A Philadelphia woman was charged on March 6, 2024, with the murder of a 72-year-old man in Wrightstown Township in October.

Meghan Macklin, 45, has been in custody in Tennessee after fleeing the area shortly after the murder of Richard Scott MacFarland in his home at 55 Apple Hill Road.

On March 6, Macklin was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, robbery, theft by unlawful taking, possession of an instrument of crime, abuse of a corpse, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and simple assault. She remains in custody in Tennessee pending extradition to Pennsylvania.

This investigation by Detectives with the Newtown Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office began on Oct. 7, 2023.

At around 4 p.m. that day, Newtown Township police were dispatched to 55 Apple Hill Road after a witness went to the home, peered inside the open door, and saw a male lying on his back in the living room/kitchen area. The witness, who also believed he smelled an odor of gas, called 911.

After the Lingohocken Fire Department determined it was safe, police entered the home and located a deceased male inside. The male was identified as Richard Scott MacFarland, the homeowner.

Detectives initially observed a small amount of dried blood on the victim’s nose, two slashing-type injuries on his left forearm and a possible puncture wound to his right forearm. During a closer examination of the victim, detectives located a large laceration to the victim’s abdomen and a stab wound to his upper left chest.

It appeared as if the victim had been cleaned and dressed after he was murdered because his clothing had a miniscule amount of blood visible, and there were no tears consistent with stab or slash wounds on the outer clothing. It also appeared the victim was stabbed and killed in one of the bedrooms and then moved to the location where he was found.

An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Ian Hood determined MacFarland’s cause of death to be multiple stab and slash wounds and the manner of death was homicide.

Richard MacFarland

During the investigation, police located jewelry boxes that appeared to have been rummaged and a checkbook missing checks. Police also recovered a bloody rug from the home, and bloody bedding and clothing in suitcases. Next to one of the suitcases, police located a black backpack, which contained various articles of clothing and prescription pill bottles with the name of Meghan Macklin.

Detectives also learned that a black 2013 Mercedes vehicle that belonged to the victim was missing. After the Mercedes could not be located, it was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database as a stolen vehicle at 7:45 p.m. Oct. 7.

Macklin was located at 7:34 p.m. Oct. 7 in White Pine, Tennessee, after police were called because she ate food in a convenience store without paying for it. The store is approximately 600 miles and about a 9-hour drive from 55 Apple Hill Road.

During her interaction with police, which was captured on body cam, Macklin identified herself as Janet MacFarland, the victim’s deceased wife. She also provided police with a social security card and blank personal check in the name of Janet MacFarland as proof of her identity.

White Pine police located the black Mercedes parked near the convenience store. After running the vehicle through the NCIC database, police learned the car was reported stolen out of Pennsylvania and was connected to a homicide.

The Mercedes was towed back to Bucks County. During a search of the vehicle, investigators recovered jewelry, jewelry boxes, and coins, similar in type to what was observed in MacFarland’s home. Police also located bank checks and deposit slips in the name of Janet MacFarland, along with various identifications for Macklin and Richard Scott MacFarland from the vehicle.

Additionally, police sent some of the items recovered, including a pair of Crocs from the vehicle and latex gloves from the home, to be forensically tested. Both items resulted in matches for the victim's DNA.

The investigation found that three days before the victim’s body was discovered, the Newtown Township Police Department was dispatched to two separate domestic disturbance calls at the home. Both of these calls occurred on October 4, 2023, approximately twenty-two hours apart.

Using a license plate recognition program, detectives were able to track the movement of the Mercedes. It was spotted in New Hope at 11:19 p.m. Oct. 5, approximately 9.1 miles away from Apple Hill Road, and, at 1:27 a.m. Oct. 6, the Mercedes was in Montgomery County.

Surveillance footage also captured Macklin at a Wawa convenience store in Pipersville at 12:44 a.m. Oct. 6. The footage showed her operating the Mercedes, purchasing gas, and entering the store to purchase a coffee. Macklin was wearing sunglasses, a black cap, a large dark-colored hoodie, blue pants, and Croc shoes.

Investigators ask anyone with information about this homicide, and specifically about Meghan Macklin and her whereabouts between October 4, 2023, and October 7, 2023, to contact the Bucks County Detectives at 215-348-6354 or the Newtown Township Police Department at 215-579-1000.

This case was investigated by the Bucks County Detectives and Newtown Township Police Department with assistance from the White Pine Police Department in Tennessee. Deputy District Attorney Brittney Kern and Assistant District Attorney Sara Salvo are assigned to prosecute.

Media Contact: Manuel Gamiz Jr., 215.348.6298, mgamiz@buckscounty.org 

Criminal charges are allegations subject to proof in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.