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A LIGHTNING
EXCLUSIVE
MURDER!
Susan's Sad, True Story
A Journal Of The
McFarland Case
By RG Griffing -
Copyright 2004 By San Antonio Lightning |
Chapter
Four
A
Plan Unraveled
*Richard's Next Day
5:46PM. Richard's
next day
"My wife is
missing."
Richard is back on
the telephone with Terrell Hills police. He has
been busy all day, except when he took a short
nap around noon.
He spins a yarn
about Susan's planned visit to Amarillo and the
Dowlens' home. The story smells phony on both
ends of the line.
Reluctant Richard
makes an appointment to meet police at the
abandoned Explorer on Lazy Lane.
A Police officer
will soon write in his notebook that Richard
exhibits odd behavior. During the 10 minute
meeting, Richard will not approach the vehicle.
* *
*
November 29, 2002.
10AM. Lazy Lane.
A curious Terrell
Hills police officer spots a blood smear on the
passenger side of the Explorer's enterior. The
vehicle is immediately impounded. Suspicious
Terrell Hills police chief Larry Semander alerts
state police and asks for assistance. Semander
now suspects foul play.
* *
*
5:50PM. Arcadia
Place.
Veteran Texas
Ranger Shawn Palmer enters the case. He meets a
Terrell Hills police sergeant named Boyd Wedding.
Wedding has already received grudging permission
from Richard to allow the house to be searched.
The following is the passionless report that
ranger Palmer will later file, listing himself as
"affiant" (the maker of an affidavit).
* *
*
At
approximately 6:00PM, affiant observed suspected
blood stains in the master bathroom. Affiant
observed an apparent blood smear on the doorframe
of a room containing the commode. Affiant also
observed apparent blood drops on the wall of the
master bathroom. Affiant observed apparent blood
stains on the closet door of the master bathroom.
Your affiant observed apparent light colored
hairs near the bottom of a piece of furniture
located in the downstairs hallway of the
residence. The apparent hairs were sticking out
from a nail on the bottom left hinge of the piece
of furniture. Your affiant observed an apparent
blood stain on the wood floor below the piece of
furniture. Your affiant observed that Richard
McFarland had abrasions on the knuckles of his
left hand. Mr. McFarland also had an injury to
the pinkie finger of his right hand. Your affiant
observed a white 1995 Ford van bearing Texas
license plate number JF7BK parked in the driveway
of 351 Arcadia. Your affiant looked through the
window and observed that there was no carpet on
the floor of the van. It appeared that the carpet
had been removed.
*
* *
During
this search an even more serious problem arises
for Richard. The stolen Suburban is found hidden
across the street.
Returning
to the cold pages of the search report, Palmer
continues.
* *
*
At
approximately 8:30PM, your affiant traveled to a
residence located at 356 Arcadia Place Terrell
Hills, Texas. Affiant observed a gray and blue
Chevrolet Suburban (VIN #1GNEC16KOSJ445614)
parked in the garage of the residence. The
suburban was bearing Texas license plate number
K08JGY. (Terrell Hills Police Department learned
that this license plate did not belong to said
suburban. The owner of said suburban was
contacted. The owner advised that the suburban
had been parked at a gas station and put up for
sale.) The owner of the residence had contacted
the Terrell Hills Police Department to report the
suspicious vehicle parked in the garage. Your
affiant observed through the windows several
items inside the suburban. Your affiant observed
a map, two unopened Bounty paper towel rolls, and
two plastic shopping bags in the front passenger
seat area. The plastic shopping bags contained
numerous packages of Band-Aids. Your affiant also
observed a Sprite soda box on the floorboard and
an open Sprite soda can in the center console.
