Identified! GA - Cherokee Co, Remains in Woods Behind Home on Purcell Ln, July 2018 - Gary Farris *wife arrested

[RickshawFan]

I've been curious about the strong scent of citronella at the burn pile. I know it's a mosquito repellent but interesting that the smell was quite noticeable. I also know it was reported that an accelerant wasn't used. I can't remember if anything else significant was found in the burn pile. Maybe it means nothing but I found it a bit curious.

Between the brothers, I found Scott more believable on the stand than Chris. And, why would Scott go to these measures to kill his father when he (Scott) wasn't the beneficiary of Gary's life insurance.

I think the information Rusty gave during interviews with LE demonstrate that he (Rusty) knew MWF killed Gary... and she outright told him Gary was on the burn pile. (Despite his recanting of that aspect the day or so after her arrest)

jmo

I'm thinking she used bug spray as an accelerant to start the fire.She might even have used a citronella candle. Hikers use bug repellent for SOS fires. She might also have used the citronella to mask the fire odor, but IMO this is less likely, because she wanted the accidental feature to be overt, just as you say.

 

[RickshawFan]

This case caught my attention when I saw on CTV that Gary Farris was the founder of Burr & Forman in Atlanta. Prior to my retirement, I was in RE Law and we had an office in Atlanta which means I had some involvement with that Atlanta firm.

I knew nothing about this case prior to watching on TV. At the end of the day, just seems there are still too many questions for me to vote guilty.

I keep wondering what MF meant when she told Rusty the body should not have been burned that badly. To me, that sounded like she had knowledge but not full knowledge and she is blaming someone else for burning the body, as if that was not agreed to beforehand. If not Scott, then who?

She got much more insurance money if the death could be ruled an accident.

To me, it also looked like she stirred up the bones intentionally, or not. This would have argued AGAINST an accident, so the defense went out of its way to show how the layout made sense. Problem is, it didn't.

 

[RickshawFan]

He is the one that said he didn't go into the house for iodine. It would have made sense to wash the wound and then apply an antibiotic of some kind but he says he didn't apply any. Strange. JMOO

Ummmm.... a) he was on the military and may have a higher tolerance for bleeding cuts than others; and b) some folks just shrug when they get a booboo. When I was a thru hiker on the AT, I saw many varieties of not fussing over a cut. Heck, we used duct tape on blisters. So, everyone's different.

IMO Scott didn't want to go into the house under any conditions, and he rarely went there.

 

[KentuckyFilly79]

I keep wondering what MF meant when she told Rusty the body should not have been burned that badly. To me, that sounded like she had knowledge but not full knowledge and she is blaming someone else for burning the body, as if that was not agreed to beforehand. If not Scott, then who?

THIS! This is the one thing I still just can't explain or find a reason for her saying if she didn't do it or had knowledge of it.

 

[fred&edna]

I'm thinking she used bug spray as an accelerant to start the fire.She might even have used a citronella candle. Hikers use bug repellent for SOS fires. She might also have used the citronella to mask the fire odor, but IMO this is less likely, because she wanted the accidental feature to be overt, just as you say.

I entertained the idea of her throwing tiki torches on the pile, as those likely contain flammable ingredients. Or maybe some old ones were already on the pile and they heightened the burn (to her surprise). Any flammable ingredients in these were small enough not to be considered an accelerant but were enough to cause severe damage to the body. Just my random thoughts.

 

[rescuemom]

Very plausible...

IMO he ran out the door to the neighbors and basically collapsed near the burn pile. How convenient! She wouldn't have had to do any dragging, just scooping.

In a conversation with Rusty, she talks about how they couldn't find any blood (to convict her) even with all that luminol. Very damning conversation: only a perp would say this. But I don't think Gary was bleeding extensively in the house. IMO just droplets that Melody mostly cleaned up (she missed spots).

Depending on what the bullet hit before lodged in rib bone, blood might have collected internally or he got outside quickly

 

[Deleted member 296739]

THIS! This is the one thing I still just can't explain or find a reason for her saying if she didn't do it or had knowledge of it.

Exactly- why would she know or comment on how badly a body would or could or should be burned? Strangest comment and rather inexplicable if she had no knowledge of the crime or timeline- moo

 

[RickshawFan]

THIS! This is the one thing I still just can't explain or find a reason for her saying if she didn't do it or had knowledge of it.

She didn't want it incinerated. She wanted it to be clear accident. The payout for accidental death was huge. If there's no body 'cos she over-cooked it, so to speak, there could be a ruling that Gary simply disappeared. IMO she also wanted to set Scott up, which she mostly did. The malice....

 

[RickshawFan]

Depending on what the bullet hit before lodged in rib bone, blood might have collected internally or he got outside quickly

Yes. There was that other bullet they found in the basement, too, so he got shot at least 2x.

