By Diana McFarland

Managing editor

A Rushmere woman was arrested on multiple charges in connection with the double homicide of an elderly woman and her son.

A juvenile living in her home was also issued petitions on similar charges in connection with the Sept. 23 murders of Nancy and Kenneth Starnes.

Sharon Galvin, 37, was arrested Oct. 4 on a felony charge of buying or receiving stolen property. She was released on bond, but was arrested again Oct. 11 with conspiracy to commit a felony and obstruction of justice. She was again released on bond. {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

The 17-year old juvenile was charged with one count of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of stolen property with the intent to sell and conspiracy to commit a felony, according to Lt. Thomas Potter with the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office. The juvenile is in custody at Chesapeake Juvenile Services, according to Potter.

According to the criminal complaint, a confidential informant was asked by the suspect to assist her with selling firearms that were stolen from the Starnes’ house, located at 4243 Ennisdale Dr.

The informant purchased a rifle from the suspect for $100, with money provided by the Sheriff’s Office, according to the complaint.

The informant also provided the location of the stolen firearms, which were stored in a hidden compartment located in the floor of the back porch of 14333 Stonehouse Lane.

The suspect knew the firearms were stolen from the house where the double homicide occurred, according to the complaint.

A search of 14333 Stonehouse Lane found more than 10 firearms of varying types, including rifles, shotguns and air rifles. 

Arrested on first degree murder charges in connection with the slaying of the Starnes’ were two men who also lived in the house, Kareem Jamar Mitchell, 29, and Richard Alexander Holmes, 19.

The men are also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, use of a firearm in committing a felony, burglary with intent to murder and grand larceny.

Based on statements made to investigators, it is thought that the men are also responsible for several other burglaries, Potter said.

Mitchell and Holmes are scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Isle of Wight County General District Court on Dec. 14.

Galvin is scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 18 is Isle of Wight County General District Court.

Nancy, 80, and her son, Kenneth, 58, were found dead in their home of multiple gunshot wounds.

One of the suspects provided a revealing picture of what allegedly went on in the house at the time of the home invasion and murders. The suspect told investigators he kicked in the door and upon seeing Kenneth, fired his gun. When Kenneth yelled, the suspect panicked and fired again. The suspect then stated he heard Nancy calling out and when he approached her room, he snapped and fired twice.

In addition to the guns, three televisions and a laptop were seized from the Stonehouse Lane house, as well as paperwork and documents belonging to the Starnes’, according to the search warrant.  {/mprestriction}