Devastated son shudders with grief after his father murdered his mom and all his siblings
The sole survivor of an Iowa massacre that saw six family members killed at the hands of his dad before taking his own life shared a powerful message as he grieved the devastating loss of his loved ones.
Ryan Willis McFarland, 52, killed his wife Lesa, 51, and their daughter Ryle, 20, and sons Mark, 16, and Ryan Jr, 13, shortly after noon on Monday in Muscatine, close to the Illinois border, police said.
Authorities said McFarland also murdered Lesa’s two sons from her previous relationships, 29-year-old Austin Harris and 32-year-old Dakota Whitlow.
His son Johnathan McFarland, 22, trembled as he spoke about the brutal family tragedy on Tuesday night at a vigil at the Muscatine High School Stadium.
Taking a podium adorned with six candle stands and yellow, red, purple, pink and orange flowers, Johnathan said he was initially not going to speak just one night after Monday’s spree, but that his family ‘if they were still here with me today’ would want him to.
‘I just wanted to say that I will forever love and miss my mom, Lesa, my sister, Ryle, my four brothers, Dakota, Austin, Mark and Ryan,’ Johnathan said.
He added: ‘This might hurt some people for me to say, no matter what is being told to me, I will always love and miss my dad, Ryan.’
With his voice sometimes breaking, Johnathan told the crowd that he was ‘incredibly thankful to have had such an amazing, loving and caring family throughout [his] entire life.’
McFarland, his wife Lesa, 51, with their children Ryan Jr, 13, Ryle, 20, Mark, 16, and Johnathan, 22, at Ryle’s high school graduation in 2023
Johnathan was emotional as he remembered his dead family members and talked about his dad at a vigil on Tuesday night
McFarland killed Ryle, Mark, Lesa, and Ryan Jr at the family home on Park Street just after noon on Monday. Only Johnathan (second from left) was left alive
Before beginning his remarks, Johnathan apologized to those in attendance, saying that he was ‘not good at public speaking’ and adding that he might not ‘look up much.’
‘It’s not to be selfish,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to even think that this is even real. I’m still in denial.’
He asked for privacy, saying he needed time to grieve and mourn his loved ones.
‘They’re gonna forever be always in my heart, my prayers, my thoughts, and I’ll always talk to them,’ Johnathan said.
He told the crowd that he would not be sharing details about Monday’s tragedy, which authorities have said remains under investigation.
In wake of the massacre, a GoFundMe was started for Johnathan to help him with funeral proceedings, mental health and his daily life.
As of Wednesday morning, about $24,000 had been raised of an initial $100,000 goal.
Johnathan thanked his community for their support and graciously extended some words to them.
‘To everyone that is out here tonight. I know this is affecting all of you, as well, and just know that I’m praying for everyone affected as you guys are praying for me too,’ he said.
Johnathan McFarland beamed as he cuddled up to his dad on the far right of a wholesome holiday snap of their blended family
Johnathan, seen with his sister Ryle, said he was ‘incredibly thankful to have had such an amazing, loving and caring family throughout my entire life’
Whitlow’s fiancee, Audrey Perdue, also spoke at the vigil, remembering him as a talented metal fabricator who was known in the local automotive industry.
‘My heart is broken as I grieve the loss of my fiance and the life that we had planned together to live together,’ Perdue said.
‘Each of the lives lost in yesterday’s tragedy held incredible potential which was unjustly taken,’ Perdue added.
She said she chose to speak in order to rally behind the six family members who police said McFarland killed.
‘Every year, countless lives are lost to senseless acts of domestic violence, and unfortunately this time, it was near and dear to our hearts and community,’ Perdue said.
The local school district issued a statement saying that the tragedy had deeply affected neighbors, friends and families, inviting them to ‘gather as one.’
‘Our hearts are with the McFarland, Whitlow and Harris families and all those affected by this tragic loss,’ the statement continued.
On Tuesday night, the city of Muscatine honored the McFarland, Whitlow and Harris families by lighting the Norbert F. Beckey Bridge in purple and gold.
Whitlow was planning a wedding with his fiancee Audrey Perdue, who said at the vigil that she was grieving the life they had planned togeher
Perdue said she chose to speak in order to rally behind the six family members who police said McFarland killed on Monday
Austin Harris, 29, was shot dead in his home on Mill Street
Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies had previously said he spent the morning with Johnathan.
‘As this is also very overwhelming for him, while he and his family and friends navigate this horrific incident, he is open and welcome to the prayers for him and his family,’ Kies said.
Police were first called to the 200 block of Park Avenue shortly after 12.15pm on Monday following reports of gunfire.
When officers arrived, they found Lesa, Ryle, Mark and Ryan Jr. with gunshot wounds. All four were declared dead at the scene.
As the investigation expanded, detectives uncovered two additional victims at separate locations in Muscatine.
Whitlow was killed as he worked at a Grandview Avenue address linked to his late father’s shop, Willits Metalworks.
Meanwhile, Harris was shot dead in his home on the 1500 block of Mill Street, according to Muscatine police.
McFarland took his own life while talking to law enforcement, according to Kies.
Authorities believe the violence was linked to a domestic dispute.
McFarland and his wife Lesa were lauded in several articles in the early 2000s for the daycare center they ran from their home in Muscatine, Iowa
Authorities belive this week’s massacre was caused by a domestic dispute, which remains under investigation
Neighbor Melissa Weggen told the Muscatine Journal that about 10 minutes before the massacre began, she heard McFarland say: ‘Don’t worry about money. Everything goes away when you die.’
Cash appeared to be a concern, with Weggen saying McFarland and his wife Lesa held weekly yard sales.
However, McFarland also had a dark past with incidents far worse than mere money troubles. Fifteen years earlier, in August 2011, he was blamed for the death of a baby in his care.
The tragedy unfolded when McFarland left an eight-month-old boy called Charles Negus sleeping in a crib at Little People, the daycare center he ran throughout the early 2000s.
Charles was placed on his stomach, with his head propped up by a soft pillow. He ended up smothering himself.
McFarland struck a plea deal the following year, which saw a child endangerment resulting in death charge being dismissed.
He was sentenced to a year on probation, two years of unsupervised probation and a $625 fine.
Alan Ostergren, the Muscatine County Attorney at the time, said the evidence was not enough to conclude McFarland had caused the eight-month-old’s death.
Iowa court records viewed by the Daily Mail showed McFarland’s charge was ultimately adjudicated as an aggravated misdemeanor of child endangerment with no injuries.
Authorities said McFarland’s license to operate a childcare service had been previously revoked by the state because he had lied on his application about not having prior felony convictions.
McFarland had been convicted in September 1994 in Illinois of burglary and attempted armed robbery.
In 2010, he was also found guilty of third-degree theft in Muscatine.