Alabama man, brother ordered to pay $1 million restitution for ex-wife’s murder

An Alabama man and his brother were ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution Monday in the murder-for-hire killing of his ex-wife on Thanksgiving 2017, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Jason Starr, of Coffee Springs, and his brother, Darin Starr, of Lakehills, Texas, were ordered to pay $971,671.21 to the estate of Sara Starr, whom Darin Starr shot and killed in her driveway as she was leaving for work, just four months after her divorce was finalized, said U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross.

According to the order from U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker, Jr., Jason and Darrin Starr are also ordered to pay more than $23,000 to Sara Starr’s mother and a little more than $10,000 to other entities, including Alabama Medicaid and Tricare, the military’s health insurance program.

Jason and Darrin Starr were convicted in September 2003 of committing the murder-for-hire scheme. Both of the brothers received life sentences, while Jason Starr was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.

There is no parole in the federal system.

Jason and Sara Starr were to share custody of their four children, and Jason Starr was ordered to pay his ex-wife $1,050 a month in child support and $1,500 in alimony. She also was awarded a portion of his military benefits.

Shortly after the divorce, from September 2017 to November 2017, Jason Starr sent approximately $2,600 to his brother, Darin Starr, authorities said. He also gave his brother a motorcycle, prosecutors said.

Testimony in the trial showed that cell phone records indicated that Darin Starr traveled from Texas to Coffee County just before Thanksgiving in 2017 and, on multiple occasions, was very near the home of his brother’s ex-wife.

Around midnight on November 27, 2017, Darin Starr’s phone was turned off.

About seven hours later, Darin Starr shot and killed his brother’s ex-wife in her driveway as she was leaving for work.

Darin Starr turned his phone back on around 8 a.m. when he was on I-10 heading back to Texas.

Federal prosecutors said the jury determined that the money sent by Jason Starr to his brother was payment for the murder of his ex-wife.