Man arrested 25 years after wife’s body found dismembered in trash bags

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) – The husband of a woman at the center of a 1999 Atlanta cold case is now behind bars.

Christopher Wolfenbarger has been charged with murder in connection to the death of his wife, 21-year-old Melissa Wolfenbarger.

Authorities in Atlanta announced his arrest at an early Wednesday afternoon press conference.

Wolfenbarger was arrested on Tuesday. Police said he was taken into custody at his home in the Griffin area while hiding behind a dryer.

Melissa Wolfenberger’s dismembered remains were found in black trash bags tossed on the side of the road in 1999.

The coroner positively identified the remains as Melissa Wolfenberger in 2003.

Although years had since passed, the woman’s family never gave up on finding her killer.

“We finally made it and he’s in custody,” Norma Patton, the woman’s mother, said. “My last words to her were, ‘I love you, and you know where I am if you need me.’”

Atlanta police did not disclose many details or say what the motive was, but they said they believed it was related to domestic violence.

“It’s been a long wait. Twenty-five years, but finally, hopefully, we will get justice for Melissa. She didn’t deserve what she got,” Tina Patton, Melissa Wolfenbarger’s sister, said. “And I hope anyone who is in a domestic violence situation, please get out.”

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