GREENFIELD — Prosecutors introduced a taped interview with police, as well as notes they say were hand-written by accused murderer Lewis H. Starkey III while he was on the run in 2017.
One of the notes describes going “out with a bang” with a “fight through the front doors of the Greenfield Police Department,” and is signed “Lew.”
Starkey is on trial in Franklin Superior Court for allegedly murdering his girlfriend, Amanda Glover, and attempting to murder her adult son, Devin Glover, after a July 5, 2017 fight at the couple’s home at 179 West St., Wendell. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Friday morning, the jury toured the home where the incident took place before returning to court for more testimony.
According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Starkey killed Amanda Glover with his shotgun after she told him their relationship was ending. Starkey then allegedly fired at Devin Glover, an eyewitness to his mother’s death. Devin Glover was able to escape into the surrounding woods, First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne said, where he called the police.
Starkey was wanted by police until July 9, 2017, when he was pulled over in Orange. At that point, Starkey was not only wanted for the alleged incident in Wendell but also for driving to his place of work in Chicopee, Specialized Carriers, and allegedly shooting at a coworker there.
Orange Police Sgt. James Sullivan — now acting police chief in Orange — testified he pulled Starkey over after recognizing the red Lincoln MKX authorities were looking for. After telling the officer, “You got the prize,” Starkey was arrested without incident and was cooperative throughout booking, Sullivan said.
Other testimony Friday came from Massachusetts State Police Trooper Gary Darling, who eventually searched the vehicle after Starkey was taken into custody and a search warrant was obtained. Underneath the carpeted flooring in the back of the vehicle, Darling discovered four handwritten notes, he said. Jurors were shown the notes, which prosecutors say were written by Starkey.
“Thanks for turning up the signal at WHAI. I wasn’t getting it before,” one note read. “I hope you’re showing pictures of her. She was beautiful.”
“Why did I do it?” another read. “She decided now that her kid is getting a paycheck she didn’t need me, after all the money I spent practically bankrupting myself to make our dream home really nice.”
According to the prosecution, Devin Glover, who has autism, was a source of tension in Starkey and Amanda Glover’s relationship after he moved into their Wendell home. Starkey and Amanda Glover were working on a “dream house” in Vermont, but on July 5, 2017, Amanda Glover told Starkey that she and Devin Glover were moving to Vermont without him, Gagne said.
Police are mentioned several times throughout the notes, specifically state police and the Greenfield Police Department, as well as the FBI. The final note mentions “going out” at the Greenfield Police Department.
Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh said in an interview Friday that negative or threatening messages are something that “comes with the job,” and that he did not know of any negative relationship between the police department and Starkey.
After he was arrested, Starkey was taken to the Orange Police Department and was interviewed by state police, Trooper Alan Gamache testified. Prosecutors then played the video- and audio-recorded interview, during which Starkey describes his negative feelings for local police.
According to Starkey, he had previously had a 23-year relationship with a woman whose family members were police officers. Starkey said the relationship ended shortly before the woman died of lung cancer, and that local police held it against him that the relationship ended poorly.
“I had different problems with Turners Falls and Greenfield cops,” Starkey said, adding that cops would “screw” with him, driving past him with lights on or menacingly pulling up behind him every time he drove his car.
Starkey said a man in Amherst told him one day, “They’re not going to hurt you, you know,” and Starkey was then convinced there was a plot against him.
Starkey said people had begun stalking him prior to Amanda Glover’s death — bikers, police and even his coworkers at Specialized Carriers in Chicopee — and were reading his personal text messages. He said they were “gangstalking” — coordinating to “ruin his life” and make him “snap.” He said he’d find messages written on his car that suggested someone was reading his texts.
Starkey did not admit to any crimes during his interview but described the day leading up to Amanda Glover’s death. He said she had suddenly become “cold” and he didn’t know why. He said people may have gotten to her and given her “false information” about him.
“I had just dumped a ton of money into it, and she told me that night she was moving up there (Vermont) and I wasn’t part of it anymore,” Starkey said. “I don’t know why she was so cold, but she had never been like that before.”
Starkey was calm for most of the recorded interview with police, but he cried at one point.
“I cared for her,” Starkey said. “I’d tell her how beautiful she was and she wouldn’t believe me.”
The defense, led by attorney Michael Sheridan, has described Amanda Glover’s death as a “tragedy,” but an accident, not a murder.
In his opening statement to the 16-person jury Thursday, Sheridan said evidence will show Devin Glover, not Starkey, retrieved the shotgun from the basement of the Wendell home after his mother and Starkey were arguing. Sheridan said Devin Glover pointed the gun at Starkey, prompting a struggle between the two men for the weapon. The weapon was discharged accidently while Starkey and Devin Glover wrestled, killing Amanda Glover, Sheridan said.
Sheridan said that Amanda Glover’s lack of defensive wounds, no history of violence in the relationship and that Starkey and Amanda Glover were still very much in love are all indicators of an accident.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.