In the summer of 2006, the life of 22-year-old Cari L. Chapman was tragically cut short in Franklin Township, Pennsylvania. On July 31st, the young woman from Pittston, who was less than 16 weeks pregnant, was fatally shot multiple times. The Luzerne County Coroner's Office subsequently ruled her death and the death of her unborn child a homicide.
The investigation into Chapman's murder quickly led authorities to 23-year-old Patricia Leigh Stark. It was revealed that Stark's violent actions were part of a larger crime spree that also involved her boyfriend, Charles 'Ty' Harris. Less than 15 hours before Chapman's murder, Stark had shot another woman, Samantha Banellis. Following the shootings, Stark and Harris became fugitives, evading law enforcement for two weeks before they were apprehended in Philadelphia.
Following her capture, Patricia Leigh Stark faced a litany of serious charges, including first-degree murder for the death of Cari L. Chapman, homicide of an unborn child, attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and robbery. To avoid a potential death sentence, Stark ultimately entered a guilty plea. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for Chapman's murder, with an additional sentence for the death of her unborn child. Years later, Stark's appeal for a reduced sentence, based on a claim of immature brain development at the time of the crimes, was denied by the state Superior Court.
