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The upcoming episode of Dateline is set to cover the murder of Gary Farris, an attorney from Georgia, who became the victim of someone very close to him. This case dates back to 2018 but only recently reached its conclusion, with Melody Farris, the victim's wife, being sentenced to prison in November 2024.
The case will be the subject of the all-new episode of Dateline season 33, which will air at 9:00 PM EST on NBC on Friday, January 17, 2025. The episode is titled A Little Patch of Perfect, and its synopsis reads:
"After Gary "Big Daddy" Farris mysteriously disappears, his family discovers his remains on their sprawling 10-acre estate; an investigation reveals a family deeply divided by jealousy and greed, but did one of them kill Big Daddy?"
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While much about the case is still not known, the perpetrator has been punished, and the case has been concluded. The upcoming episode of Dateline may provide more information surrounding the murder, but before that, let us check out what happened with Gary Farris.
Who was Gary Farris and what happened to him?
Gary Wayne Farris was born on June 27, 1960, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Aspiring to become a lawyer from a young age, Farris studied law at the University of Alabama. At the age of 20, he married Melody Farris, who supported his dreams and ambitions, helping him reach great heights in his field.
The couple eventually settled in Georgia and had four children together. He enjoyed a successful career as a lawyer and founded the law firm Burr & Forman in 1995, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Things seemed perfect for the couple as they lived on a 10-acre working farm in Alpharetta, Georgia.
By 2018, all of the children had moved out except for Scott Farris, who lived on a different floor of their residence. On July 5, 2018, Scott called the police after allegedly discovering human remains in a burn pit on the property. Authorities thoroughly searched the area and confirmed that the remains belonged to Gary Farris.
Melody Farris suggested that her husband had some health issues and had reportedly started a fire a few days back. She claimed that he may have had a health condition and accidentally fallen into the fire pit. This explanation was initially accepted by the police until further examination revealed otherwise. Soon, it was confirmed that a bullet was lodged between his ribs, confirming that it was indeed a homicide.
The police soon sprang to action and discovered some dark truths concealed in the family.
Who killed Gary Farris?
While Melody initially suggested that her marriage was absolutely smooth sailing, her children provided a different account. Melody Farris had been involved in at least two extramarital affairs, and Gary was planning to remove her from his will. Moreover, the police discovered that Gary Farris had a hefty insurance policy whose beneficiary was Melody Farris.
She was also allegedly having an affair with Rusty Barton, with whom she communicated over text messages mentioning Gary's death. This evidence was enough to arrest and charge her. The jury soon found her guilty of all charges, and she was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
The upcoming episode of Dateline will cover this case in more detail.