Your affiants observed a large plastic bag on the
second row seat. The plastic bag contained a pair
of brown shoes, a blue shirt, a pair of boxer
shorts, a roll of plastic, several plastic bags,
a roll of gray duct tape and a roll of paper
towels. Your affiant observed a large wicker type
basket on the second row seat. (Affiant observed
a similar basket on the back porch of the
residence located at 351 Arcadia Place.) The
basket contained a multi colored shirt,
newspapers and a plastic bag. The plastic bag
contained a plastic organizer folder. The
organizer folder contained a black wallet and a
document with Compass bank written on it. Your
affiant observed several plastic mats and a green
military style shovel in the rear area of the
suburban. Your affiant observed an apparent blood
smear on the rear bumper below the license plate.
At
approximately 9:00PM, affiant contacted Harriet
Wells who was identified as the owner of 356
Arcadia Place. Mrs. Wells stated that on
11-26-2002, she observed a white mini van parked
in the driveway of 356 Arcadia Place. Mrs. Wells
recognized the mini van as one owned by Richard
McFarland. Mr. McFarland had contacted a realtor
named Debbie Meyers and apologized for parking
the van in the driveway. On 11-29-2002, at
approximately 12:30PM, Mrs. Wells observed the
gray and blue Chevrolet Suburban parked in the
garage. Mrs. Wells looked inside the suburban and
located a black wallet. Mrs. Wells looked inside
the wallet and observed items with the name
Richard McFarland on them. Mrs. Wells stated to
affiant that there were gasoline cans,
insecticide bottles and bags of charcoal inside
the garage. Mrs. Wells stated that these items
did not belong to her. Mrs. Wells further stated
that these items were not in the garage on
11-28-2002. Mrs. Wells also advised that a pair
of pruning shears was missing from the garage.
Dee Ann Dowlen
from Amarillo, Texas contacted Terrell Hills
Police Department Sgt. Wedding. Mrs. Dowlen
identified herself as a friend of Susan
McFarland. Mrs. Dowlen had not heard from Susan
McFarland. Mrs. Dowlen stated that Susan
McFarland had contacted an attorney to initiate
divorce proceedings. Mrs. Dowlen stated that the
divorce was to be filed within the next two
weeks.
Officers of the
Terrell Hills Police Department have contacted
friends and neighbors of Susan McFarland. None of
the individuals has had contact with Susan
McFarland since 11-25-2002.
It is the
belief of your affiant that Susan McFarland is
missing. It is the belief of your affiant that
probable cause exists that the apparent blood
located in the suspected vehicle is evidence of
an assault.
Your affiant is
aware, based on his knowledge, training and
experience, that during an assault items from a
victim may be transferred onto items located
where the assault occurs. Your affiant is further
aware that motor vehicles are often used to
transport victims from one location to another.
Said items from a victim can also be transferred
during the movement or relocation of said victim.
These items include hair, blood and other body
tissues. It is the belief of your affiant that
there is apparent blood located on the suspected
vehicle. Said apparent blood, as well as hair and
other body tissues may constitute evidence of an
assault. It is the belief of your affiant that
probable cause exists that Richard McFarland has
attempted to secrete items of possible evidence.
It is the belief of your affiant that evidence
exists that Richard McFarland has purchased items
to aid in secreting items of evidence. It is the
belief of your affiant that probable cause exists
that said evidence is located within the
suspected vehicle.
WHEREFORE,
AFFIANT ASKS FOR ISSUANCE OF A SEARCH WARRANT
THAT WILL AUTHORIZE THE SEARCH OF SAID SUSPECTED
PLACE AND PREMISES FOR SAID EVIDENTIARY ITEM (S)
SO THAT THE SAME MAY BE SIEZED (sic).
*
* *
Palmer's
workman-like words, though devoid of emotion, are
simply that--the words of a workman.
But
the ranger's many years of experience sadly tell
him that Susan McFarland is dead.
His
many years of experience also tell him that the
stuttering, nervous man of the house, Richard
McFarland, is a goddam killer.
Palmer
sets out to prove it.
* * *
(Editor's note: Due to a previous
publishing obligation, and upon legal advice,
this concludes the excerption of the Lightning's
journal on the McFarland case. However, the
complete book is expected to be printed and
released at a later date. Email
the Lightning.)
(Click
for Archives.)
*
* *
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