The Grim Path of Carl Patton: A Serial Killer's Tale

In the heart of Georgia, between the years 1973 and 1977, a sinister figure emerged, leaving a trail of death and mystery. This figure was Carl Millard Patton Jr., an American serial killer whose malevolent actions, aided by accomplices, shook the state to its core. His reign of terror came to light only decades later, thanks to the relentless pursuit of justice and the advancements in forensic science.

Early Life and Background

Carl Millard Patton Jr. was born in 1949, in Georgia, where he spent the majority of his life across several counties including DeKalb, Clayton, and Henry. Despite the shadow that his later actions would cast, little is known about Patton's early life. In 1968, he married a woman named Norma, and they had two daughters, one born in 1970 and another in 1977. Throughout the 1970s, Patton honed his skills in the construction industry, working until the fateful day of his arrest.

In 1983, Patton faced his first brush with the law when he was arrested and convicted of felony theft, resulting in a one-year prison sentence. However, he was paroled and released by May 1984. After this, Patton seemingly led a life free of crime, with no charges filed against him until his significant arrest in 2003.

A Daughter's Tragic End

Tragedy struck the Patton family in late 1998 when Carl's youngest daughter, 21-year-old Melissa Wolfenbarger, went missing from Atlanta. Months later, on April 29, 1999, Melissa's severed head was discovered inside a garbage bag in a dumpster near her home. The gruesome discovery continued on June 3, when more dismembered remains were found in black trash bags in another dumpster, although her torso was never recovered. These remains remained unidentified until Patton's arrest in 2003 brought closure to the mystery.

The Unveiling of a Serial Killer

By early 2003, Carl Patton and his wife Norma had relocated to Locust Grove, where Patton found work as a roofer. However, a DNA match linked him to the murder of Liddie Matthew Evans in December 1977, leading to Patton's arrest on February 23. Unexpectedly, Norma Patton saw an opportunity. She offered to testify against her husband in exchange for immunity, revealing a chilling account of multiple murders dating back to 1977.

Norma's testimony unveiled that on November 12, 1977, Carl and his accomplice, firefighter Joe Cleveland, murdered Carl's uncle, Fred Wyatt, and his roommate, Betty Jo Ephlin. A month later, fearing betrayal, Carl lured Cleveland and Evans to their home, where he shot them both with a shotgun. The couple disposed of the bodies in the Flint River, wrapping them in sleeping bags. Despite being questioned in 1977, Carl evaded charges due to insufficient evidence until DNA testing revived the cold case.

A Courtroom Drama

March 2003 marked the beginning of Patton's trials in Clayton County, where he faced charges for the murders of Fred Wyatt and Betty Jo Ephlin. Norma testified that Carl was hired by Marie Jackson Wyatt, Fred's common-law wife, to commit the murder in exchange for a $15,000 insurance payout. The bodies were cleverly disposed of, with Ephlin's being dumped in the Flint River and Fred's body staged on railroad tracks to mimic an accident. On March 8, Carl Patton pleaded guilty, expressing remorse and receiving two life sentences with the possibility of parole after 20 years.

Following this, in DeKalb County, Patton faced charges for the murders of Cleveland and Evans. Norma, having secured her plea deal, received 12 months probation and a $1,000 fine. Carl again pleaded guilty, adding two more life sentences to his record.

A Terrifying Confession

In a shocking twist, Patton confessed to a fifth murder a month after his trials concluded. He admitted to killing Richard Russell Jackson, Marie Jackson Wyatt's first husband, on March 9, 1973, in Henry County. Patton detailed how Marie had approached him to kill Richard, citing abuse as her motive. With Cleveland's help, they lured Richard to a wooded area near Ellenwood, where they ultimately gunned him down after a struggle.

The trial saw a surreal moment when Gladys Elaine Jackson, the victim's daughter, thanked Patton for killing her father, citing his and her stepfather's abuse. Despite family claims that Marie manipulated Patton for insurance money, he was given another life sentence for Richard Jackson's murder. Marie Jackson Wyatt never faced justice, having died in 1988.

Current Status

Following his convictions, suspicions briefly lingered over Patton regarding his daughter's murder. However, he was eventually ruled out as a suspect. In August 2024, Melissa's husband, Christopher Wolfenbarger, was arrested for her murder. Despite his arrest, Christopher maintains his innocence, claiming he believed his wife had left him voluntarily.

As of March 2023, Carl Patton remains behind bars at Dodge State Prison in Chester, Georgia, a grim reminder of the dark deeds that once haunted the state.

Sources

• Andrea Cavallier for NBC News
• Kriti Mehrotra for The Cinemaholic
• Ralph Ellis, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• John Munford, The Citizen News
• Mark Niesse, Midland Daily News
• Henry Farber, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Ronny Reyes, The New York Post
• Court TV

For more detailed information, visit the Wikipedia page on Carl Patton.