Who is Ross McFarland? 18-yr-old boy gets 50 years in prison for killing dad's fiancee in fit of rage
AUBURN, ALABAMA: An Alabama teenager, Ross McFarland, 18, on May 26, 2022, pled guilty to the killing of his doctor father's new fiancee, Martha Jones 'Marti' White, 66, on October 17, 2019, in rage after his father got engaged to the woman just 11 months after the teen's mother died. The teen is sentenced to 50 years of imprisonment. He was 16 at the time of the killing. Officials in Lee County said McFarland harbored animosity toward the woman who got engaged to his father, Dr. John McFarland, just 11 months after his mother's death and this led to the killing of the woman by the teen.
During the sentencing, Ross admitted to thinking about killing his father, Dr. John McFarland, a prominent east Alabama physician, and White for several months before the actual shooting took place at the family’s home along Burke Place in Auburn. Ross's mother Donna McFarland was a scientist who died in November 2018 aged just 45. She was a microbiology graduate who'd been married to John McFarland for 22 years. She had two other children besides Ross, who are called Avery and Samuel. Donna McFarland's Facebook profile showed that her relationship status with John McFarland was separated.
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White was found dead on the floor with a gunshot wound on her face. The Police department of Auburn found her body in her home in the city of Auburn. White was a mother of two and grandmother of five. She was also a retired teacher from the city's school district and had spent 35 years as an elementary educator with Auburn City Schools. White's daughter Elizabeth Chaisson gave a statement in regard to the jail sentence. "Today, we moved closer to obtaining justice for our dear mother, Marti White. She was a faithful and committed servant to ALL the children in her life, from her countless numbers of young students to her beloved family, children, and precious grandchildren", said Chaisson.
"She dedicated her life to loving and showing compassion to those who needed it most. To the end of her life, she sacrificed herself to help children in need. While we know this is a step towards earthly justice, we will never know true peace and justice until we meet again," she added.
According to Auburn investigators, on October 17, 2019, during the investigation, Ross was developed as a suspect, and a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun was discovered missing from their residence. A close friend of Ross McFarland witnessed Ross shoot the victim when she turned her head to look away from Ross. According to the witness, Ross picked up the shell casing, and they left the scene, according to a report by News 19.
After Ross was arrested, a Lee County Judge ordered the teen to be held without bond due to public safety concerns. Investigators said Ross had admitted to fantasizing about killing others in the community, including children, in a statement to police after the teen’s arrest. McFarland was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He was denied youthful offender status despite having no prior criminal record.