The loss of a parent can be profound, as a death of a parent can bring several types of emotions, especially to children that were left behind. Feelings of loss, anger, confusion, anxiety, and many others, may come from this transition.
And some children may worry that after one of their parent’s death; one of them remarries—thus bringing a new father/mother figure into the home. In some cases, they will look for reasons, wondering if the parent that was left really loves the one that faces death. Or if they have done something wrong.
However, in a tragic turn of events, Ross McFarland, now an eighteen-year-old from Alabama, pleaded guilty to shooting and killing his father’s fiancé, Martha Jones “Marti” White, in October of 2019. The teenager had become upset that his father had found a new partner just eleven months after his mother’s untimely death.
The incident occurred when Ross was sixteen years old and attending high school. According to reports, he “harbored animosity” towards White because his father, Dr. John McFarland, had gotten engaged to her so soon after the death of Ross’ mother, Donna McFarland, who passed away in November of 2018 at the young age of forty-five. Donna was a scientist with a degree in microbiology and had been married to Dr. McFarland for twenty-two years. The couple had three children together: Ross, Avery, and Samuel.
Ross became so enraged at the idea of his father moving on so quickly that he took a firearm and ended White’s life before her time. Police found White’s lifeless body on the floor of the Auburn home she shared with Dr. McFarland. She had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to her face.
Martha Jones “Marti” White was 66 years old and a mother and grandmother, as well as a recently retired teacher from the Auburn school district. She had dedicated her life to serving children, both in her professional life and her personal life. Her daughter Elizabeth Chaisson mourned her mother’s loss publicly, stating, “While we know this is a step towards earthly justice, we will never know true peace and justice until we meet again.”
The authorities then quickly discovered that a .40-caliber handgun was missing from Dr. McFarland’s gun case. The weapon in question was a Smith & Wesson make that Ross had reportedly used to commit the murder. A witness, a friend of Ross’, eventually came forward and told the police that they had watched Ross kill White.
Ross’ actions have caused immeasurable pain and heartache for those close to White, as well as for his own family. His father has since remarried a retiree named Kathy Timberlake, but the emotional scars of Ross’ actions will undoubtedly stay with him for the rest of his life.