When Aaron Friar, 50, and daughter, Ellie, 15, vanished from their Medford, Oregon, residence on Oct. 2, 2017, investigators rapidly deduced that there was foul play.
“They saw blood spatter behind the couch, on the ceiling, all the way across the room,” stated lead Detective Invoice Ford. “There was … a potential that this was what we could refer to as a no-body homicide. That there had been a homicide, but we don’t have a body.”
However who was lifeless? Was it Aaron Friar, Ellie or each?
Natalie Morales investigates the pair’s mysterious disappearance in “First Love, Then Murder” an all-new “48 Hours” airing Saturday, April 19 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
The search was on.
“We probably had 70, 75 [officers] out on the streets of Medford,” says Ford.
Then, simply 4 hours after she had been reported lacking, Ellie was positioned by police. She was alive, unhurt, and had been strolling down a busy avenue with two younger males: her boyfriend, Gavin MacFarlane, 19, and Gavin’s good friend, Russell Jones, 22.
“So, now we know Ellie is safe,” stated Ford.
However what about her father, Aaron Friar?
Primarily based on the bloody crime scene on the home, time was rapidly operating out to seek out him. However may Ellie have been concerned? Ford stored an open thoughts.
Ellie and the 2 males had been separated and dropped at the Medford Police station for questioning. Ellie appeared perplexed when she was advised by police that her father was lacking.
“I haven’t been home and now I’m really concerned about what’s been going on,” Ellie advised a detective.
She even supplied a suggestion as to the place her dad could be: “Maybe he was looking for me.”
Round that point, Ford started interviewing Russell Jones.
Medford Police Division
“He’s a talker … very, very talkative,” stated Ford. “So, I kind of knew if I could get in there and get him talking, he would … have a hard time keeping his mouth shut.”
Ford’s idea was appropriate.
Jones was keen to speak, however he needed one thing first: a cigarette.
“I talk better when I have a cigarette,” Jones advised Ford throughout his taped police interview.
Ford took Russell outdoors of the station for a cigarette break.
“Just kind of smokin’ and jokin’ is what we call it,” Ford defined.
However Ford was severe concerning the activity at hand: discovering Aaron Friar.
“I look at him and I’m like, ‘You know, Russell, I don’t want a child to find Aaron, Ellie’s dad, out there somewhere, come across something like that,’” Ford remembers saying. “I said, ‘Can you take us to Aaron?’ And he didn’t beat an eye. He’s just like, ‘Yeah, I’ll take you to him.’”
Ford was shocked: “Holy smokes! That’s a big moment, you know?”
He instantly loaded Jones into his police automotive.
Because the veteran investigator and his suspect started their drive, Jones confessed to Ford.
“He ends up saying he wasn’t responsible for Aaron’s death, but he helped load the body,” Ford recalled.
“You’re driving along with him, now he’s starting to sing like a canary,” stated Morales.
“Exactly,” Ford replied.
However who had killed Aaron Friar and why?
Medford Police Division
As their journey continued, Ford says Jones started going off on tangents. However Ford says he didn’t thoughts. It was all a part of his plan.
“Keep talking, keep him happy,” stated Ford. “He even asked for another cigarette … and I said, ‘You’ve had two already. Once we get out there, I’ll give you another one.’ And that’s a tactic.”
“He’s gotta give us something,” stated Ford. “Nicotine is a powerful tool.”
After which, as they ascended a rural mountain move 20 miles outdoors of city, Jones made an announcement:
Ford stated, “All of a sudden, Russell says ‘Stop! … Stop right here.’”
To see extra of the case, watch “First Love, Then Murder” an all-new “48 Hours” airing Saturday, April 19 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount +.
