Photo Courtesy of Texas Dept. of Corrections
In small-town Texas, family loyalty runs deep. But for Patricia Sexton, betrayal ran even deeper. Her twisted plot to kill her husband, with help from her lover and his teenage son, would leave the town reeling—and a family forever broken.
A Picture-Perfect Life Turns Dark
Patricia Sexton lived in Teague, Texas, with her husband, Benny Sexton. By all appearances, they were a happy couple. But things were far from perfect behind the scenes. Patricia began an affair with a younger man—Jonathan Wayne McFarlin. He was almost twenty years her junior and still living with his father and teenage son. The affair quickly spiraled into something darker.
A Plot Begins to Form
Patricia didn’t just want a new life—she wanted Benny out of the picture. Permanently. She began confiding in Jonathan about her unhappy marriage. Soon, the conversations shifted to murder. Patricia offered money in exchange for Benny’s life. Jonathan agreed to help—but he didn’t act alone. His 15-year-old son would also play a part in the deadly plan.
The Night of the Murder
On January 6, 2003, Patricia made sure Benny would be home alone. Jonathan and his teenage son entered the Sexton home. The teen carried a gun. Benny Sexton was shot multiple times in his own living room. It was a cold, calculated execution.
A Quick Cover-Up Fails
Patricia and Jonathan thought they had planned everything. But they didn’t count on how fast investigators would piece things together. Jonathan’s son, just 15 at the time, began to talk. He admitted everything. Patricia had paid them to kill Benny. She promised Jonathan $10,000 and had already given him a down payment.
More True Crime: Oba Chandler: The Man Behind the Tampa Bay Murders
Justice Catches Up
Patricia was arrested and charged with capital murder. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. Jonathan McFarlin also received a life sentence. His teenage son was tried as a juvenile and sent to a detention facility. The Sexton family was shattered. A husband and father was dead. And three lives were destroyed by greed, lies, and betrayal.
The Aftermath
Patricia Sexton’s case shocked Texas. It wasn’t just a murder—it was a web of manipulation. She used her affair to get what she wanted. She involved a child in a murder-for-hire scheme. And she showed no remorse. Benny Sexton didn’t stand a chance. His wife plotted his death while pretending to love him. Now, Patricia will spend the rest of her life behind bars.
A Chilling Reminder
This case is a grim reminder that betrayal often begins with small lies. Patricia didn’t snap. She planned. She recruited. She paid for murder. She destroyed a family—and took part in turning a child into a killer. Her story isn’t just shocking. It’s heartbreaking.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
