On August 7, 2024, the City of Atlanta Police Department held a press conference to share an update in the Melissa Wolfenbarger homicide case. Homicide Commander Lieutenant Andrew Smith stated that on Wednesday, August 6, 2024, Melissa’s husband, Christopher Wolfenbarger was charged with her murder.
Dateline first covered Melissa’s case in May of 2021 as part of our Cold Case Spotlight series.
On Thanksgiving Day 1998, Melissa spoke with her mother, Norma Patton, on the phone.
That was the last time anyone in her family heard from her.
According to her sister, Tina Patton, as the holiday season continued with no word from Melissa, the family started to grow concerned.
Melissa’s parents drove to her house in Atlanta from their home in Locust Grove, Georgia to check on their daughter.
Norma told Dateline that when they arrived, the duplex Melissa and her husband, Christopher, lived in was completely cleared out.
Norma filed a missing person’s report. Christopher Wolfenbarger was questioned by police and told them Melissa had left on her own to pursue her dream of starting a new life in California, the Atlanta Police Department told Dateline in 2021.
Melissa was missing for five months. On April 29, 1999, Atlanta police found a human head in a black trash bag, close in proximity to Christopher Wolfenbarger’s place of work. On June 3, 1999, more human remains were discovered in black trash bags in close proximity to where the first remains had been found.
In 2003 the remains were positively identified as belonging to Melissa Wolfenbarger.
Atlanta police told Dateline in 2021 that Christopher Wolfenbarger has a criminal history that includes family violence. Dateline also spoke with Christopher Wolfenbarger in 2021, and he insisted he had nothing to do with his wife’s murder. “Yeah, I have a criminal history,” he said. “But I’m not a murderer.”
At Wednesday’s press conference, Detective J. Shephard, who was assigned to the case in 2021, said Christopher Wolfenbarger had been a person of interest from the beginning, and that “probable cause” is how they were able to finally make the arrest.
When asked what specifically linked Wolfenbarger to the murder, Det. Shephard said, “I want to protect the integrity of the case going forward, so I can’t disclose certain evidence, but we look at everything when it comes to a cold case.”
Tina Patton said in the press conference that the family always believed Melissa’s husband was responsible for her murder. “From day one, we knew it was Christopher,” she said. “There was never, ever any doubt in our minds who did this.”
Norma Patton also spoke at the press conference. “I don’t have to watch the news anymore, because we got him,” she said. “He’s in jail and, Lord help me, he stays there.”
Christopher Wolfenbarger is currently being held in the Fulton County Jail. It is unclear if he has representation at this time or when he will appear in court.