In the summer of 2017, the quiet town of Wendell, Massachusetts, was unsettled by the violent death of a resident. Amanda Glover, a 48-year-old White female, was killed on July 5, 2017. The tragic event unfolded in her home at 179 West Street, where she lived with her boyfriend, Lewis Starkey III, and her adult son.
The circumstances of Glover's death stemmed from a domestic dispute. On that fateful day, Glover had informed Starkey that their relationship was over.
This led to a heated argument that escalated with horrific speed. Starkey retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun from the basement of the home and confronted Glover, shooting her at close range. The act of violence was witnessed by Glover's son, Devin, who was also targeted by Starkey. Fortunately, Devin Glover was able to escape into the nearby woods and contact the police.
Following the murder, Lewis Starkey III, then 53 years old, fled the scene in Glover's vehicle. His escape triggered a five-day manhunt that put the region on high alert. During his time as a fugitive, Starkey drove to his workplace in Chicopee and shot at a former co-worker, who sustained injuries from shattered glass but survived. Law enforcement considered Starkey to be armed and dangerous. The search for him concluded on July 9, 2017, when he was apprehended without incident during a traffic stop in Orange, Massachusetts. Upon his arrest, Starkey reportedly told the officer, "You got the prize".
Lewis Starkey III was subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder, and other offenses. During his trial in 2019, the prosecution presented a case depicting the murder as a "classic" instance of domestic violence, driven by Starkey's unwillingness to accept the end of his relationship with Glover. Starkey's defense argued that the shooting was accidental, claiming that the shotgun discharged during a struggle between him and Devin Glover. However, the jury was not convinced by this version of events. In April 2019, Lewis Starkey III was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Amanda Glover and the attempted murder of her son. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder, with an additional 10 to 15 years for the attempted murder charge.
