] to her husband's
murder. Had the Ferris wheel finally come to a stop? For Scott, he may never make sense of
his family's tragedy. She used to be a mother to me. But after she murdered my father, no.
She turned into an evil person. He only hopes that one [music] day he and his family can move on and find some
peace. It is embarrassing [music] to us. I mean, this is we don't wish this upon
anybody. So, but it's also been seen around the world. We're hoping we're able to put this in
our past and talk about [music] the good times and not about this. From 48 Hours, this is Blood Is Thicker,
the Ferris Wheel, produced by Sony Music Entertainment. [music] I'm your host, Peter Van Sant.
Judy Tygard is the executive producer of 48 Hours. Original reporting by 48 Hours producers
[music] Betsy Schuler, Ryan Smith, and Hannah Vere. Jamie Benson is the [music] senior
producer for CBS News podcast and Mara Waltz is the senior story editor. Recording [music] assistance from Alan
Peng and Alana Myers. Special thanks [music] to CBS News podcast vice president Megan Marcus.
Blood Is Thicker was written [music] and produced by Alex Sherman. Stephanie Serrano is our editor.
Our executive producer is Shira Morris. Our associate producer [music] is Zoe Colkin.
Theme and original music composed by Hansdale Hsu. Cedric [music] Wilson is our sound
designer and mixed the episodes. We also [music] use music from Epidemic Sounds.
Fendel Fulton is our fact-checker. Our production manager is Tamika [music] Balance Colacurcio.
If you're enjoying the show, be sure to rate [music] and review. It helps more people find it and hear our reporting.
Thanks for [music] listening.

Six years after Gary Farris's body was found, Melody finally goes on trial for his murder. A surprise witness raises new questions about a weapon. And when Melody has her day in court, she shocks everyone with an accusation. Peter Van Sant speaks with Melody Farris in an exclusive interview, pressing for the truth about what really happened to Gary.

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

Melody Farris was convicted of murdering her husband, with family drama and courtroom revelations complicating the case.

Key points

The Farris Family Drama. Prosecutor Fowles reveals the complexities of the Farris family during the trial.
The Shocking Verdict. After days of deliberation, the jury reaches a verdict in the Melody Farris trial.
Melody's Shocking Accusation. In a dramatic courtroom moment, Melody accuses her son Scott of murdering his father.
Melody's Plea for Justice. Melody pleads with the court to throw out the verdict, claiming her son is the real murderer.
Melody Sentenced to Life. Melody receives a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years for her husband's murder.
A Mother's Nightmare. Melody expresses her desire to repair her relationship with her children despite the circumstances.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I knew they were lying.

Melody reflects on her children's testimonies against her.

2:45WatchApr 15, 2026

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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