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Sierra Friar, now 18, recounts the traumatic events of October 2, 2017, during an exclusive interview with “48 Hours,” where she reflects on the day her father, Aaron, and her 15-year-old sister, Ellie, went missing.
Morning of Chaos
At approximately 5:30 a.m., an 11-year-old Sierra awakens to the alarming sounds of her father shouting and glass shattering. Overcome with fear, she remains hidden in her room until she feels it is safe to venture outside.
Discovering the Horrors
By 6:15 a.m., peace has seemingly returned to the house, prompting Sierra to leave her room. Instead of reassurance, she is met with a chilling sight: her father and sister are nowhere to be found, and the living room is stained with blood and shattered glass scattered across the floor. In distress, she reaches out for help.
Sierra is taken to her mother Maggie’s residence nearby, where the situation rapidly escalates.
A Mother’s Alarm
At 6:42 a.m., Maggie Friar frantically calls 911, voicing her fears: “Something happened, and nobody can find my ex-husband or my oldest daughter… there’s blood everywhere.”
Investigation Underway
Just minutes later, at 6:43 a.m., police in Medford, Oregon, respond to the urgent call, marking the beginning of a missing persons investigation.
The Blood Trail
As Officer Logan Boyd arrives, he notices a visible blood trail leading from the front door to a back gate that opens to an alley. The trail abruptly ceases, yet fresh tire tracks imply a recent arrival and departure. Notably, Aaron Friar’s car has also been reported missing.
Investigative Response Intensifies
With the circumstances surrounding the disappearance raising significant concerns, the Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit is activated.
Round Up of Personnel
At 7:40 a.m., all available detectives in Medford are instructed to converge on the Friar household.
Sierra’s Critical Insight
By 9 a.m., Detective Shannon Reynolds interviews Sierra, who reveals that she spotted Ellie’s boyfriend, Gavin MacFarlane, near the home. Sierra emphasizes that her father had expressly forbidden Ellie from seeing him due to his age.
Tracking Leads
This leads investigators to focus on MacFarlane, prompting them to track his cellphone for further developments.
The Discovery of a Vehicle
At around 9:52 a.m., Aaron Friar’s car is located about five miles east of the home. Detectives observe dried blood on the rear bumper and additional evidence within the trunk.
Ellie Found
At 10:48 a.m., four hours post-dispatch, police find Ellie, unharmed, walking alongside a busy road. She is accompanied by her boyfriend, Gavin MacFarlane, and a friend, Russell Jones.
Detention and Detailing
By 10:51 a.m., the trio is separated and detained for questioning. Investigators begin piecing together the circumstances surrounding the case.
Revelations from Russell Jones
Detective Bill Ford opts to interview Jones first, knowing that he has a history of being talkative. During a break, Jones eventually reveals the location of Aaron Friar’s remains.
Remains Discovered
At 12:50 p.m., guided by Jones, authorities discover Aaron Friar’s body wrapped in a tarp and blanket off a remote highway, marking a significant transition from a missing persons case to a homicide investigation.
Murder Weapon Located
Officials recover a bloody baseball bat lodged in a tree near the scene, which would later be identified as the murder weapon. The cause of death is confirmed as blunt force trauma to the head.
Suspects and Accusations
As police focus on the three primary suspects, the situation complicates dramatically with conflicting narratives. Each individual begins to blame another: Jones claims self-defense on MacFarlane’s part, Ellie points towards Jones as the murderer, and MacFarlane insists it was Ellie who sought her father’s demise.
Plea Outcomes
In October 2018, Gavin MacFarlane pleads guilty to both murder and conspiracy and receives a sentence of 25 years to life. Ellie follows with a guilty plea in January 2019 for conspiring to murder her father, also sentenced to 25 years. In August 2021, Russell Jones enters a no-contest plea for his involvement in the conspiracy, receiving a 15-year sentence.
Source
www.cbsnews.com