Debra Lynn Starr

Background

Debra Lynn Starr was a Michigan woman involved in a 15-year-old murder mystery. Prosecutors believed Starr feared being prosecuted for embezzlement, and that fear led to her involvement in the murder of her 62-year-old ex-boyfriend Paul Lingnau.

Starr was a widower’s acquaintance; Paul Lingnau met Starr in 1984. Starr was then 24. She was described as a reputed heroin abuser and an alleged prostitute. Friends described Starr as manipulative and "having a way with men." Prosecutors said Starr convinced Lingnau to convert his $10,000 savings account into a joint account, after which she cashed in the joint account and spent Lingnau’s money.

Lingnau’s relatives did not approve of his relationship with Starr.

Starr was already serving a 15 to 30-year sentence for previous convictions at the time of her first-degree murder conviction.

The offence

Paul Lingnau was killed on March 12, 1984, the night of his 63rd birthday. He was returning home from a night out with his brother and his brother’s wife. As he was about to open the door outside his apartment, a gunman emerged and shot him five times.

Although the murder weapon was never retrieved, prosecutors believed the gun used belonged to Starr’s stepfather, Argil Dennis.

The gunman later suspected by police as Starr’s other boyfriend Steven Steiner ran across the street into a parking lot, got into a car, and fled.

Prosecutors believed Starr and her actions provided motive and opportunity relating to Lingnau’s death.

Investigation

Prosecutors and relatives suspected Starr’s involvement in the murder after Lingnau was shot to death days before his scheduled testimony against her in 1984. Despite suspicion, police did not have enough evidence to link Starr to the murder, and Lingnau’s death remained a mystery for 14 years.

Other criminal conduct linked to motive

Starr had accused her of embezzlement, and prosecutors said Starr feared being prosecuted because she was already on probation for previous crimes. Starr knew an embezzlement conviction could send her back to prison as a habitual offender with a lengthy sentence.

Starr took Lingnau’s car and reported it stolen to police and tried to collect the proceeds from the car insurance. Starr also made up and tried to collect the proceeds from phony car repair bills, but was thwarted. Police arrested Starr on "false pretenses" charges.

Starr also convinced Lingnau to change his life insurance policy and replace his brother and sister-in-law with her as a beneficiary. But before Lingnau’s sudden death, his family convinced him to change his policy back to its original terms.

Acquaintances overheard Starr bragging about Lingnau’s murder and made statements including: "I'll kill you like I knocked off that other guy."

The 1994 assault of Argil Dennis

In 1994, Starr and her mother, Betty Dennis, had Argil Dennis attacked and stabbed 18 times. Argil survived the assault and the attacker implicated Starr and her mother in the attack.

Starr pleaded guilty to solicitation and conspiracy to commit murder. Betty Dennis was convicted at trial.

The mother-daughter team’s motive was two-fold: Betty Dennis was a bigamist, had married a man to scam him out of money, and wanted Argil killed to avoid being caught for bigamy. Starr solicited Argil’s murder because she feared he would approach authorities about her involvement in Lingnau’s murder.

Arrest and charges

Prosecutors succeeded in indicting Starr for first-degree murder in 1998.

If convicted of first-degree murder, she faced mandatory life in prison without parole.

Trial

Starr was convicted of first-degree murder.

Sentencing

On March 30, 1999, Starr was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Appeals

The material provided did not set out additional appeal details.

Outcome

Starr remained convicted of first-degree murder and received a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Other details

Prosecutors believed Lingnau was murdered days before his scheduled testimony against Starr. Starr feared prosecution for embezzlement as a motive for the murder involvement described in the material.