 

[RickshawFan]

I entertained the idea of her throwing tiki torches on the pile, as those likely contain flammable ingredients. Or maybe some old ones were already on the pile and they heightened the burn (to her surprise). Any flammable ingredients in these were small enough not to be considered an accelerant but were enough to cause severe damage to the body. Just my random thoughts.

They might have had one of those flame shooters you use for yard work to zap weeds. That would start a fire in no time.

 

[fred&edna]

They might have had one of those flame shooters you use for yard work to zap weeds. That would start a fire in no time.

I was just thinking of the citronella-containing tiki-torches that are used in my area. But, yeah... a flame shooter weed killer would def work, lol

 

[Deleted member 296739]

She didn't want it incinerated. She wanted it to be clear accident. The payout for accidental death was huge. If there's no body 'cos she over-cooked it, so to speak, there could be a ruling that Gary simply disappeared. IMO she also wanted to set Scott up, which she mostly did. The malice....

That is where I think I’m landing and it’s so aweful to have done it that way… moo

 

[Luna20]

THIS! This is the one thing I still just can't explain or find a reason for her saying if she didn't do it or had knowledge of it.

That is one of the most damning things she said. Iirc this conversation was before Gary was reported missing.

If she didn’t do it I would expect her to say something like ‘Guess what?! We found Gary! How bizarre that he was on the burn pile, his body was heavily burned. This is so strange and I can’t imagine how this happened.’

Even without having any feelings for Gary, it still should be shocking to find your estranged husband burned in a pile. I would be creeped out and too unsettled to stay in the house.

 

[ch_13]

I've only watched bits and pieces of the trial, but I've been wondering if the blood found inside the house is a red-herring.

I know that if I had a premeditated plan to kill someone who was much bigger than me, I'd concoct a way to get them near the burn pile so that I wouldn't have to contend with moving them later. Something like, "I dropped my wedding ring in the pile, can you help me find it"? And then shoot them while they're searching.

Of course we don't know that this was a premeditated plan and not just a fight that turned deadly.

 

[RickshawFan]

I was just thinking of the citronella-containing tiki-torches that are used in my area. But, yeah... a flame shooter weed killer would def work, lol

I forgot tiki torches have citronella! Totally, I bet you're right. Were there any missing tiki torches? Maybe on the decks?

 

[seekingjustice**]

It was clear to me that she was guilty when I heard her remarks to Rusty about "Gary being on the burn pile" and "he shouldn’t have been that burnt up," along with her insinuation that they wouldn’t find any evidence (like blood) in the house. I really hope the jury makes the right decision; I’m still traumatized from the Casey Anthony trial!

I also find it absurd that anyone could even consider Scott as being involved or as the perpetrator. Scott had no motive to kill his dad; doing so would mean losing everything, as Melodie would immediately kick him out. There’s no way he would work with Melodie to plan this murder—she despises him, and he was much closer to his dad. In the end, there was nothing to gain for Scott, Chris, or anyone else, only Melodie had both the means and the opportunity. The idea that someone could commit this murder right under Melodie's nose without her knowing is just simply unbelievable.

 

[RickshawFan]

I've only watched bits and pieces of the trial, but I've been wondering if the blood found inside the house is a red-herring.

I know that if I had a premeditated plan to kill someone who was much bigger than me, I'd concoct a way to get them near the burn pile so that I wouldn't have to contend with moving them later. Something like, "I dropped my wedding ring in the pile, can you help me find it"? And then shoot them while they're searching.

Of course we don't know that this was a premeditated plan and not just a fight that turned deadly.

Martha Jane's gun....that's about planning and intent.
And the blood might be a red herring, except for the fact, that Melody seemed to gloat in a jail conversation that LE wasn't able to find blood on the walls. "They don't have anything on me. They didn't find any blood. No evidence." Those words suggest she was guilty IMO, but was getting away with it.
There does seem to have been a hissy fit. Melody broke a plate. IIRC the detective dug out a comment from Gary's computer to that effect?

 

[rescuemom]

One other thing is the blood on first floor in dining room and on basement stair carpet. So did she initially shoot him on the first floor then follow him to the basement for second shot and then chase him to or near burn pile. What else was in that direction from the basement patio doors aside from burn pile ..any other structure or neighbor??

 

[arielilane]

Younger sibling laid out all the family's dirty laundry during testimony...difficult at times to follow testimony as it seemed to be a lot of hearsay [which wondered how that's allowed] ... how did all of that get in?

Anyway, sad family situation, and then this!

I am really late to catching up on this trial, as you can see.

Additionally, supposedly the jail calls is what I need to listen in on.

moo

 

[Deleted member 296739]

Have jury deliberations started yet for the day?