FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Opening statements began Thursday at the Fulton County Courthouse in the trial for the killing of Melissa Wolfenbarger, a 21-year-old wife and mother who disappeared 27 years ago.
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Christopher Wolfenbarger, her husband, is on trial for murder after being arrested in 2024, due to new DNA evidence.
Melissa Wolfenbarger disappeared in 1998 not long after Thanksgiving. In April and June of 1999, detectives found dismembered human remains in trash bags not far from her home.
Her remains were not identified until 2003.
Several witnesses took the stand Thursday, including detectives who investigated her death nearly three decades ago.
State prosecutor Vincent Faucette said the investigation was difficult from the start, one of the reasons why the trial is only happening now.
He said the husband had been the main person investigators were looking at in her killing.
“He wasn’t the only person, because you’ve got to conduct a thorough investigation, but they had evidence that Chris and Melissa were involved in a tumultuous relationship,” Faucette said.
One of Christopher Wolfenbarger’s defense attorneys admitted the couple had a tumultuous relationship, but he said he did not kill his wife.
And they said he didn’t report her missing more nearly two years because she had already moved out and given up parental rights to their children.
“Christopher could safely assume she decided to live her life on her own terms,” said attorney Joel McDurmon.
Melissa Wolfenbarger’s mother is scheduled to testify Friday, as well as some of her childhood friends.
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