Atlanta Man Arrested for Wife’s 1998 Murder After 25 Years
Breakthrough in Case Followed by Father’s Arrest and Renewed Investigation
According to True Crime News, Christopher Wolfenbarger from Atlanta, has been arrested for the murder of his wife Melissa Wolfenbarger more than 25 years after her disappearance. On August 7, 2024 the Atlanta Police Department reported that Wolfenbarger was found hiding behind a dryer at his home. His arrest comes after a long investigation into Melissa’s case. In 1999 severed parts of her body were found in two different locations but initially the remains were thought to be those of a male. It wasn’t until 2003 that the remains were confirmed as Melissa’s and she wasn’t reported missing until January 2000.
The case saw new progress after a significant development involving Melissa’s father Carl Patton. In February 2023 Patton was arrested for murdering a 31-year-old woman and was later convicted of five counts of murder. Although Patton was cleared of any role in his daughter’s death his arrest led to renewed efforts to solve the case. Detective Jarion Shephard took over the investigation focusing on Christopher Wolfenbarger whom they believe was involved in a domestic violence incident.
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25 Years of Silence Broken: Christopher Wolfenbarger Arrested for Murder of Wife Melissa, After 1999 Discovery of Severed Body Parts! (PHOTO: NBC News)
Family of Melissa Wolfenbarger Finds Relief in Arrest, Describes Long Struggle for Justice
At a press conference Melissa’s mother Norma Patton spoke about the long wait for answers. She described the pain of her daughter’s remains being unidentified for years and the difficulty of keeping in touch with her grandchildren who lived with Christopher’s mother. Norma Patton expressed relief at the arrest saying, We got him. He’s in jail. Lord help me he stays there. Melissa’s sister Tina Patton also expressed her belief in Christopher’s guilt describing him as having evil in his eyes.
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