On October 24, 1995, firefighters battled a massive blaze at a Tudor-style home in Prairie Village, Kansas. Thirteen-year-old Timothy Farrar and his six-year-old sister Kelly died in the inferno while their ten-year-old sister Kate escaped by jumping from a second-floor window. Within hours, investigators determined the fire had been deliberately set with multiple gallons of accelerant poured throughout the house—and the trail of evidence led directly to the children's own mother.

VICTIM PROFILE:

Timothy Scott Farrar, 13, and Kelly Christine Farrar, 6, died of smoke inhalation in the deliberately set fire. Kate Farrar, 10, survived by climbing through her bedroom window onto the garage roof and jumping to safety. Their father, Dr. Michael Farrar, a cardiologist, had been systematically poisoned with ricin for months before the fire. The family's two dogs, Boomer (a black Labrador) and Russell (a greyhound), also perished in the blaze.

THE CRIME:

Fire investigation revealed between three and ten gallons of liquid accelerant had been poured throughout the home's main floor, second floor, and basement, creating multiple points of origin. The pour patterns stopped precisely at the master bedroom door—where defendant Dr. Debora Green slept. The accelerant blocked the main stairway, trapping Timothy and Kelly on the second floor. Timothy, following his mother's instructions via intercom to stay in his room and wait for firefighters, never escaped. His body was found where it had fallen through the burned flooring. Kelly died of smoke inhalation in her bed, still in a sleeping position with covers pulled to her waist. The family dog Boomer was found dead under Kelly's bed.

THE INVESTIGATION:

Debora Green's behavior immediately raised suspicions. She arrived at a neighbor's door with wet hair asking them to call 911, despite claiming she had not been near water or flames. During police interviews hours later, she appeared "talkative, even cheerful" and repeatedly referred to Timothy and Kelly in the past tense while they were officially still missing—specifically stating "He used to be my thirteen-year-old" about Timothy before his body was recovered. Laboratory analysis later revealed significant singeing in her hair despite two haircuts before sampling.

The investigation also uncovered months of systematic poisoning. Michael Farrar had suffered mysterious illnesses requiring multiple hospitalizations in 1995, with his weight plummeting to 125 pounds. Doctors diagnosed Streptococcus viridans sepsis but could not identify the root cause. Investigators discovered Debora had purchased ten packets of castor bean seeds from local garden centers in September 1995. FBI testing found ricin antibodies in Michael's blood—evidence of deliberate poisoning with one of the deadliest toxins known.

THE RESOLUTION:

On November 22, 1995, police arrested Debora at the Midland Theater in Kansas City where she had dropped Kate off for ballet practice. Initially charged with first-degree murder, the charges were elevated to capital murder for the plea agreement. On April 17, 1996, she entered an Alford plea—maintaining her innocence while acknowledging prosecutors had sufficient evidence for conviction. The plea removed the death penalty from consideration.

Debora Green received two concurrent "Hard 40" life sentences—forty years without possibility of parole. Multiple psychiatric evaluations revealed complex mental health disorders including schizoid personality disorder, with later clinicians identifying traits of psychopathy, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder. She remains incarcerated at Topeka Correctional Facility in Kansas with an earliest possible release date of November 21, 2035, when she will be 84 years old.

ETHICAL CONTEXT:

This episode contains detailed discussion of child deaths, arson, poisoning, and domestic violence. Obscura presents complete factual accounts of violent crimes with respect for victims while maintaining documentary accuracy.

KEY EPISODE DETAILS:

Fire investigation methodology: Multiple points of origin, accelerant pour patterns, basement staging

Ricin poisoning evidence: Castor bean seed purchases, FBI antibody testing, Michael's medical records documenting Streptococcus viridans sepsis

Alford plea mechanics: Legal strategy allowing innocence claim while accepting conviction based on prosecutorial evidence

RESOURCES & VICTIM ADVOCACY:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | thehotline.org

National Child Traumatic Stress Network: nctsn.org

Fire survivor resources: Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors | phoenix-society.org

Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura/

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Resources & Victim Advocacy

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | thehotline.org

National Child Traumatic Stress Network: nctsn.org

Fire survivor resources: Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors | phoenix-society.org

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