BROWNVILLE, Maine – Kind. Gentle. Hardworking. Polite. Neighbors and town merchants used those words Wednesday to describe the Farley family and its 46-year-old matron.
Russell Road residents expressed shock that Wendy Farley, 46, was charged Tuesday with criminal solicitation for murder after allegedly trying to hire someone to kill her husband of 30 years.
They described Farley and her husband, Luther, whom everybody calls Rusty, as good, friendly — though very private — neighbors who managed to do very well raising their 13 children. The children, they said, are like their parents — hardworking, responsible, polite and capable.
“I could never have seen this coming in a million years,” said one Russell Road resident who lives near the Farleys’ New Morning Farm. “It’s unbelievable.”
The man, who declined to give his name, described seeing Rusty throw his arm around Wendy during a visit about a year ago and express pride in his wife’s weight loss.
“She’s like a new young girlfriend,” the neighbor quoted Rusty Farley as saying.
“I really just think they’re good people,” one woman said.
Attempts to contact the Farleys were unsuccessful. A young man on their farm politely asked a Bangor Daily News reporter and other members of the news media to leave the premises Wednesday morning, saying that the family would have no comment on the charges. Another young man and woman posted “Keep Out” signs at the end of their long dirt driveway shortly thereafter.
Town police arrested Farley at her home about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday after they received a tip on Sept. 11 from a man who claimed to have been solicited by a woman to murder her husband. The man was offered cash, Police Chief Nick Clukey has said.
Police recorded a conversation between the man and Farley before arresting her, Clukey said Tuesday.
Clukey was in training Wednesday and did not return messages seeking comment.
Farley is due to appear at 1 p.m. Thursday in Piscataquis County Superior Court, court officials said.
The Farleys, their neighbors said, are farmers who grow organic vegetables and sell eggs. Town land records identify them as Luther and Wendy Farley and list their nine-room home as including seven bedrooms.
The Farleys made the news in 2002 when a fire destroyed their house and its contents, including their home-based Internet video sales business. Wendy Farley suffered burns on her arms fighting the fire and was briefly hospitalized. Neighbors conducted fundraisers to help them recover.
Neighbors said Wendy Farley home-schooled her children very successfully and made clothing for them, too. Rusty Farley often would help neighbors with their chores.
“They kind of lived like the Amish, but I don’t think they are particularly religious,” one neighbor said. “They did all their own growing.”
Farley’s arrest seemed to take her by surprise. She had been in a local motor repair shop buying oil for her husband shortly before the arrest occurred, one merchant said.
Pretty sad, but i bet you she will get off with this
She sure will, she had 13 kids you have to be insane to do that!
There were 13 kids in my mother’s family,10 boys and 3 girls. My uncles used to say that the first one up in the morning was the best dressed.
I am not saying she did this at all, nor will i say she is innocent. But from what i hear they have alot information against her. I just hope its not true
I had a large family, I come from a large family. My mother was sane, I’m fairly sane. Why is ok with you to make fun of people who choose to have many children? They weren’t living on welfare. The woman obviously has developed mental health issues. Do you make fun of the man who shot his wife and 2 children?
i know someone who had thirteen kids . in the thirteen three sets of twins . they are elderly now but happily married. that family was active they were into track running and compettitive .
My great grandmother had 16 children. And she wasn’t insane she was a great mother. She never tried to hire some one to murder her husband.
I feel there is much more to this story………more will come out in time.
Agreed. Described ” as good, friendly — though very private — neighbors who managed to do very well raising their 13 children.”
“Though very private.” There’s a reason for that, I’m sure.
Yes they like their privacy….so what?
To anyone trying to defend her in your mind/comments: You only feel this way because she is a woman. If a man was
trying to kill his wife, you would put the blame on him. Basically you’re
sexist. Until you can back up your claims with evidence please stop being dumb.
Since your post was directed at me I would like to explain. I simply stated that there was more to the story and more would come out in time. You are the one who assumed I was defending the woman. Who knows what else will come out……it could be either side. You seem to be the one making the sexist remarks. I take offense at you saying I am being dumb. Please be more kind with your words. Difference of opinion is fine but calling others dumb is not.
