SAL BREAKING NEWS
Richard
McFarland Gives Up; Surrenders Parental Rights;
Apologizes For Murder
SAL Staff
Moments before a trial was to begin,
Richard McFarland announced that he will surrender
parental rights to the three children he fathered
with the woman he murdered.
McFarland read a two page statement in
which he admitted the grisly beating death of his
wife Susan McFarland in 2002.
The fate of the three preteen kids is
still not settled. (See stories below.)
More to follow.
- Developing -
Previous Stories
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4-11-2004
MCFARLAND WATCH
Killer
Dad Will Fight To Keep Children
McFarland
Kids' Fates Still Undecided; Trial Scheduled Today
RG Griffing, SAL Commentary
In what could well become a contentious,
ugly, legal battle, admitted wife killer Richard
McFarland will fight attempts to severe parental
rights to his three preteen boys.
McFarland pleaded guilty in February to
the shocking murder of Susan McFarlnd, drawing a
forty-year-prison term. But the unanswered question
of his kids, left dangling in foster care since their
father's arrest, remains unanswered. (See previous
stories)
Though jury selection is expected to
begin today for a custody trial, the Lightning has
learned that behind the scenes manuevering may
"resolve" the situation before that trial
begins.
* * *
An odd note:
Richard McFarland's mother has indicated
she was told by authorities that her son's parental
rights have already been severed.
According to a letter obtained by the
Lightning, she was told that the kids will be placed
with relatives. She was also told, she said, that
local residents Shanan and Brian Strange, who had
sought to adopt the children, have been ruled out.
They had been trying to keep the kids from being
split up.
I
understand that Shanan and Brian Strange do not
have a chance . The relative is ... from Georgia
Rick has
voluntarily severed his parents rights, and for
some reason my rights as a Grandmother are being
severed also. My husband and I petitioned for
Grandparent rights from the very beginning, but
that I now understand is not sufficient. (Excepted
- Ramona McFarland)
Late last year
Child Protective Services (CPS) wrote a scathing note
to members of Susan McFarland's family, demanding a
plan be devised for the children. (See story below)
Also at stake
in the custody battle is an estate estimated at more
than $200,000.
- Developing -
* * *
11-29-2003
LIGHTNING EXCLUSIVE
CPS Warned McFarland Kin
'Make Plans For Susan's Kids,
Or Risk Losing Them'
RG Griffing, SAL Commentary - Copyright
2003
"The children are in limbo,
with no one able
or willing to take them long term."
That
is an excerpt from an email message obtained by the
Lightning, which was sent in October by Child
Protective Services to relatives of murdered Terrell
Hills mom, Susan McFarland.
It
refers to her three boys, 6, 10 and 12, who are now
in temporary foster care.
(See
archives below for background.)
"I feel I have
no choice but to give the family a deadline,"
wrote Maria Galloway, CPS Unit supervisor.
CPS
issued the admonition in October, warning kin to come
up with a plan for the kids, or risk having the
children permanently placed with non-relatives, and
eventually adopted.
Family
members have since said they have such plans, but
have not shared them, and at least two San Antonio
family friends have sought to adopt the boys.
A
status hearing regarding placement of the children
will be held in SA on Tuesday. Hopefully a solid plan
will soon be revealed as to the fate of Susan's boys.
Richard McFarland faces trial in Austin, in February
Here are excerpts from the email sent to
relatives of Susan and Richard McFarland.
...we have asked
numerous times for any relatives that could take
care of the children long-term. The names
that were given to us were diligently
followed-up on. However for whatever reasons
these individuals decided
that they could not care for the
children.
...we have NO
permanency plan for the children. The
children are in limbo, with no one able
or willing to take them long term...
As I'm sure you're aware
of, we are on a legal
timeline.
...If no relatives are able
to take a child, then the Dept. looks at
"kinship" placement. Basically
kinship placement means anyone that the children
have had a "meaningful"
relationship with. I would like to share that I
have received a request for possible
placement with (Name withheld by SAL.)
She would be considered a
"kinship" placement since she has had a past
relationship with the children...
Due to time constraints,
(Name withheld) formally asking to be
studied, and no relatives coming
forward, I feel I have no choice but to
give the family a deadline by which time I
should hear from you about any family
members or your own kinship
placement.
...hard decisions have to
be made. I also want you to be aware that if
termination is granted on
Mr. McFarland and there are no relatives or
kinship placement for the children, they
can be put up for adoption. If this occurs,
then it would be up to
the adoptive family to decided if they want
to continue with family
contact.
... I know that this is a hard
decision to make, however at this
point that decision has to be made.
... If I do not hear from
you, then the Dept. will have to start
considering kinship placement in San
Antonio.
Thank you in advance for
your assistance on this matter.
Maria Galloway
Unit supervisor (Child
Protective Services)
-Developing-
* * *
 |
|
A LIGHTNING EXCLUSIVE
MURDER
Susan's Sad,True Story
A Journal Of The McFarland Case
RG Griffing - Copyright 2004 By
San Antonio Lightning |
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