After two and a half decades, Christopher Wolfenbarger has been charged with the homicide of his wife, Melissa Wolfenbarger.
Melissa was reported missing before her body was found mutilated and stuffed in several garbage bags. On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, Atlanta police Lieutenant Andrew Smith gave an insight into Melissa’s body discovery.
According to Smith, in 1999, human remains were found in separate locations in Atlanta. However, these remains were misidentified, as Melissa had been decapitated and her remains buried.
Details of the Heinous Crime
According to reports, Melissa Wolfenbarger’s last contact was with her mother on November 26, 1998. However, after Thanksgiving, no one heard from her again. Consequently, in January 2000, her mother, Norma Patton, filed a missing persons report.
On April 29, 1999, the police received a 911 call about human remains discovered a mile away from her home. The discovery sites, Avon Avenue and Hartford Place experienced a considerable amount of rain that fateful day. Also, the discovery came a hundred and fifty-four days after Melissa was last seen alive.
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After police arrived at the scene, they found a human skull on the road, leading to a homicide investigation. Additionally, on June 3, 1999, the police found more body remains in trash bags buried across a wooded area along Avon Avenue. Despite the discovery, the investigation did not make headway in Melissa’s case.
The investigation would continue for four years without any progress until the remains were identified as Melissa. In 2003, Melissa’s father, Carl Patton, a convicted serial killer, led the discovery. According to Tina Patton, Melissa’s older sister, it was only after Carl was arrested that attention was brought to Melissa’s disappearance.
During Carl’s media interview, he mentioned his missing daughter, resulting in an Atlanta resident informing them about some unidentified remains. After the morgue was located and the DNA sample was collected, her family discovered that Melissa was not missing but dead.
Melissa Wolfenbarger’s Husband Has Been Charged With Murder
One thing that stood out about the case was the action of Christopher, Melissa Wolfenbarger’s husband. According to police reports, during the time that Melissa was reported missing, Christopher did not notify Melissa’s family members or file a missing person’s report.
In 2000, Christopher told the police that he had seen Melissa strolling down the street near their home in March or April of 1999. However, according to the investigation, Christopher and Melissa’s last contact was in December 1998.
After her body was discovered in 2003, the first suspect in Melissa’s murder was arrested in 2024. On August 6, 2024, Christopher was arrested and charged with Melissa’s murder. Subsequently, he was placed in the Fulton County Jail.
Authorities refrained from disclosing details of Christopher’s arrest during the news conference to maintain the integrity of the investigation. According to Detective Jarion Shephard, he began reexamining all aspects of past investigations in 2021. However, Shephard stated that Christopher was always regarded as a person of interest.
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Although Shephard did not know the exact reason, he thought the case had something to do with domestic abuse. Shephard stated that when Christopher was arrested for Melissa’s murder, he was hiding behind a dryer at home.
What Melissa Wolfenbarger’s Family Said About Her
Melissa Wolfenbarger, known for her twinkle, sweetness, and love for animals, was fondly described by her sister Tina Patton. According to Tina, when Melissa was a child, she dreamed of being a vet and would bring home any animal, from dogs to skunks.
Tina said, “If she saw a stray somewhere, she would bring it home. It didn’t matter what it was; she would bring it home.” Additionally, Tina stated that Melissa was a brilliant student who always got good grades in her academics.
Tina further described Melissa as sweet, quiet, always smiling, and always joyful. As often happens with teenagers, Melissa met and fell in love with Christopher. Tina said, “She changed. She’d sneak out the window. Before that, I was the one sneaking out of the window. You know, when you’re a teenager, you’re trying to go to the parties with the boys, and you just sneak out your window.”
According to Tina, the boy who won her sister’s heart was not well-liked by anyone in the family. She did, however, get married. And by the time she turned 21, she had moved to Atlanta and had two lovely children of her own.
Wolfenbarger’s Family Always Suspected Her Husband
Tina and Norma claimed that during Melissa’s disappearance and the years that followed, they never received a message from her husband. Alongside police during the conference, Melissa’s mother and sister spoke with reporters. Tina Patton remarked, “Hopefully, we can finally receive justice for Melissa. What Melissa received was not right for her.”
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Given the possibility of jeopardizing the case, detectives declined to offer specific details about how they made the arrest. Norma, Melissa’s mother, said, “I don’t have to watch the news anymore. We got him, and he’s in jail. Lord help me; he stays there.”
When reporters asked Tina if they ever suspected Christopher Wolfenbarger, she replied that they knew it was him. Christopher Wolfenbarger was always a person of interest in the case, according to a detective’s later statement. Melissa’s sister Tina said, “There is just wickedness in his eyes.”
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