Found Deceased OH - Mandy Gottschalk, 36, Ashtabula, 15 Aug 2015 *Arrest*

[rosie_lee]

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/loca.../boyfriend-charged-ashtabula-murder/32417869/

ASHTABULA, Ohio -- Two men appeared in court Wednesday in connection with the murder of Mandy Gottschalk, whose body was recovered from a shallow grave near her house.

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From the link:

● Kyle (the boyfriend) has a $750,000 bond
● Ryan (Kyle's friend) has a $75,000 bond
● Investigators believe Mandy died at her home & was moved
● Coroner - likely died from blunt force trauma

 

[Kavya01]

RIP, Mandy. May justice be swift. Heart goes out to all who loved you. ... no words.

 

[margarita25]

Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylor19): https://twitter.com/ScottTaylor19?s=09

Waiting for court appearance for 2 people arrested in connection to death of Mandy Gottschalk. Hearing starting soon. http://t.co/KSznfmwDL8

Ryan J. McBride charged with Gross Abuse of a Corpse in death of Mandy Gottschalk in Ashtabula, OH. http://t.co/sxnIk29yXt

Kyle W. M, Starkey charged with Murder & Abuse of Corpse in death of Mandy Gottschalk in Ashtabula, OH. http://t.co/8fkqFhGYwg

Re: abuse of a corpse / dismemberment??

 

[MamaJoJo]

Re: abuse of a corpse / dismemberment??

§ 2927.01. Abuse of a corpse.

BBM

(A) No person, except as authorized by law, shall treat a human corpse in a way that the person knows would outrage reasonable family sensibilities.

(B) No person, except as authorized by law, shall treat a human corpse in a way that would outrage reasonable community sensibilities.

(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor of the second degree. Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of gross abuse of a corpse, a felony of the fifth degree.

http://law.justia.com/codes/ohio/2006/orc/jd_292701-9d05.html

The article also gives some examples as to what could be considered abuse of a corpse. Dismemberment is one; taking photos, copulating or otherwise mistreating a corpse. I believe burying one down the street from your home constitutes abuse of a corpse, too.

 

[rosie_lee]

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/gran...107-4e53-531f-b6dc-3fb41ad7d8c1.html?mode=jqm


On Monday, the Ashtabula County Grand Jury indicted Kyle W.M. Starkey of Ashtabula was indicted on two counts of murder, (unclassified felony); one count of felonious assault, (second degree felony); one count of tampering with evidence, (third degree felony); one count of gross abuse of corpse, (fifth degree felony); and one count of domestic violence, (first degree misdemeanor).

Ryan McBride of North Kingsville was indicted on one count of tampering with evidence, (third degree felony); and one count of gross abuse of corpse.

According to a release from Iarocci's office, Starkey reportedly "brutally beat Mandy Gottschalk to death" and McBride witnessed the beating and murder, which took place at Starkey and Gottschalk’s home on Washington Avenue in Ashtabula.


More at link

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The article goes on to say they hid her body in a closet for a few days while they partied. They then moved her body & buried it in the shallow grave where she was found.

 

[cvaldez1975]

i think he was drunk or high and got jealous as they all partied by the lake and initiated a fight w her, she asked a friend for a ride home and he became enraged that he did not stay and put up w his crap. it was prob the first time shed stood up to him like that. he came home and the rest unfolded.

poor mama.

 

[wendybtn]

They weren't married! All they had to do was separate, no money dealings. I cannot help but think if people just partied and went to bed at 11pm or 12 mn, some people would never make these horrible, worst of their life decisions and actions.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/loca...cle_da7be45f-2e67-5c0e-8e7e-13f707903f9c.html

An Ashtabula man accused of killing a mother of four was declared competent to stand trial in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday...

The case now will be set for a pretrial conference and then for trial, Iarocci said.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Kyle Starkey's murder trial set for May 31

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/kyle-starkey-s-murder-trial-set-for-may/article_e61c3a51-62ed-5a03-acc7-b4bf85bdb8a9.html

Prosecutors expect the case of an Ashtabula man accused of killing a mother of four last summer will go to before a jury in two months.

