The trial of a Georgia woman accused of killing and burning her husband will continue on Monday

Jury deliberations will resume Monday in the trial of a Georgia woman accused of killing her husband and burning his remains on their property.

Melody Walker Farris is charged with premeditated murder, aggravated murder, aggravated assault, concealing the death of another and making false statements regarding the death of her husband, Gary Farris, a prominent Atlanta-area attorney.

The couple, who had been married for 38 years, lived on a working farm of about 10 acres in Alpharetta. They lived together in the main house, while one of their four adult children lived in the apartment above the barn.

On July 5, 2018, deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office were called to the property to report that human remains had been found in a fire.

Detectives initially thought Gary was suffering from a medical condition and may have fallen into the fire, but they quickly began investigating the case as a homicide after a bullet was found lodged in one of Gary’s ribs. The .38 caliber bullet did not match any weapons found during a search of the property.

Investigators say Farris’ marriage was rocky, and Court TV reviewed documents showing Gary filed for divorce in February 2010. The petition was denied that August.

Melody initially denied having any extramarital affairs to investigators and later claimed that her relationship with Roy ‘Rusty’ Barton had ended a year before her husband’s death. But investigators determined this was a lie and later arrested him in Tullahoma, Tennessee, where he spent time with Barton.

Prosecutors said that at the time of the murder, the couple was arguing over financial matters, particularly about Gary refusing to give money to Melody and giving it to his adult children.

This story was first published by Lauren Silver and Tiffany Smith at: Court television.

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