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Melody Farris, accused of killing her husband and burning his body, sits in a Cherokee County courtroom on Oct. 14, 2024.

CANTON,. Ga. – Melody Farris, the woman accused of killing her husband, prominent attorney Gary Farris, and burning his body on their Cherokee County property, has been found guilty on all charges.

Farris remained stoic during the sentencing and showed no emotion as the judge found her guilty on all five counts.

The prosecution said Melody Farris was the only one who had the motive and opportunity to kill her husband, but the defense says there are too many unanswered questions for a conviction.

“Their lawyers attempted to pin the crime on Scott Farris, their son, who discovered his father’s burned body in a burn pit on the property in July 2018. He testified that his mother only showed emotion when investigators told them the remains were human.

Scott testified that he believed there were warning signs before Gary’s death. Although Melody and Gary were married for more than three decades, prosecutors argue that they were having marital problems and arguing over finances at the time of the alleged murder.

Melody’s attorney mentioned that Scott was the only one who had .38 caliber ammunition.

During testimony, it was also revealed that 64-year-old Melody Farris had an affair with Ted Wy that took place in 2009. Her daughter Emily Farris testified that this led to the breakdown of the marriage and that the relationship never fully recovered, despite her father’s reconciliation efforts. The statement painted a picture of a family suffering financial and emotional turmoil as Emily recalled her mother’s influence over family decisions and financial control, despite having their joint bank accounts revoked following the affair.

The case has drawn attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of Gary Farris. It was initially believed to be a medical incident, but the discovery of a bullet in his remains turned the case into a murder investigation. While the forensic evidence provided important insight, the defense continues to question how Melody, a 130-pound woman, could have brought her 300-pound husband to the cremation pile alone.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for the first week of December.