Burned Remains Connect Cherokee Woman To Husband's Death: Police

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Nearly a year after human remains were found behind a home in Alpharetta, a Cherokee County woman has been arrested in connection to the death of her husband.

Melody farris, 59, of Alpharetta, was arrested in Tulahoma, Tennessee on June 18. She is charged with murder with malice, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and concealing the death of another, records show.

The investigation began on July 5, 2018 when the Cherokee Sheriff’s deputies responded to 2155 Purcell Lane, Alpharetta, in the Free Home community after human remains were located on the property, the department said.

The remains, which were burned extensively, were later identified as Gary Farris, 58, a metro Atlanta area attorney who owned the property at 2155 Purcell Lane, and Melody's husband.

An extensive investigation into the death has been ongoing, the Sheriff's Office said. The GBI Crime Lab has recently completed analyzing evidence collected at the scene. The autopsy report lists the cause of death as gunshot wound and the manner of death as homicide.

Detectives recovered evidence indicating Farris shot and killed her husband inside their home and then tried to dispose of his body and evidence by burning it on their Purcell Lane property, the department said.

Farris is currently in custody at the Coffee County Adult Detention in Tennessee being held without bond.