Melissa Johnson: Utah woman faces murder charges, claims self-defense in fatal shooting of husband
PROVO, UTAH: Melissa Johnson-Fausett, a resident of Provo, Utah, faces charges of murdering her husband. She reportedly informed the police that a blood-spattered gun discovered in her purse following his death was from a recent excursion where she shot rabbits at close range in the desert, as per Law and Crime.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Saturday, January 6, the Provo Police Department announced that it would not provide additional details about the investigation into the alleged murder of Provo resident Corry Fausett by his wife, Melissa Johnson-Fausett.
Melissa said that she shot her husband in self-defense
Authorities were dispatched to the Utah home of the couple around 7:42 pm that evening, discovering Corry Fausett deceased in a hallway of the residence. Following this discovery, Melissa Fausett was promptly taken into custody.
Investigators are grappling with several unanswered questions regarding the events that unfolded inside the residence after the gunshot incident.
Melissa purportedly informed the police that she shot her husband in self-defense, claiming he initiated an attack and assaulted her by beating her around the head and neck, Salt Lake City Fox affiliate KSTU reported.
She asserted that the incident began while she was in her bedroom, and during the attack, she fired a nearby gun to defend herself.
She contends that he didn't lose consciousness immediately and started leaving the bedroom, shouting at her to kill him.
Melissa Johnson-Fausett informed investigators that she left the room simultaneously with this unfolding rapidly and fired at her husband again out of fear that he might outsmart her and locate another gun in the house.
Corry Fauset was shot four times
Corry Fausett was shot four times including once on his side, twice on the left side of his face and once in the back of his head.
Authorities reported that the burn marks left by the facial shots indicate they were fired at close range. Additionally, Provo police stated that one of the rounds may have been discharged when he was already on the ground, according to KSTU.
Investigators asserted that their conclusion was driven by the discovery of bullet damage on the floor beneath Corry Fausett's body.
Following his fall, the police stated that there was "no evidence" suggesting he attempted to move again to harm his wife.
An evaluation of Melissa by medical examiners also found no injury to her head or neck as she initially claimed.
Upon obtaining a search warrant, officers reportedly discovered a gun concealed in Melissa Johnson-Fausett's purse. The gun, found in Melissa Johnson-Fausett's purse, appeared to be splattered with blood.
When questioned by the police, she claimed it was blood from rabbits she had recently shot at close range during a trip to the desert. However, subsequent testing identified the blood as human.
Melissa Johnson-Fausett faces a charge of first-degree murder. It remains unclear whether she has secured legal representation at this time.
