By Frederic Lee

Staff writer

Smithfield resident Richard Holmes — charged in connection with the double murder of an elderly woman and her son in their Ennisdale Drive home — pled guilty to two counts of first degree murder Wednesday. 

Holmes also pled guilty to armed burglary, grand larceny and two counts for felony use of a firearm in Isle of Wight County Circuit Court last week. All counts are felonies.

Holmes received a 32-year active sentence, according to the Virginia court system’s online case information system. {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

Holmes is one of three individuals charged in connection with the Sept. 22, 2017 double murder of Nany and Kenneth Starnes — an elderly woman and her son — in their home. 

 Smithfield resident Kareem Mitchell is serving a life sentence for his role in the murders. Mitchell plead guilty to seven charges, including two counts of first degree murder on May 30, in exchange for the state not seeking the death penalty. 

The third individual charged in relation to the murders is Newport News resident Sharon Galvin.

Galvin’s felony charges include two counts of accessory after a homicide, one count of receiving stolen goods and another felony charge for selling stolen property. A misdemeanor charge of obstructing justice for Galvin has also yet to be tried. 

A search of Galvin’s home after the murders revealed items from the Starnes’ residence. 

Galvin’s next court date is Feb. 24. {/mprestriction}