A thoughtful and reasoned reply, notso. Billybob must be hypersensitive about this subject. Maybe he came out on the “short end of the stick,” as we say, and found misogyny the only way to go.
I replied to your post, because it was closest to the top, notsodumbdowneaster. I put “To anyone trying to defend her in your mind/comments:” to specify who I was targeting with the “dumb” comment. Looking at your username I can see why you felt I was targeting you, for that I apologize. I also wish to replace the word dumb with ignorant. I do stand by calling ignorant people out for what they are. Anyone who does defend her in their mind/comments is ignorant, and a sexist.
As for mainegal17, good work actually making a valid point and not just making unsupported assumptions. *Sarcasm.* Fun fact: Online you can make fake identities – and Bill is not my real name. Also don’t assume I am a male. I am not a misogynist, which I why I support equal rights. Equal rights sometimes mean you can’t get it easy for committing a crime just because you have female parts. (Example, this case.)
How true. My immediate reaction was, “She sure doesn’t sound like a native.” Bingo! Previously lived in Elizabethtown, KY. I’m willing to bet that one of the really twisted, fundamental religions is a central part of this story.
Judgmental much? I hadn’t heard of the preponderance of evidence linking fundamentalist, non-native Mainers with hiring hit men….interesting. Learn something new every day.
How much money does one offer someone to get rid of their spouse??
A buck three eighty.
I wanted to make a knee slapping comment, but the last time I did, BDN gave me the heave ho and I had to wait 2 weeks to get back in their good graces.
What’s “knee slapping” about asking a legitimate question?? Two articles on this situation and refusal to mention or report how much money was mentioned……
Don’t know, Pab. Wonder if they take credit cards.
Well, she did say “til death do us part”. She was just trying to speed things up a little. Too bad. It looks like there are 14 other people who are going to pay for this too.
He was proud of her weight loss. Why do I get the feeling she lost weight because he taunted her about being fat. No It wasnt printed or implide just a felling.
Why would you think he taunted her because he told people he was proud of her weight loss? It seems like lots of people want to make him the bad guy to me. Maybe he said that because he knew losing weight is very difficult and he WAS proud of her accomplishment?
“Why would you think he taunted her because he told people he was proud of her weight loss? ”
Because she tried to have him killed.
What she did was wrong. The irony is that she is the parent being removed from the family circle, not the father of her 13 children as planned .
Gave birth to 13 children, I’m willing to cut her some slack . . . lots of emotion in those eyes, do wonder what she may have been going through. Hope she gets the help she needs.
Cut her some slack…Are you kidding me? Imagine if he was killed. 13 children would have lost a parent. Screw your pity. Get a divorce. Don’t be selfish and punish your kids.
Would you feel the same way if her husband was abusing one of her children or being abusive to her? just saying…. you don’t know. No one does!
She got tired of ole Rusty using her for a brood sow.
I wholeheartedly agree…and MORE!
Married at 16? How did it last this long?
When my wife and I got married she was 16 and I was 20. We had to have parental consent to do so but ,we were, and still are in love with each other. That was in 1967 and 45 years later we still love each other very much. We struggled at first,like most people, and getting drafted by the Army in 1968 and trying to survive on privates pay,which was a little over $80. a month didn’t help. My wife lived with my parents while I was gone overseas.Thank God for wonderful parents.
All in all we’ve enjoyed a good life together and have always been able to provide a good home for our children .
Thank you for your service and Congrats on your long marriage!
No matter what there are always misandrists (man haters) that come out and blame men for everything and even make stuff up just to blame the male victims for female violence and abuse.
Even Governor Lepage says domestic violence is all a “men problem” and that ACCUSED men need to be arested and immidiately imprisoned or ankle braceleted without a trial even though most DV, child murder, and partner abuse is perpetrated by women–that is a fact. Domestic Violence Industry = Fraud, Human Rights Abuse, & Death of Due Process
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzfEzXY-Erg
This woman was abused, irregardless. Would love to hear her husband comment. I doubt very much if HE was abused, having seen this scenario over and over, right here in Maine. Gov. LePage KNOWS men can be abused as well, and it does happen, but not as much.
