48 Hours Podcast Explores Infamous 2018 Cherokee County Murder

The six-part "Blood is Thicker: The Farris Wheel" podcast dives into the scandalous case of wealthy real estate attorney Gary "Big Daddy" Farris' murder.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The 2018 murder of wealthy real estate attorney Gary "Big Daddy" Farris in Cherokee County, Georgia is the focus of a new six-part true crime podcast from CBS News' 48 Hours. The podcast, titled "Blood is Thicker: The Farris Wheel," is hosted by 48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant, who covered the case extensively, including conducting interviews with Farris' wife Melody, who was convicted of his murder in 2024 and is now serving a 30-year sentence.

Why it matters

The Farris murder case captivated Georgia with its elements of wealth, family dysfunction, and an enduring mystery - how did the petite Melody Farris manage to move her 300-pound husband's body from the house to the burn pile where his remains were found? The podcast aims to dive deeper into the intriguing details and give listeners an intimate look at the Farris family's "soap operatic life."

The details

Gary Farris, a 58-year-old wealthy real estate attorney, was murdered in the summer of 2018 and his remains were discovered with a bullet lodged in his rib on a burn pile at the Farris family's 10-acre Cherokee County farm. After a year-long investigation, Farris' wife Melody was arrested and convicted on all charges in December 2024 for his murder. She is now serving a 30-year sentence.

  • Gary Farris was murdered in the summer of 2018.
  • Melody Farris was arrested and convicted in December 2024.
  • Melody Farris is now serving a 30-year sentence.

The players

Gary "Big Daddy" Farris

A 58-year-old wealthy real estate attorney who was murdered in 2018.

Melody Farris

Gary Farris' wife who was convicted of his murder in 2024 and is now serving a 30-year sentence.

Scott Farris

Gary and Melody Farris' son, who Melody accused of his father's murder in court.

Peter Van Sant

A 48 Hours correspondent who covered the Farris murder case extensively, including conducting interviews with Melody and Scott Farris.

Amanda Farris

Gary and Melody Farris' youngest child, who stood by her mother during the trial.

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What they’re saying

“We all dream of having the amount of time necessary to tell a story. The killing of Gary Farris had so much intrigue, so many side stories of betrayal, jealousy and greed, having the opportunity to do three hours of this case [over six 30-minute episodes] in a podcast was just irresistible.”

— Peter Van Sant, 48 Hours Correspondent (Atlanta Magazine)

“She is tough as nails. She's self-absorbed, she's angry. I have never seen a mother who has more issues with her children than Melody Farris. She has four children and only one stood by her, the youngest, Amanda, during the trial. The others, she's convinced were involved in the conspiracy to set her up and send her off to prison so they could cash in on their father's estimated $4 million fortune. To sit across from her is riveting.”

— Peter Van Sant, 48 Hours Correspondent (Atlanta Magazine)

What’s next

The six-part "Blood is Thicker: The Farris Wheel" podcast from 48 Hours begins streaming on March 11, 2026 on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

The takeaway

The Farris murder case captivated Georgia with its elements of wealth, family dysfunction, and an enduring mystery. The new 48 Hours podcast aims to dive deeper into the intriguing details and give listeners an intimate look at the Farris family's "soap operatic life" surrounding Gary Farris' 2018 murder.