Woman Charged In Stabbing Death Of Wrightstown Township Man

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A Philadelphia woman has been charged with the stabbing death of a 72-year-old Wrightstown Township man in October.

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

Macklin has been 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.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn said detectives with the Newtown Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office opened an investigation on Oct. 7, 2023.

At around 4 p.m. that day, Schorn said Newtown Township police were dispatched to 55 Apple Hill Road after a witness went to the home and saw a man 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, Schorn said police entered the home and located a deceased man inside. The man was later identified as homeowner Richard Scott MacFarland.

Schorn said 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, she said.

The district attorney said it appeared as if the victim had been cleaned and dressed after he was murdered because his clothing had a minuscule 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, she said.

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, investigators said.

Richard MacFarland. (Bucks County District Attorney's Office)

During the investigation, Schorn said police located jewelry boxes that appeared to have been rummaged through 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, Schorn said it was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database as a stolen vehicle at 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 7.

Macklin was located at 7:34 p.m. on Oct. 7 in White Pine, Tennessee, after police were called after she ate food at 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, Schorn said 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, Schorn said 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.

According to Schorn, 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 the calls occurred on October 4, 2023, approximately 22 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. on 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, said Schorn. 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.

Schorn asked that 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.

The 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.