Melody Farris trial: Eldest daughter takes stand on day 6
Melody Farris, who is accused of killing her husband and burning his body, sits in a Cherokee County courtroom on Oct. 14, 2024.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. - The murder trial of Melody Farris, accused of killing her husband Gary Farris and burning his body on their Cherokee County property, continued with gripping testimony on Tuesday.
On Monday, family members and experts testified on the state of Gary Farris’ remains and the forensic evidence presented during the investigation.
Aaron Norris, a forensic expert from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), took the stand, explaining the DNA and blood analysis conducted on various items found at the Farris property. He identified Gary Farris' DNA on a swab from a Kubota tractor and a bullet recovered at the scene. DNA from Melody Farris was found on the RTV shifter, with a statistical probability of one in four octillions.
Following Norris, Dr. Stephen Atkinson, a forensic pathologist with the GBI, provided expert testimony on the autopsy performed on Gary Farris' severely burned remains. Dr. Atkinson, who has conducted over 5,000 autopsies, described the challenges in examining the cremated fragments. "We were left with fragments of tissue, and no complete body, which limited our ability to determine many aspects of the death, such as height, weight, or the condition of internal organs," he explained.
Dr. Atkinson also highlighted that dental records were used to confirm Gary Farris' identity. The cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound to the torso, though the exact wound path, entrance wound, or organ damage could not be determined due to the extensive thermal damage to the remains. Dr. Atkinson stated, "The remains were too burned to assess for hemorrhage, so we cannot conclusively say if the bullet entered while Mr. Farris was alive."
Dr. Atkinson’s testimony included photographic evidence of Gary Farris’ remains and a bullet lodged in his rib cage. The bullet was identified as a .38-caliber, and although Dr. Atkinson could not specify whether it struck vital organs, he concluded the death was a homicide, noting that the investigation indicated Gary Farris had been shot and burned.
During cross-examination, the defense questioned the limitations of the autopsy, pointing out that the absence of hemorrhage in the tissue meant there was no certainty that the bullet was fired while Gary Farris was alive. Dr. Atkinson acknowledged the challenge but stood by his conclusion based on the totality of the evidence, including the investigation.
Dr. Atkinson also explained that the body’s extensive burning prevented toxicology tests or the ability to detect carbon monoxide, which might have indicated whether Gary Farris was alive when the fire started. "There were no lungs available for examination, so we couldn’t assess for signs of smoke inhalation," he added.
Despite the testimony from experts, the defense continues to point to Scott Farris, Gary's brother, who owns the .38-caliber ammunition similar to the bullet found at the scene. While Scott denies involvement, his role remains a key question as the trial progresses.