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Alabama teen gets 50 years in jail after admitting shooting his father’s fiancée dead because he was angry he got engaged just 11 months after his mom died
- Ross McFarland, then 16, entered a guilty plea on Thursday in the murder of Martha Jones ‘Marti’ White, 66 on October 17, 2019
- Officials said McFarland ‘harbored animosity’ toward the woman who engaged his father, Dr. John McFarland, just 11 months after his mother’s death
- Police in the city of Auburn responded to a home and found White dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to her face
- White was herself a mother of two and grandmother of five, as well as a retired teacher from the city’s school district
An Alabama teenager was jailed for 50 years for killing his doctor father’s new fiancée in a rage after his dad got engaged to the woman just 11 months after the teen’s mom died.
Ross McFarland, 18 entered a guilty plea on Thursday in the murder of teacher Martha Jones ‘Marti’ White, 66 on October 17, 2019 in Auburn, Alabama.
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.
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, which has not been updated since before her death, lists her relationship status as separated.
Police in the city of Auburn responded to a home and found White dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to her face.
White was herself a mother of two and grandmother of five, as well as a retired teacher from the city’s school district.
Ross McFarland, then 16, entered a guilty plea on Thursday in the murder of Martha Jones ‘Marti’ White, 66 on October 17, 2019
Officials in Lee County said McFarland ‘harbored animosity’ toward White (pictured) who got engaged to his father, Dr. John McFarland, just 11 months after his mother’s death
White’s daughter Elizabeth Chaisson released a statement.
‘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.
When authorities investigated the case, they found a .40-caliber handgun from Smith & Wesson missing from Dr. McFarland’s home.
They eventually found a witness who was a close friend of Ross McFarland, who said they saw McFarland shoot White when she turned her head to look away, News 19 said.
Ross, the witness said, picked up the bullet’s shell casing and fled.
White was herself a mother of two and grandmother of five, as well as a retired teacher from the city’s school district
Ross McFarland was furious after his father John (pictured furthest right with gray beard) began dating Martha White just 11 months after Ross’s mom Donna McFarland (pictured center in black halter neck top) died
Investigators said McFarland admitted to fantasizing about killing other people in his community, including children, in a statement after his arrest.
McFarland was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He was denied youthful offender status despite having no prior criminal record.
John McFarland serves as medical director at Lee County Sheriff’s Office. He also works as an ER doctor at East Alabama Medical Center.
McFarland has since remarried, to a retiree called Kathy Timberlake.
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