McFarland (Texas) Gets 40 Years on Surprise Guilty Plea
anne vasquez
LAST UPDATE: 2/5/2004 8:28:42 PM
Posted By: CyberBob
A surprising development today in one of San Antonio's most closely
watched murder trials in years.
Richard McFarland, 46, had been set to go on trial today in Austin on
charges of killing his wife, SBC Corporation executive Susan
McFarland, in the master bedroom of their home in the upscale San
Antonio suburb of Terrell Hills in November of 2002. Just as jury
selection was set to begin in the Travis County Courthouse, McFarland
pled guilty to murder. He was immediately sentneced to 40 years in
prison by State District Judge Sid Harle.
"He wanted to step up, step forward, and take responsibility, and he
did that when he pled guilty," Defense Attorney Mark Stevens said. "He
also realized that a trial would be very painful for his family."
The closely watched case was set to take place in the moot courtroom
at the University of Texas School of Law. Due to interest in the case,
the entire trial was to have been streamed live on the Internet, and
also portions of it were to be broadcast by Court TV.
Under Texas law, McFarland must serve twenty years in prison before he
is eligible for parole. If convicted at a trial, he could have gotten
life in prison.
Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed said she agreed to the deal
only after receiving the approval of Susan's family.
"He is going into prison as a murderer, because that's what he is,"
Reed said.
The McFarland's have three sons, aged 11, 9, and 6, who are in the
custody of Child Protective and Regulatory Services.
"They appear to be doing well with the foster parents they are staying
with," said CPRS spokeswoman Mary Walker.
Now that McFarland has pled guilty, the state is free to place the
children in permanent homes, probably with Susan's relatives in the
St. Louis area.
The McFarland case captivated the community for weeks in the fall and
winter of 2002 and into 2003. The Texas Rangers put together a complex
case against McFarland, a self-employed web site designer, after
Susan's disappearence. The key evidence was an SUV which had been test
driven by McFarland and was found abandoned in Terrell Hills with
traces of blood and other evidence inside it.
Susan McFarland was apparently stabbed and possible bludgeoned to
death, then her body was cut apart, taken to a field in southeast
Bexar County, and set on fire. McFarland was arrested hours after her
charred remains were found in January of 2003.
martha
with so many unanswered questions. Fortunately, Susan's family and
children will be spared the bizarre & gruesome details that would have
been divulged throughout the trial. Richard McFarland still did not
have to give a full confession, he is a COWARD and a monster!!