Kyle M. Starkey, 25, faces charges of murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse and domestic violence in the death of 36-year-old Mandy Gottschalk, according to court records.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Suspect in murder of Ashtabula mother will go to trial this fall

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/suspect-in-murder-of-ashtabula-mother-will-go-to-trial/article_7dea7cea-df94-579c-8d41-7ff8bc91f0b6.html

Prosecutors expect the case of an Ashtabula man accused of killing a mother of four last summer will go to trial in the fall.

Kyle M. Starkey, 25, faces charges of murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse and domestic violence in the death of 36-year-old Mandy Gottschalk, according to court records.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/loca...cle_5ada0d25-0bad-5367-8c6e-9a77246fee8a.html

In a note, a woman told a judge Wednesday she thought she was going to die when Kyle M. W. Starkey beat, kidnapped and repeatedly raped her in 2013...

Shortly thereafter, the victim heard Common Pleas Judge Marianne Sezon sentence Starkey to a total of 35 years in prison — 20 of those years will be served without parole, she said. The sentence consists of 10 years for the kidnapping, 20 years for the rape, three years for the felonious assault and 2 years for intimidation of a witness...

The victim went to police only after she saw a TV news broadcast last year about Starkey being charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Mandy Gottschalk, 36, of Ashtabula. That trial is tentatively scheduled for September.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Ashtabula murder suspect's trial scheduled for late March

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/ashtabula-murder-suspect-s-trial-scheduled-for-late-march/article_821490d3-e938-5689-800b-6e162def4e4f.html

Prosecutors expect the trial of an Ashtabula man accused of killing a mother of four last summer to last more than two weeks in late March 2017.

Kyle M. Starkey, 26, faces charges of murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse and domestic violence in the beating death of 36-year-old Mandy Gottschalk, according to court records.

“The court’s docket is booked until then,” Ashtabula County Prosecutor Nicholas Iarocci said. “The court and the parties need that long to block out at least two weeks on their respective calendars for the trial.”

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Starkey's murder trial set for March 20; prosecutors expect it to take at least 10 days

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/starkey-s-murder-trial-set-for-march-prosecutors-expect-it/article_5876697d-ba2a-5a3d-9137-b01c8665f923.html

The murder trial of a Wooster man accused of killing an Ashtabula woman is set to start March 20.

Kyle M. Starkey, 26, faces charges of murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse and domestic violence in the August 2015 death of 36-year-old Mandy Gottschalk, of Ashtabula.

"We are earnestly preparing for trial," Ashtabula County Prosecutor Nicholas Iarocci said Thursday.

He expects the trial to take about 10 days in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Judge Gary Yost's courtroom.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Kyle Starkey's jury selection starts today

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/kyle-starkey-s-jury-selection-starts-today/article_eb0600b5-3398-57cf-a0a4-c1690448c639.html

Kyle M. Starkey, 26, faces charges of murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse and domestic violence in the August 2015 death of 36-year-old Mandy Gottschalk, of Ashtabula.

Ashtabula County Prosecutor Nicholas Iarocci has said it was “one of the most brutal beatings and murders” he’s seen during his tenure.

Jury selection will begin at 9 a.m., court officials said.

“Opening statements may start after lunch,” Iarocci said.

Prosecutors have said Starkey beat Gottschalk to death in the Ashtabula home she shared with him. Starkey’s friend, Ryan McBride, of North Kingsville, watched him beat her. The men then reportedly hid her body in a closet for three days while they partied and later buried her in a shallow grave near her home in the vicinity of West 54th Street and Washington Avenue, prosecutors said.

McBride pleaded guilty a year ago to all charges he was indicted on: one count of obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony; one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; and one count of gross abuse of a corpse, a fifth-degree felony, according to court records.

