ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — The two men accused of killing a mother and son in Isle of Wight County had preliminary hearings on Thursday.
Kareem Mitchell, 29, and Richard Holmes, 19, are both charged with first-degree murder and other charges relating to the brutal murders of 80-year-old Nancy Starnes and her 58-year old-son Kenneth last September 23 in their Ennisdale Drive home.
The two big developments: a guilty plea is expected, and gun charges are set aside for now.
Back in September it was clear Mitchell had admitted to the killings.
When told he had a tear in his eye during an interview with 10 On Your Side, Mitchell responded, “I have a few tears in my eyes. I’ll regret this the rest of my life.”
On Thursday, Mitchell waived his preliminary hearing because he’s pleading guilty to first-degree murder, sparing him the death penalty.
Here is basically what he will plead guilty too:
He admits to what is in the criminal complaint, that he kicked in Nancy and Kenneth Starnes’ front door. The motive was robbery. He went to Kenneth’s bedroom and shot him. He heard Nancy calling out, went to her bedroom, and he says he snapped and shot her, too.
The Starnes’ family members were there. One left the courtroom after hearing the details of what happened.
10 On Your Side asked Mitchell back in September, “Is there anything you want to say to the families? He answered, “I am terribly sorry.” His attorney Jennifer Stanton told 10 On Your Side outside court, “In 30 years of doing this he is the most remorseful client I’ve ever had.”
Nancy Starnes’ grandson, Paul Starnes, with family members, shook his head in disbelief of what happened to his family.
10 On Your Side pointed out to him that Mitchell’s pleading guilty, “I agree.”
With Mitchell’s eventual guilty plea, gun charges against Richard Holmes were nolle-prossed. The judge refused to drop the charges against Holmes from first- to second- degree murder. Holmes’ attorney told the judge there was no premeditation on the part of his client, but the judge disagreed.
10 On Your Side asked Commonwealth’s Attorney Georgette Phillips about the nolle-prossed of the gun charges, “The evidence we have for today’s case was that we did not have any evidence today that he (Holmes) was actually in possession of a firearm and therefore we could not make probable cause on those charges.”
Those charges can be brought back if new evidence emerges.
According to detectives, Holmes first admitted he was in the house at the time of the murders. Lt. Tommy Potter in court said back in September during questioning that he asked Holmes, “Were you there when it happened?”
Potter says Holmes shook his head in the affirmative, and Holmes said “I didn’t have the stomach to shoot anyone.”
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Holmes could be backing down from his claim that he shook his head yes to being there when it happened. Phillips adds, “If you participate in a crime, you are responsible for all actions that occurred during that crime.”
The grand jury gets the case May 11. Mitchell will plead guilty on May 30.
And Sharon Galvin, who is Mitchell’s sister, waived her preliminary hearing on lesser charges. She remains free on bond.