Look at her nose…it’s been broken a few times…
OMG you a doctor Fix_Stupid? You implying that he beat her? How about we wait for more facts to come out before we assume! I know this family. I laugh at everyone that makes comments about 13 children! So what they have 13 children. The children that are at home (which by the way is not 13) some are grown adults with families of their own are very well taken care of dressed, fed, well mannered and educated! Lets not try to speculate on why this has happened. Lets wait for the facts to come out. Who cares on how much money she offered him does that really make a difference. Leave the kids out of it obviously it was their choice to have 13 children so what!!
The woman has 13 children that she home schools. That alone would blow my mind. Sorry to hear about this situation but I feel there may be more to this story.
Poor woman must have reached the end of her rope to get to this point of desperation.
With 13 children she has probably been pregnant for a cumulative period of over 10 years. That can take an awful physical toll as well an emotional toll. Before this woman goes to trial, she should have a complete physical examination, including MRI’s and blood work, especially endocrine. There may well be a physical reason coming into play here.
I am not trying to justify her actions, but a woman who has committed to 30 years of marriage, has raised 13 children to be successful, then suddenly runs afoul of the law in such a big way, likely has some serious issue that needs to be addressed.
I am happy for her sake, as well as her husband’s and childrens’ sake that she was not successful in her endeavor and even that may not have been an accident. She may actually have chosen someone, subconsciously, that would not complete the act. I pray she gets the help she needs.
And yes, I would feel the same if it were a male subject and posted to that effect in other articles.
there may have been spousal abuse to her behind closed doors or she may have been simply tired of the life they were living
And still wearing the wedding ring…..
I’m sure there is much more to this story…
rode hard and put away pregnant?
This is very sad and I was so surprised when I hard. “Rusty”
has always come across very mild mannered. I know what it is like homeschooling and running a home, it is hard, and rewarding, and then again what of worth is not. For most people who read this, it
jumps out at them as a case of a “ overbearing husband and a wore out woman”. I do
not know the Farleys very, very well.
But when I did see them or do business with them, there
were things I saw, or felt. Some of the stuff being said about Rusty are
very, very wrong. I am one of the first
to say to my husband “wow, I
am glad you are not like that “ When it
comes to some man and how they treat their wives. But Rusty never come across as a over dominate
male ( I am sure he had his moments like
us all), when you did feel dominates it
came from Wendy. So I am posting for
Rusty, people need to know. Rusty
is a kind of man that is fading fast (sadly).
He not only know how to build his house but he did a lovely job, He was also a lumberjack that logged with
horses and the mills knew if “Rusty”
brought it in it was Good wood. He also
was a trapper, and again he did it well.
Wendy too , did a fine job at what she did, not many woman are able handle 13 children,
but these children were wanted by both Wendy and Rusty. This is not a case of a dumb woman caught up
by a slave driver! Wendy is a intelligent
women, and she got tired. She saw how the town pulled together to help them in the past. She want out, but did not want to look like a louse who left her family and children for another
man and life. Instead she wanted Rusty
to die, and her to be a widow with 13
children(which some are grown). Think
how this town would of pulled together to help the Farley Family again. It was a win, win. And if this gets played out as a insanity
case, or that she somehow gets this turned around on him
(like the media would have you think, and to often dose) . Then we in Piscataquis County have a dumb judge
and jury. This was no snap if she has
been planning for years. Praying for
Wendy, Rusty and the children. P.S One of the news clips has Wendy’s friend stating “ that one dose not really know someone until
they have live with them behind closed doors”
she is making this statement tours’ Rusty, she needs to also think that to Wendy, She is
the one that hired the gun! And the
children did run free at the house, and
they were truly children. Rusty
even sold his horse and horse equipment
(which he loved) for the boys because
the boys wanted tractors instead, he said the boys (young men) have to help with
the farm, I might as well have what they want to work with.
This lady has obviously watched way too many episodes of “Snapped”