He is still awaiting sentencing, according to court records.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Murder trial begins

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/murder-trial-begins/article_2d9e6c69-25d2-535d-a164-ec8f64632793.html

During her opening statement, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Cecilia Cooper said Starkey, 26, and Gottschalk were living together at the time of her death. On the evening of Aug. 14, 2015, Gottschalk's friend Glenna Patton picked up the couple and Starkey's friend Ryan McBride and drove them to Geneva-on-the-Lake.

"They split up at Geneva-on-the-Lake and the men met up with two young women," Cooper said. "They spent the night with those girls."

A few hours later, Gottschalk and Patton saw the men at Yankees bar with the women and eventually left without them, Cooper said.

Patton drove Gottschalk to her Washington Avenue home while Starkey and McBride had to take a taxi home about three hours later. Cooper said that infuriated Starkey, who kicked down the door, and punched Gottschalk in the face and "continued to punch until she falls. Ryan tried to sit her up but Kyle picked up a knife and threatens Ryan — 'don't touch her.'"

Defense attorney David Per Due said the only thing he and the prosecution agree on is that Starkey, Gottschalk, McBride and Patton went to Geneva-on-the-Lake that night; Gottschalk and Patton left by themselves in the early morning hours of Aug. 15, 2015; and Patton was the last person to see Gottschalk alive.

"When Ryan and Kyle got home, Mandy was not there," Per Due said. "Kyle did everything he could to find her; he filed a police report."

Per Due asked the jurors to use their common sense — if Gottschalk was in the closet and the house was 80 to 90 degrees in August, the body would start to smell, he said. But people, including sheriff's deputies "saw nothing unusual or suspicious," he said.

Per Due said a coroner will testify Gottschalk died of "stomach problems."

Patton, one of the prosecution's first witnesses, testified Monday that she noticed Starkey was "very careless about Mandy's body and personal space."

She said Starkey once "pulled out her breasts in front of other people at a party" and frequently called Gottschalk derogatory names in front of others. Starkey alarmed her when he said if he ever killed somebody he had a blue tarp to wrap them up in.

"I thought it was incredibly disturbing," Patton said.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Witness says he saw murder, helped hide body

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/witness-says-he-saw-murder-helped-hide-body/article_ea9cdc56-0aa8-53dd-8b1f-1b2dacbd5300.html

In an emotional day of testimony, the man who says he was the sole witness to Mandy Gottschalk’s murder said Kyle Starkey brutally beat her to death in a fit of rage.

Starkey’s friend, Ryan McBride, 22, of North Kingsville, testified Tuesday during the second day of Starkey’s murder trial that he saw Starkey punch and kick the 36-year-old Gottschalk to death in the early morning hours of Aug. 15, 2015.

“Kyle was mad and he started kicking the door down with his foot about 10 times,” McBride said. “Mandy was inside trying to open the door yelling, ‘Hold on, hold on’ ... Kyle went in and started punching her in the face. She fell back on the couch and he continued to hit her, standing over her and punching.”

“When I saw him punch her two times, I pushed Kyle off of her,” McBride said. “Kyle grabbed a knife off of the TV, flicked it open and came towards me. He said, ‘Stay out of it or I will kill you.’ Then he started hitting her again, grabbed her and thew her on the floor. He kicked her in the stomach and was hitting her on the head.”

McBride said he was too scared to do anything else but watch as Gottschalk went from trying to protect her face and yelling, “Stop, stop,” to just laying there in silence.

As Starkey kicked and hit her, he said, “She knows what she’s done, she does this all the time.” In less than five minutes, it was over and Gottschalk was dead, McBride said.

McBride said Starkey then started to cry, saying, “I can’t believe this happened,” but he quickly regained his composure, ordering McBride to help him clean up the house. Starkey grabbed latex gloves from the factory where they worked and told McBride to get the bleach to clean up the door and the floor.

Starkey told McBride they had to “get rid of Mandy,” he said. Starkey suggested burying her across the street on the property of an abandoned factory. So that night, at about 1 or 2 a.m., Starkey grabbed a new tarp, placed it on the floor of the bathroom, took Gottschalk’s clothes off, put her on the tarp and “wrapped her up,” McBride said.

