The unsettling disappearance of a loving father in Medford, Oregon, sent shockwaves through the community and sparked a perplexing investigation. At the heart of it all was his 15-year-old daughter, Ellen “Ellie” Friar, whose eerie calm amidst the chaos raised more questions than answers. This is a story of teenage love, strained family dynamics, and a chilling conspiracy that culminated in a brutal murder.
The exterior of a house with police tape indicating a crime scene
On the morning of October 2nd, 2017, the peace of 517 1/2 Benson Street was shattered. Ellie’s younger sisters, Sierra and Olivia, awoke to a scene of unimaginable horror: their home was splattered with blood, and their father, Aaron Friar, was nowhere to be found. Their frantic call to their mother and her subsequent arrival only amplified the chilling reality – something terrible had happened.
Adding to the confusion, Ellie was missing too. Her unusual goodbye to her sisters the previous night, hinting at a more permanent farewell, took on a sinister tone. The discovery of bloodstains leading from the pool in the living room, out the front door, and toward tire tracks in the dirt only heightened the fear. Aaron’s silver Mercury Marquis was gone, leaving investigators with more questions than answers.
Close up of a tire track in the dirt
The case took a dramatic turn when Aaron’s car was found abandoned near a familiar residence – the grandparents of Russell Jones II, also known as “RJ” or “Mike,” a troubled young man known to police for previous run-ins with the law. The plot thickened when Ellie was spotted walking down a Medford street with two young men: her 19-year-old boyfriend, Gavin McFarland, and the enigmatic Russell Jones II.
Inside the Interrogation Room: A Bizarre Display
Bringing the trio in for questioning, investigators were immediately struck by Jones’s strange behavior. He oscillated between moments of lucidity and perplexing outbursts, seemingly aware of the recording devices yet unable to control his erratic pronouncements. His ramblings, filled with odd demands and unsettling threats, offered glimpses into his troubled mind but little clarity on Aaron’s disappearance.
Russell Jones II sitting in an interrogation room
Ellie, on the other hand, presented a different kind of puzzle. Initially evasive, she adopted a fabricated identity and feigned ignorance about the bloodbath at her home. Her demeanor, however, shifted between childish naivety and calculated defiance, making it difficult for investigators to discern truth from manipulation. As the interrogation progressed, she gradually let slip details about her strained relationship with her father, painting him as an overbearing and abusive figure. She even went so far as to claim that he sexually abused her, an accusation unsupported by evidence.
Meanwhile, the discovery of Aaron Friar’s body near the location where his abandoned car was found painted a gruesome picture of the crime. The brutal force inflicted on him, evident in the extensive injuries covering his body, pointed to a deeply personal attack fueled by rage.
A Tangled Web of Lies and Manipulation
As detectives pieced together the puzzle, a disturbing narrative began to emerge. It became apparent that Ellie, desperate to escape her perceived prison of a home and continue her relationship with the older Gavin, had orchestrated a plan far more sinister than initially imagined.
Gavin, seemingly besotted with Ellie and blinded by her claims of abuse, became a pawn in her deadly game. Driven by a misguided sense of heroism, he confessed to bludgeoning Aaron to death with a baseball bat provided by Ellie. He claimed to have acted on instinct when Aaron discovered him sneaking Ellie’s belongings out of the house, but the premeditation evident in Ellie’s “murder plan” sketches told a different story.
A close up of a baseball bat used as a weapon
Despite initially attempting to shield Ellie by claiming sole responsibility, Gavin’s confession unveiled the chilling extent of her manipulation. She had effectively exploited his affection, convincing him that eliminating her father was the only way to be together.
Justice Served, But Scars Remain
The weight of the evidence, coupled with the trio’s confessions, left little doubt about their guilt. However, the question of true culpability lingered. While Gavin delivered the fatal blows, it was Ellie’s web of lies and manipulation that set the tragedy in motion.
Russell Jones II, despite his cognitive challenges, was deemed mentally competent to stand trial. Years after the murder, he pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Gavin McFarland, overcome by the gravity of his actions, pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 25 years to life.
Ellie Friar, the architect of her father’s demise, also pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The court recognized her as the driving force behind the murder, manipulating two young men to do her bidding with tragic consequences.
The case of Aaron Friar’s murder serves as a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked manipulation and the dark potential that can fester within seemingly normal families. As Aaron’s loved ones grapple with the loss of a father, brother, and son, the perpetrators face a lifetime confronting the weight of their actions. This tragic tale leaves us with a haunting question: can true justice ever be served when the mastermind behind such a heinous crime is a child?
