Sergeant Daniel Hayes

We had to put him on the stand. He had a significant role in the investigation. He also had a front row seat to see his parents fighting every single day. And he witnessed his mother threaten Gary as well.

We had to put him on the stand. He had a significant role in the investigation. He also had a front row seat to see his parents fighting every single day. And he witnessed his mother threaten Gary as well.

As you know, the state was made aware of some newly discovered evidence.

As you know, the state was made aware of some newly discovered evidence.

And I leaned over to my co-counsel and I said, we need to take a break after this witness.

And I leaned over to my co-counsel and I said, we need to take a break after this witness.

So Martha Jane Barton had called the sheriff's office.

So Martha Jane Barton had called the sheriff's office.

She had watched Rusty's testimony.

She had watched Rusty's testimony.

And she heard Rusty testify about the guns that his dad owned.

And she heard Rusty testify about the guns that his dad owned.

I don't know that I'll ever experience that again in my career.

I don't know that I'll ever experience that again in my career.

I just kept bringing the jury back to the evidence that was presented at trial, and there was just no evidence that Scott had anything to do with this crime. This case is about Gary Wayne Ferris. And you're here because Melody Ferris shot him, concealed his death by putting him on a burn pile on their property like he was trash.

I just kept bringing the jury back to the evidence that was presented at trial, and there was just no evidence that Scott had anything to do with this crime. This case is about Gary Wayne Ferris. And you're here because Melody Ferris shot him, concealed his death by putting him on a burn pile on their property like he was trash.

Extremely nervous.

Extremely nervous.

To the family, to the children, immediately. They had been through a lot.

To the family, to the children, immediately. They had been through a lot.