“He told me to duct tape her legs,” he said. “Then I held the trash can while he slid her body in head first.”

A family member let out a moan and weeped as McBride continued, describing how Starkey dragged the trash can along the street and then about 10 feet into the woods. Starkey did the digging and McBride watched out for anyone who might come along and see them.

“He slid her out of the trash can into the grave,” he said. “Then he grabbed a couple of branches and covered it. We put the tarp and shovels in the trash can and went back to the house.

Step-mom: Starkey's story didn't add up

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/step-mom-starkey-s-story-didn-t-add-up/article_6691e0ac-748e-5ea5-9c13-5f0aa04d64cd.html

Stacy Weatherbee, of Ashtabula, said Starkey told her that his live-in girlfriend, Mandy Gottschalk, was gone. But she didn’t think Gottschalk, 36 and a mother of four, would leave for days and not come back.

“He said they got in an argument and she’s gone; I didn’t think Mandy was dead but things didn’t add up and I was suspicious,” Weatherbee said. “When they found the (Starkey’s) backpack near my house, I knew he had done something really bad.”

Several witnesses said Starkey had taken a black backpack filled with beer to Geneva-on-the-Lake, which McBride said Starkey later stuffed with a tarp, gloves and other trash and evidence after hiding Gottschalk’s body.

Three days later, Weatherbee’s next door neighbor called police after finding “a suspicious backpack” while mowing the lawn, Ashtabula Police Officer Donald Martin Jr. testified.

Weatherbee said when she and Starkey saw the police arrive at the neighbor’s house, Starkey said, “I’m going to prison.”

After police found the bag, Weatherbee said she asked the police if this was evidence enough to arrest Starkey because she didn’t want him around her children. She feared he would get them in trouble but police did not arrest Starkey that day, though he was considered “a person of interest,” Martin said.

Martin and fellow Ashtabula police officer Anthony Tulino investigated the backpack and its contents, Martin said. Before becoming a police officer, Martin was a butcher and the backpack reeked of the familiar scent of blood and decay.

“I could smell a rancid odor four feet away from (the backpack),” he said.

Martin found a blue tarp and a black bra inside the bag.

“The smell got stronger and stronger and maggots were crawling all over the items in the bag,” he said, noting he also found latex gloves, a white bandana, part of a green T-shirt, ear plugs, an orange utility knife, cleaner and cigarette butts in the bag.

 

[cvaldez1975]

this is so hideous

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Murder trial's focus turns to physical evidence

http://www.starbeacon.com/news/local_news/murder-trial-s-focus-turns-to-physical-evidence/article_957384bf-0a54-502e-8e7c-640b8ff7e528.html

Testimony during the fourth day of Kyle Starkey’s murder trial Thursday focused on law enforcement’s collection of physical evidence.

Detectives said a ripped green T-shirt shirt found in Mandy Gottschalk’s shallow grave matched one found in Starkey’s backpack three days after her disappearance.

Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Detective Jeff C. Brown testified for more than three hours Thursday, describing evidence collected at three sites: Starkey’s step-mother’s house in Ashtabula; the house Starkey and Gottschalk shared on Washington Avenue in Ashtabula and the shallow grave where deputies found Gottschalk buried Aug. 24, 2015 near her house.

Throughout the trial defense attorney David Per Due has questioned law enforcement officers about their procedures, including how they uncovered Gottschalk’s body at the burial site.

“(Sheriff’s) Detective Sean Ward did the digging with his hands because the dirt was soft and it was a shallow grave, like a mound, not packed soil so we knew it had been buried recently,” Brown said. “I saw a toe and a bruised knee sticking out.”

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

this is so hideous

Mandy's last moments in life were completely heinous and terrifying. She has a strong family to be able to sit through all of this graphic testimony.

 

[cvaldez1975]

I know, I think I would be sick

Mandy's last moments in life were completely heinous and terrifying. She has a strong family to be able to sit through all of this graphic testimony.