Starks pleads not quilty, held for trial
December 4, 1997
A Carbondale man remains in Jackson County Jail awaiting trial following a preliminary hearing Wednesday, in which he pled not guilty to charges in the Oct. 8 asphyxiation death of Pamela Travis.
Evidence offered in the testimonies of three Carbondale Police officers provided Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas H. Jones probable cause to keep Gary Starks, 35, bound over for trial, Jackson County State’s Attorney Mike Wepsiec said.
Starks is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death in the death of Travis, 29, of Carbondale. Travis was found murdered in her apartment at The Fields, 700 S. Lewis Lane.
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Starks faced a murder charge in Chicago in 1993 that later was reduced to aggravated battery.
Starks’ brother, Claude G. Starks, 31, is charged with obstructing justice for allegedly providing false information to investigators.
Claude Starks waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday and entered a plea of not guilty.
Wepsiec said no additional charges have been filed against either of the brothers.
Gary Starks was a suspect in the murder case within 48 hours of the investigation, police said following the Nov. 20 arrests.
Travis’ 22-month-old twin daughters, who have been placed in the custody of their aunt, suffered smoke-related injuries from the fire, in which Travis’ body suffered burns.
Evidence from the scene suggested that Travis and Gary Starks used crack cocaine. Police do not believe that the two were romantically involved. Wepsiec would not comment on a motive or any additional evidence presented in the case.
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Both men remain in the Jackson County Jail awaiting trial, which has not been set. Claude Starks is being held in lieu of $1,000 cash, and Gary Starks is being held in lieu of $50,000 cash.
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