Sergeant Daniel Hayes

My first impression of that case was, this is going to be a tricky trial.

My first impression of that case was, this is going to be a tricky trial.

That's exactly right. What we know is that he ended up on the burn pile. We know he was at least shot twice. But the rest of that theory just leads us to Melody being the only person that could have done that.

That's exactly right. What we know is that he ended up on the burn pile. We know he was at least shot twice. But the rest of that theory just leads us to Melody being the only person that could have done that.

That was part of what made this prosecution challenging.

That was part of what made this prosecution challenging.

So that puts her right there with knowledge about what happened to his body. And it's definitely an admission that we needed the jury to hear.

So that puts her right there with knowledge about what happened to his body. And it's definitely an admission that we needed the jury to hear.

There was only one person who had the motive, means, and opportunity to commit this crime.

There was only one person who had the motive, means, and opportunity to commit this crime.

I think... With Emily, the jury got to see a little bit of Gary. Emily seemed like the closest one to him, and she knew a lot of information from her relationship with her father.

I think... With Emily, the jury got to see a little bit of Gary. Emily seemed like the closest one to him, and she knew a lot of information from her relationship with her father.

Gary entrusted her with a lot of information about the family and about his financial position with Melody.

Gary entrusted her with a lot of information about the family and about his financial position with Melody.

State calls Chris Ferris. You can please raise your right hand.

State calls Chris Ferris. You can please raise your right hand.

We needed him to address his financial issues and his relationship with his father and if those issues led to any conflicts between him and his father, which it did to an extent. Would you and your dad ever get in arguments about money?

We needed him to address his financial issues and his relationship with his father and if those issues led to any conflicts between him and his father, which it did to an extent. Would you and your dad ever get in arguments about money?

We had to put him on the stand. He had a significant role in the investigation. He also had a front row seat to see his parents fighting every single day. And he witnessed his mother threaten Gary as well.

We had to put him on the stand. He had a significant role in the investigation. He also had a front row seat to see his parents fighting every single day. And he witnessed his mother threaten Gary as well.

As you know, the state was made aware of some newly discovered evidence.

As you know, the state was made aware of some newly discovered evidence.

And I leaned over to my co-counsel and I said, we need to take a break after this witness.

And I leaned over to my co-counsel and I said, we need to take a break after this witness.

So Martha Jane Barton had called the sheriff's office.

So Martha Jane Barton had called the sheriff's office.

She had watched Rusty's testimony.

She had watched Rusty's testimony.

And she heard Rusty testify about the guns that his dad owned.

And she heard Rusty testify about the guns that his dad owned.

I don't know that I'll ever experience that again in my career.

I don't know that I'll ever experience that again in my career.

I just kept bringing the jury back to the evidence that was presented at trial, and there was just no evidence that Scott had anything to do with this crime. This case is about Gary Wayne Ferris. And you're here because Melody Ferris shot him, concealed his death by putting him on a burn pile on their property like he was trash.

I just kept bringing the jury back to the evidence that was presented at trial, and there was just no evidence that Scott had anything to do with this crime. This case is about Gary Wayne Ferris. And you're here because Melody Ferris shot him, concealed his death by putting him on a burn pile on their property like he was trash.

Extremely nervous.

Extremely nervous.

To the family, to the children, immediately. They had been through a lot.

To the family, to the children, immediately. They had been through a lot.

I don't know that I'll ever experience that again in my career.

I don't know that I'll ever experience that again in my career.