Johnathan McFarland, 22, is grappling with the unimaginable loss of his entire family after his father, Ryan Willis McFarland, 52, went on a deadly rampage in Muscatine, Iowa, on Monday. The student is the sole survivor among eight family members pictured in a holiday snapshot, as his father killed six others before turning the gun on himself.
The Massacre Unfolds
Just after noon on Monday, McFarland shot and killed his wife Lesa, 51, daughter Ryle, 20, and sons Mark, 16, and Ryan Jr, 13, at the family home on Park Street. He then hunted down Lesa's two sons from previous relationships: Austin Harris, 29, was killed in his home on Mill Street, and Dakota Whitlow, 32, was murdered at his workplace, Willits Metalworks. Police cornered McFarland on Riverfront Trail near the home before he could find Johnathan, and he fatally shot himself as officers attempted to negotiate.
Johnathan's Grief and Forgiveness
Johnathan, now a key witness, spoke at a vigil on Tuesday night. 'It's hard to think this is even real, I'm still in denial,' he said. 'This might hurt some people to say... no matter what is being told to me, I will always love and miss my dad.' Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies described the acts as 'evil' and assured that the investigation would continue to provide answers for Johnathan.
Victims Remembered
Ryle had recently graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and secured a teaching job. Her friend Drake Edwards mourned her online, writing, 'I will love you in every lifetime.' Dakota Whitlow was planning a wedding with his fiancée Audrey Perdue. Vicky Whitlow, his stepmother, paid tribute: 'You were a great stepson. I am devastated that you're gone.' Ryan Jr's classmate Keith remembered him as 'as nice as ever.'
McFarland's Troubled Past
Fifteen years earlier, McFarland was responsible for the death of an eight-month-old boy in his daycare. He struck a plea deal, receiving probation and a fine. In 1994, he was convicted of burglary and attempted armed robbery in Illinois, and in 2010, third-degree theft in Muscatine. His daycare license was revoked for lying about prior felonies. Despite this, the couple had been praised for their childcare services, operating from their home and emphasizing a family setting.
Neighbor Melissa Weggen reported hearing McFarland say, 'Don't worry about money. Everything goes away when you die,' just before the killings. Authorities believe a domestic dispute sparked the massacre, which remains under investigation.
