ARREST - GA - Melissa Wolfenbarger, 21, severed, Atlanta, 1998

[vls12345]

An Atlanta mother went missing over 20 years ago. Her husband has now been indicted in her murder decades later

Melissa Wolfenbarger last spoke to her family in late 1998. It wasn't until 2003 that her remains were identified. For decades, the case was unsolved.

www.11alive.com

 

[dotr]

Aug 29, 2024
Melissa Wolfenbarger last spoke to her family in 1998. Her remains were found in 2003.

 

[vls12345]

One step closer to justice: Decades later, family walks us through search for loved one’s killer

Decades passed and the identity of her alleged killer remained a mystery – until now.

www.wsbtv.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"This defendant inflicted homicidal violence upon Melissa Wolfenbarger, his wife, who he was separated from," Attorney Brian Trepanier said. "Medical examiners were able to determine that the dismemberment appeared to have been done by a mechanical or electrical saw."

Judge denies bond for husband accused of killing wife | Atlanta cold case

Christopher Wolfenbarger is accused of gruesomely killing his wife, Melissa, decades ago.

www.11alive.com

 

[dotr]

Oct 21, 2024
A Fulton judge denied Christopher Wolfenbarger bond as he awaits trial, accused of killing his wife in the late 90s.

 

[dotr]

March 18 2025

New plea hearing set for Georgia man charged with cold case murder of wife

Christopher Wolfenbarger is accused of brutally murdering his 21-year-old wife, dismembering her body, and hiding her remains in a wooded area in Atlanta more than 25 years ago.

www.fox5atlanta.com

• 'A judge has denied a motion to toss out the case against a Georgia man accused of murdering his wife more than 25 years ago.
• Christopher Wolfenbarger is accused of brutally murdering his wife, 21-year-old Melissa Wolfenbarger, dismembering her body, and hiding her remains in a wooded area in Atlanta in 1999.
• The Fulton County judge has set a new plea hearing in the case for May.;

 

[Leilei]

Opening statements tomorrow.
IMO.

 

[CHEL]

 

[CHEL]

How the capture of a serial killer father led to solving his daughter’s murder case

Melissa Wolfenbarger, a 21-year-old married mother-of-two, had been missing for four years before her remains were finally identified. But decades passed and the identity of her killer remained a mystery – until now. Crime Scene Investigator Sheryl ‘Mac’ McCollum tells Andrea Cavallier how her...

www.the-independent.com

 

[vls12345]

Trial begins for husband accused of murdering, dismembering wife, Melissa Wolfenbarger

Her case went unsolved and cold for more than 20 years before a break in the case led to the man who was allegedly behind her gruesome death.

www.11alive.com

 

[dotr]

Aug 15, 2025
The young mother of two vanished in 1999.

 

[alexwood]

Day 3 of the Trial - Monday 18 August 2025

 

[vls12345]

Mom testifies she helped dispose bodies with her husband, faces scrutiny as son-in-law stands trial in her daughter's murder case

Christopher Wolfenbarger is on trial, accused of murdering his wife Melissa nearly 30 years ago after her dismembered remains were found in Atlanta.

www.11alive.com

On Monday, testimony from Melissa’s mother, Norma Patton, took center stage in the Fulton County courtroom. Patton told jurors she realized something was wrong when her daughter did not call or visit her on Christmas Day in 1998. Months later, Melissa was reported missing.

The defense further questioned Patton’s credibility by bringing up her past marriage to Carl Patton, who confessed to killing five people in the 1970s and became known as the “Flint River Serial Killer.”

Norma testified she helped her husband dispose of some victims’ bodies but avoided prosecution by taking an immunity deal in exchange for her testimony against him. Carl Patton died in prison in 2024.

 

[Tricia]

If you look at the top of this thread you will see the livestream to the trial. No need to leave Websleuths you can watch and post all right here.
Thanks
Tricia

 

[Tricia]

Here is a great story about our friend Sheryl McCollum's podcast and how it lead to the murder trial of Melissa Wolfenbarger.

How the capture of a serial killer father led to solving his daughter’s murder case

Melissa Wolfenbarger, a 21-year-old married mother-of-two, had been missing for four years before her remains were finally identified. But decades passed and the identity of her killer remained a mystery – until now. Crime Scene Investigator Sheryl ‘Mac’ McCollum tells Andrea Cavallier how her...

www.the-independent.com

 

[alexwood]

What's the consensus? Will Christopher Wolfenbarger be found guilty? I think he will. (But, I have been wrong -- most of the time!)

 

[peace of mind]

Hi Kim. We’re so pleased you’ve joined WS. We want this to be a safe place for you to share. I need to study and bring myself up to date. I’m happy to help if you have research questions. Really, I just know this will be a positive experience for you. Welcome. Just posted:

...
Both Assistant DA Love and Sgt. Layton told Dateline they believe there are people who have information that could move this case forward and urge them to call police.

“It’s been 23 years… it’s time,” Melissa’s mother Norma told Dateline. “People talk about closure, but I’m not sure I’ll ever have that. We still have so many questions… and no answers.”

Two decades have passed since Melissa’s murder, but her family isn’t giving up. As their team of supporters continues to grow, as well as interest in the case, they tell Dateline they feel new hope there will soon be justice.

The case was featured at the 2020 CrimeCon “House Arrest” by CSI Atlanta, a team made up of crime scene investigator Sheryl McCollum, CBS 46 anchor, Karyn Greer and Sgt. Raymond Layton.

“Her family alone have kept her case alive but now they have a team,” Sheryl McCollum told Dateline. “An extraordinary team of remarkable people. To me, there is only one suspect and I want him to know we are coming for him.”

In an effort to bring more attention to the case, Sheryl McCollum and her non-profit organization, the Atlanta Cold Case Research Investigative Institute (CCRI), is offering “cold case wines.” Melissa’s photo was featured on the first bottle of wine to be launched, which will help raise money to help solve unsolved crime cases.

Christina told Dateline that for years she felt a part of her was missing, but reuniting with her mother’s family has filled some of that void. She hopes she has done the same for them.

When her son was born a few years ago, it was Melissa’s mother “Gran” who was there to cut the cord. And she’s the one he runs to when they show up on her doorstep for a visit.

“Nothing will ever bring my mom back, nothing will bring Gran’s daughter back - but it’s like a second chance for her,” Christina said. “It’s a second chance for our family.”

Anyone with information about Melissa’s case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.
Fight for justice continues two decades after beloved Georgia mother of two was found brutally murdered

Sending lots of love your way Cristina, watched ur testimony this week.

 

[Leilei]

Not guilty :/

 

[alexwood]

Found Not Guilty!

Wow! I truly believe he is guilty. Not enough evidence and too much time has elapsed since she was murdered.

 

[upset_airport]

I was at CrimeCon too. I have so many questions and wish they weren’t so vague with some of the answers. On one hand, the husband is extremely suspicious, but I also hope they followed up on other leads and didn’t pigeon hole themselves. One of the parts I found curious was that he moved to another county and was using an alias. Did the alias provide any clues? When did he move? Is there a possibility that the primary crime scene is near there and the torso is there? I haven’t done much research other than a couple quick searches online, but I was able to find an article that mentioned he lived in Dublin, GA at one point which is east of ATL and extremely rural. Hoping they’re able to pull DNA evidence and that they have his on file to compare results.

This post was incredibly prescient back in 2020.