The mother of slain Georgia woman, Melissa Wolfenbarger, took the stand Friday and described her daughter’s alleged abuse at the hands of her husband.
Christopher Wolfenbarger is currently on trial in Atlanta for the murder of his wife, Melissa, a 21-year-old mother of two. He’s facing murder and felony murder charges.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Melissa vanished in December 1998. She had been living with defendant in Georgia, although they were separated, following domestic abuse allegations.
In 1999, Melissa’s dismembered remains were found behind and around the defendant’s former workplace in Atlanta.
Melissa’s mother, Norma Patton, testified that Christopher Wolfenbarger had physically abused her daughter prior to her disappearance.
The pair met while Melissa was still in high school, and despite attempts to stop her, Norma said that Melissa ran away from home multiple times to be with the defendant.
“I tried my best to keep them separated,” Norma testified.
Melissa became pregnant and by the time she was 21, the pair had two children. The abuse allegedly continued.
“He had knocked her down and dragged her along the sidewalk,” Patton testified, recalling a 1998 incident involving the defendant.
“Her whole back side was skinned up like she had been dragged along the sidewalk.”
The defense previously argued that Patton and her husband, Carl Patton, were abusive and that Melissa had been trying to escape them.
Carl Patton, notoriously known as the “Flint River Killer,” was serving time in prison for a string of murders in the 1970s. Police arrested him in 2003.
Norma Patton helped convict her husband in exchange for help in Melissa’s case, Court TV reports.
Norma’s testimony will resume Monday. Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to a previous episode on the case.
[Feature Photo: Family Handout]
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Author: Leigh Egan
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