Naman Shrestha
When Aaron Friar was killed in his house in October 2017, his loved ones felt the world crumbling around them as a sense of grief took over them. However, they were soon shocked further when his eldest daughter, Ellie Friar, was connected to the murder, alongside her boyfriend, Gavin MacFarlane. The entire case and the swift investigation that followed are covered in detail in the episode titled ‘First Love, Then Murder’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours.’ The documentary also features an exclusive interview with Ellie’s sister, Sierra, who shared the intricate details of the incident, including her sister’s relationship with Gavin.
Gavin MacFarlane and Ellie Friar Plotted the Killing of Aaron Friar For Not Allowing Them to Date
During their marriage, Aaron and Maggie Friar were blessed with three daughters, the eldest being Ellie Friar. However, in 2014, the parents split up amicably, and soon enough, Aaron had gotten into a relationship with Miki. Being a bright child, the 15-year-old girl had been doing great at school, making her father proud. Around that time, she also started dating 19-year-old Gavin MacFarlane, but without the approval of Aaron, who believed that Gavin was a bad influence on her. Around early September 2017, he reportedly forbade Ellie from stopping seeing Gavin and even went to his house to threaten him.
Fast forward to the early hours of October 2, 2017, Gavin hit Aaron Friar with a baseball bat to death as he slept on the couch in his house on Benson Street in Medford, Oregon, under the instruction of Ellie, and disposed of his body outside of Eagle Point with the help of the former’s friend, Russell Jones. When the detectives arrived at the bloody scene, they started searching for the father and his daughter, who had fled the scene with the other conspirators after the murder. A few hours after the investigation was launched, the authorities spotted Ellie walking alongside Gavin and Russell. All three of them were taken into custody and questioned separately.
Gavin and Ellie Gave Different Accounts of the Incident
Pretending to be clueless about the situation, Ellie claimed to be concerned about the situation and alleged that her father might be looking for her. During her interrogation, she also said, “My parents are very controlling. My dad is very abusive. Verbally. Emotionally. And a few times, when I did something that he didn’t like, he would grab me right here (indicating throat) and he’d pin me against the wall.” According to her, the plan was to run away with Gavin and Russell, but when the latter showed up at her house with a machete and attacked Aaron, she ran away. Meanwhile, upon questioning Russell, he pointed the finger at Gavin and alleged that he killed Ellie’s father with a baseball bat. He claimed that he had nothing to do with the killing and only helped his friend dispose of the remains.
Moreover, Russell even led the detectives to the location where Aaron’s remains were found. Back at the station, Gavin MacFarlane was confronted with the entire situation, after which he soon confessed to the murder. Claiming that Ellie was pregnant and she told him that her father abused her, he told the investigators, “I was just trying to protect Ellie. That’s what set me off. I was just really angry at that moment…the anger had just been building up because of the things that Ellie had been telling me.” As per his accounts, it was his girlfriend who instructed him to commit murder. After the interviews, all three were charged with murder, robbery, and tampering with evidence, but Gavin was also reportedly charged with third-degree rape because Ellie was still under 16 years of age.
While Gavin is Serving His Sentence at an Adult Prison Facility, Ellie is Incarcerated at a Juvenile Facility
Gavin MacFarlane was the first of the three accused to stand trial for the murder of Aaron Friar. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to the murder and conspiracy to murder charges against him. On October 5 of the same year, he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the same. He is currently incarcerated at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton, Oregon. As for Ellie Friar, she also pleaded guilty to an adult charge of conspiracy to commit murder of her father and conspiracy to commit burglary in the first degree in January 2019.
A few months later, on April 2, 2019, she addressed the court during her sentencing hearing. She stated, “I’m not the same scared little girl I was over a year ago. I’ve seen all different kinds of people and now see humanity from a new, compassionate perspective.” Her defense attorney argued that she was manipulated by Gavin and had endured several years of alleged abuse from her father. Ultimately, the court didn’t sway and sentenced her to 25 years in prison. Until she turns 25, she is being held at a juvenile prison facility. Last but not least, Russell Jones also ended up pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder before getting sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Read More: Russell Jones: Where is Gavin MacFarlane’s Accomplice Now?
