48 Hours Big Daddy Is Missing | Blood is Thicker: The Farris Wheel
Mar 24, 2026
Melody Farris, matriarch who recounts family turmoil after her husband's disappearance. Scott Ferris, the son who ran the farm and found troubling evidence. They discuss the discovery in the burn pile, suspicious items like a missing revolver, forensic clues pointing to homicide, and the fraught family dynamics as investigators close in.
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Son Finds Skull In Smoldering Burn Pile
- Scott discovered a skull while inspecting a smoldering burn pile on the Ferris property when searching for his missing father.
- He immediately called 911 and suspected the remains could be his father, setting the investigation in motion.
Big Daddy Was The Family's Central Pillar
- Peter Van Sant and family interviews describe Gary 'Big Daddy' Ferris as a dominant patriarch who provided financially and was central to family dynamics.
- Family relied on Gary for money and decisions, shaping tensions around dependency and control.
Last Confirmed Contact After Lighting Burn Pile
- On July 3rd Gary was seen tending the burn pile and Melody warned him not to leave it burning, while horses escaped the pasture causing interruption.
- Melody estimated she last spoke to Gary around 8–8:30 p.m., making that evening the last confirmed contact.