The Murder of Sara Starr


In 2017, Sara Starr, a beloved teacher in Coffee County, Alabama, was tragically found shot dead in her driveway. Despite years of investigation due to sparse evidence, authorities ultimately uncovered a complex murder-for-hire scheme. 



Thank you to Sydney Pacha for your help researching this story. 


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Sources:

**Indicates sources with photos 

  1. Kurtis, Ken. "Sara Starr's husband terrified her before her murder: Witness." News4. Last modified September 12, 2023.**

  2. U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District Alabama. "Coffee County Man and His Brother Found Guilty of Carrying Out a Murder-for-Hire Plot." United States Department of Justice. Last modified September 20, 2023.

  3. Lord, Debbie. "'I hope you rot': Daughter confronts dad who hired brother to kill ex-wife." KIRO 7. Last modified January 8, 2024.**

  4. Quinn, Allison. "Slain Teacher's Brother-in-Law Wanted in Murder-for-Hire Plot." Daily Beast. Last modified February 3, 2022.**

  5. Sabes, Adam. "Alabama man allegedly paid hitman with his motorcycle to kill ex-wife." New York Post. Last modified February 6, 2022.**

  6. Dixon, Aaron. "'He's going to kill me.' Inside the relationship of Jason and Sara Starr." WDHN. Last modified September 12, 2023.

  7. Galvan, Jamie E. "'Someone finally listened to us' | Grand jury convicts brothers in murder-for-hire plot to kill mother of 4." KHOU 11. Last modified September 23, 2023.

  8. Robinson, Carol. "Alabama man, brother convicted of murder-for-hire for ex-wife's 2017 shooting death." AL.Com. Last modified September 20, 2023.**

  9. Naham, Matt. "'You are useless' and 'I hope you rot': Brothers locked up for life in murder-for-hire shooting of elementary school teacher and mother of 4 just months after 'bitter divorce.'" Law & Crime. Last modified January 6, 2024.

  10. Sorto, Marlon. "Two brothers convicted in murder-for-hire plot in killing of elementary school teacher over child support and alimony." CNN. Last modified September 22, 2023.**

  11. Dixon, Aaron. "Brothers found guilty of murder in 2017 death of Alabama teacher." CBS 42. Last modified September 20, 2023.

  12. Ramussen, Aaron. "Mother-Of-Four Shot Dead After Ex-Husband Hires Brother To Kill Her, FBI Says." ID Crimefeed. Last modified February 14, 2022.

  13. Horn, Glen, and Seth Feiner. "Details emerge in Enterprise teacher's murder as reward is upped for suspect on the run." News 3. Last modified February 4, 2022.

  14. Carpentier, Megan. "Man Accused Of Killing Ex-Sister-In-Law For Motorcycle Turns Himself In To Police." Oxygen True Crime. Last modified February 7, 2022.**

  15. McCoy, Ashley, and Mike Gurspan. "Ex-husband of slain Alabama school teacher charged with murder." CBS 42. Last modified December 7, 2021.

  16. Kurtis, Ken. "Judge freezes convicted killer Jason Starr's bank accounts." News 4. Last modified September 26, 2023.

  17. Everett, Richard, and Aaron Dixon. "Jury seated in Enterprise murder-for-hire trial." WDHN. Last modified September 19, 2023.

  18. Dixon, Aaron. "Attorneys square off for the last time in the trial of Jason and Darin Starr." WDHN. Last modified September 19, 2023.

  19. "Sara Starr of Chancellor, Alabama | 1979 - 2017 | Obituary." Schmitt Funeral.**

  20. Curtis, Ken. "Murder-for-hire trial begins 6 years after south Alabama teacher shot." News 4. Last modified September 9, 2023.

  21. "Sara Elizabeth Shubert Starr." Find A Grave.**

  22. Zell, Brent. "Remembering Sara Starr." The Enterprise Ledger (Enterprise, AL), December 1, 2017.**

  23. Forehand, Michelle W. "Coffee County sheriff stays tightlipped about updated information in murder of Sara Starr." The Dothan Eagle (Dothan, AL), March 24, 2018.**

  24. Huffaker, R. Austin, JR. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JASON STARR and DARIN STARR MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER." Casetext. Last modified September 10, 2023.

  25. Zell, Brent. "Death of Sara Starr Reward Offered." The Enterprise Ledger (Enterprise, AL), January 5, 2018.**

  26. Forehand, Michelle W. "Ex-husband of slain Enterprise teacher indicted on sex charge." The Dothan Eagle (Dothan, AL), May 30, 2018.

  27. Zell, Brent. "Investigation Ongoing." The Enterprise Ledger (Enterprise, AL), November 29, 2017.**

  28. "US Yearbooks Colby High School 1997." Ancestry.**

  29. Forehand, Michelle W. "Coffee County sheriff: Homicide victim was teacher in Enterprise." The Dothan Eagle (Dothan, AL), November 29, 2017.

  30. Lancaster, Leah. "Teacher honored with garden." The Enterprise Ledger (Enterprise, AL), June 6, 2018.**

  31. The Enterprise Ledger (Enterprise, AL). "Enterprise Board of Education approves personnel actions." September 1, 2016.

  32. Forehand, Michelle W. "Strong Person of interest in killing." The Dothan Eagle (Dothan, AL), January 31, 2018.

  33. The Manhattan Mercury (Manhattan, KS). "Marriage Licenses." February 21, 2001.

  34. "US Yearbooks Colby High School 1995." Ancestry.**

  35. "US Yearbooks Colby High School 1996." Ancestry.**

  36. "US Yearbooks Colby High School 1997 PG2." Ancestry.**

  37. "US Yearbooks Colby High School 1997 PG3." Ancestry.**

  38. "US Yearbooks Colby High School 1997 PG4." Ancestry.**

  39. "Jason G Starr in the U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1." Ancestry.

  40. "Darin Christopher Starr in the Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014." Ancestry.

  41. Dixon, Aaron. "Trial for Jason and Darin Starr expected to begin on Monday." WDHN. Last modified September 9, 2023.

  42. Curtis, Ken. "Man charged with killing Alabama teacher pleads not guilty." WSFA 12. Last modified March 24, 2022.**

  43. Curtis, Ken. "'He owes me,' Darin Starr said of brother following their murder arrests." News 4. Last modified September 14, 2023.

  44. Curtis, Ken. "Suspected killer Jason Starr wants children's testimony barred." News 4. Last modified August 9, 2023.**

  45. Dixon, Aaron. "Investigator says they were aware of contentious Starr divorce, looked at husband as the first suspect." WDHN. Last modified September 12, 2023.

  46. The Manhattan Mercury (Manhattan, KS). "KSU Names Winter Graduates." December 27, 2001.

  47. "Starr brothers challenge police account before murder of Sara Starr." Video. WDHN. Posted by Aaron Dixon, September 18, 2023.

  48. "Motorcycle seen leaving near Sara Starr's house 9 days before alleged murder." Video. YouTube. Posted by WDHN, September 13, 2023.

  49. "Jason and Darin Starr found guilty of 2017 murder of beloved Enterprise teacher." Video. YouTube. Posted by WDHN, September 20, 2023.

  50. Fowler, Hayley. "Feds: Hitman's price? A motorcycle." The McDowell News (Marion, NC), February 24,  2022.

  51. Thompson, Sonya. "Cross Plains man jailed on meth charges." The Portland Leader (Portland, TN), February 6, 2013.


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