In Racine, Wisconsin, on March 25, 2010, the life of 25-year-old Starkeesha Marie Wilkins was tragically cut short. A dedicated mother to three young children, Maleija, 7, Kadarius, 6, and Fredrick Jr., 3, she was unexpectedly taken from her family in her own home. Starkeesha was a 2002 graduate of Case High School and had worked as a manager at several McDonald's locations for six years.
Remembered for her contagious laugh and bright smile, she was a loving daughter, sister, and a cherished friend to many.
The circumstances of her death were a grim example of domestic violence. Starkeesha was shot and killed by her live-in boyfriend, who then took his own life in a murder-suicide. This violent act left their three children without parents. The tragedy unfolded across the street from the elementary school that two of her children attended, where police had the difficult task of informing them of their mother's death.
In the wake of this devastating event, the community came together to mourn the loss of a young woman described as having a vibrant spirit. A candlelight vigil was held to honor her memory and to bring awareness to the pressing issue of domestic violence. The Racine Women's Resource Center highlighted her death as a call to action to work towards ending such violence against women. Because her death was the result of a murder-suicide, with the perpetrator being deceased, there were no arrests to be made in connection with her killing.
