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According to prosecutors in their opening statements, money was the motive for this murder. Next, Melody Farris' defense delivered their opening remarks to the jury. They claimed police acted on confirmation bias when they allegedly narrowed erroneously on the defendant for the death of her husband, Gary. A complicated family coupled with a complicated police investigation all led to fingers pointing at Melody Farris for first-degree murder.
S1, EP23 "Family Matters"
Cross-examination continued on the eldest child in the Farris home. The Defense raised doubts in the state's case against her claiming other people in the family had issues and their own motivations to have Gary Farris killed. Who would benefit from his death ? If the defendant, Melody, who was the beneficiary to His Life Insurance, 401K and the family farm, were convicted of his murder technically her oldest son, Chris, will get everything.
S1, EP24 "The Son's Ex-Wife"
Prosecutors accusing Melody Farris of first-degree murder brought in her son's ex-wife in their case. They wanted to show jurors more perspective on that fateful July Fourth holiday where Gary was fatally shot and later buried in a burn pile. Jenna Pawlowski was asked a series of specific questions in the days leading up to Gary Farris' death on his property.
S1, EP25 "Scott Farris"
The defendant's second son testified against her. Melody Farris' defense team have hinted to the jury that it was Scott, the military veteran, who was the actual shooter in Gary's death on the family farm. According to investigators, Scott immediately recognized his father's dead corpse. Why? He was in the military and saw plenty of deceased bodies and decomposing human remains during his three tours in Iraq.
S1, EP26 "Mountain Dews And Cigarettes"
A key witness for the State gave more insight into the messy family life of the Farris'. Scott Farris explained his childhood years growing up and the day he came across the dead corpse of his father. Mountain Dews and cigarettes were Gary Farris' daily addictions before he died, according to both his sons who testified. Prosecutors wanted jurors to make clear that health issues was not the culprit that led to his remains being found in a burn pile on his property.
S1, EP22 "Family Drama"
Family drama was the aim for Melody Farris' defense during their cross-examination of her oldest son. After all, the problems at home was what the prosecution team claimed led her to shoot and kill her husband and then burn and bury his body. Jurors learned about the problems in the Farris Household over the years. Chris, the oldest child, admitted to issues like theft of money among family members, alcohol addiction and mental disorders.
S1, EP21 "Getting Personal On The Stand"
Cross-examination began on the oldest child of Gary and Melody Farris. Melody's defense team wanted to poke holes in the family drama which the State claims was the motive for her to kill her husband, Gary, of 38 years. But, things got personal with Chris Farris on the stand. He admitted that he struggled with alcohol addiction which affected his relationship with his family.
S1, EP20 "Temporary Administrator To The Estate"
Chris Farris told jurors that he and his siblings were frantic and confused after their father's remains were found. As the oldest of the children, Chris was given the role of the temporary administrator to his father, Gary's estate. On the stand, he told the jury that his father's accounts were all frozen during the police's investigation.
S1, EP19 "First Confusion Then Suspicion"
Melody Farris' oldest son learned how awful it was to find out that his dad, Gary, was dead and his remains were found in a burn pile on the family farm. Chris Farris gave the jury his memory of events that led up to that tragic discovery. After Gary's remains were discovered and the police began their investigation, confusion was the first to set in among his four adult children and then suspicions arose.
