Midland woman charged with murder takes plea deal ahead of Orillia stabbing trial

Mackenzie Harrod, 20, from Midland has pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in the killing of her former boyfriend.

Warning: Readers may find details in this article disturbing.

A 20-year-old Midland woman has pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in the December 2023 killing of her former boyfriend at his downtown Orillia apartment.

Mackenzie Harrod admitted to her role in the violence following the death of Kyle Farrows, 25, on the night of Dec. 14, 2023.

As part of an Agreed Statement of Facts, read by the Crown in Barrie, the court heard Harrod helped her boyfriend Brian Lancaster, now 38, escape following an argument between Lancaster and Farrows.

Initially also charged with second-degree murder, Harrod was granted bail four months later and has been under strict conditions that included wearing a GPS ankle monitor.

Harrod admitted that she and Lancaster were at Farrows’ apartment that night because they did not have anywhere to stay. Harrod said Farrows held a knife to her throat that night and held her down on his bed. She told police she feared she was going to be raped. Harrod told police Lancaster awoke and attacked Farrows, who was later found dead in his bed with stab wounds to his neck and chest.

Harrod admitted in court to hitting Farrows in the head with a bong that may have knocked him out while Farrows and Lancaster were fighting on the bed.

Harrod and Lancaster were arrested by provincial police a few days later.

Harrod said she was high on “crack” and marijuana the night Farrows died. She admitted to lying to police and covering for Lancaster when she told detectives she cleaned blood from the knife and washed blood from the doorway of Farrows’ bedroom before tossing a different knife in the bush. Harrod admitted to encouraging Lancaster not to turn themselves in before throwing her phone in a creek.

Lancaster remains behind bars at Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene and has a lengthy criminal record, which includes convictions for arson and assault. Lancaster was handed a five-year sentence and granted day parole in 2019, followed by full parole in 2021, according to the Parole Board of Canada.

Harrod returns to court for her sentencing hearing in April. The allegations against Brian Lancaster have not been tested in court.