Jury Finds 'WIFE BEATER' Wise Guilty of Murder

SAN ANGELO, TX — A Tom Green County jury found Christopher Jeffery Wise guilty of murder Friday in the 2022 killing of Christie Feland, bringing a weeklong trial in District Court to a close. Wise faces sentencing in the bifurcated trial’s punishment phase, which is set to continue Monday.

The eight-woman, four-man jury deliberated for about 90 minutes Friday afternoon before delivering the guilty verdict to District Judge Jay Weatherby in the 340th District Court. The court heard testimony from dozens of witnesses, painting a grim picture of the violent scene at the duplex on Ave. M in the quiet Santa Rita neighborhood, where prosecutors allege Wise brutally kicked, stomped, and beat Feland before placing her in a tub with running water in an attempt to cover up his actions.

District Attorney Allison Palmer brought forward a succession of witnesses who described the tragic events leading up to Feland’s death in November 2022. The trial began its final day of testimony Friday morning with statements from Feland’s youngest daughter, Stephanie Prine, who was 13 at the time of her mother’s death. Tearfully, Prine recalled the troubled relationship between Wise and her mother, describing it as volatile and marked by frequent arguments.

She was asked to describe what Wise would typically wear.  She called the shirt a ‘Wife Beater’, which is a white tank top style undershirt.

Prine told the jury that Feland had visitation with the children on the first, third and fifth weekends of each month and for a few hours every Thursday evening.

She also shared a heart-wrenching account of visiting her mother’s residence after her death to retrieve her dog, Trigger, who was limping—a change she noted had occurred only after her mother’s death. Prosecutors played a police body cam video showing Trigger’s limp, and later, they presented a photograph of Feland. The image, shown while Stephanie was on the stand, visibly moved both the young girl and some jurors, many of whom were seen wiping away tears.

Stephanie’s older sister, Samantha Prine, also took the stand, recounting the turmoil she witnessed in her mother’s relationship with Wise. Samantha testified that Feland always kept her phone nearby and that she and her sister could rely on their mother to answer texts or calls. Samantha noted that Wise claimed Feland had fallen, struck her head, and drowned—a statement that conflicted with the prosecution’s detailed forensic evidence, which pointed to blunt force trauma and a range of injuries on Feland’s body. Samantha said Wise had told her, “I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t hurt your mom.”

San Angelo Police Detective Chase Hill, who assisted in the investigation, provided insight into the digital evidence gathered in the case. Hill testified that he had downloaded data from both Wise’s and Feland’s phones, revealing a stream of disturbing texts and Snapchat messages Wise had sent Feland, many laced with profanity and hostile language. In one exchange, Wise demanded, “B*tch Answer my F**king Call!”  Then, “Straight up I’m telling you answer me now or F**k off!”  Feland answered, “You don’t want to talk to me, you just want to yell at me!”

Later Wise messaged, “Well F**k You!”  “You dirty B*tch!”  “And after this I’ll leave you alone.”

He then sent a stream of messages,”OK Christi F**k You” “I don’t even want to hear from you.”  “So we’re done and over with?”  “WTF”. “I’m gonna block your number!”

Hill then went through some Snapchat messages between the two.  They were just as disturbing and most were deleted by Wise.

Hill also downloaded google searches by Wise.  He searched for, “How to see if your phone has been hacked.” And How to stop someone from tracking my phone.”

Wise also used Feland’s phone after she had died and before he said he ‘found’ it and gave it to police.  He called a Zac listed a one of his friends, Big Mike, and Chris’s Grandma from Feland’s phone.

Wise had also been Snapchatting 9 or 10 other women while he was with Feland and after she died.

Testimony showed he messaged a Jessica Miller, Ashley, Sasha, Danielle Clark, Amber, Mercedes, Teresa G., Princess Ash, Paige, Amy, Ashley M., and Ashton.

In addition to verbal abuse, Hill testified that Wise had searched online for ways to detect phone hacking and prevent tracking—an action prosecutors argued showed a desire to cover his tracks. Evidence also indicated Wise used Feland’s phone to make calls to his friends and family after her death, allegedly before “finding” it and handing it over to police.

Prosecutors closed their case by reminding the jury of the physical evidence, including autopsy photos detailing Feland’s extensive injuries, and argued that Wise had intentionally killed Feland. After closing arguments, Judge Weatherby read the jury’s instructions, and the jury returned a guilty verdict within an hour and a half.

As the trial moves to the punishment phase, Judge Weatherby will determine Wise’s sentence. Palmer indicated she has additional witnesses, including some traveling from New Mexico, prepared to testify for the prosecution.

More about the trial:

• Nov 22, 2022: Arrest: Hairstylist's Murder in Santa Rita Followed Discovery of Adulterous Snapchat Exchange
• Oct 23, 2024: 'Angry' Juror Dismissed in San Angelo Murder Trial
• Oct 24, 2024: Detective & Doctor Detail Beating & Severe Injuries in Murder Trial
• Oct 24, 2024: Santa Rita Murder: Evidence Suggests Hairstylist Girlfriend was Bludgeoned with a Hammer
• Santa Rita Hairstylist Murder: Chris Wise Found Guilty of Murder