Judge keeps Starbuck’s bond at $1 million

Attorneys representing murder suspect Clay D. Starbuck asked a judge today to reduce his $1 million bond, but the judge refused. Public defenders Derek Reid and Jill Gannon-Nagle asked for the bond reduction for Starbuck, 48, of Deer Park, who is charged with aggravated first-degree murder of his ex-wife Channin D. Starbuck, 42. Investigators believe she was killed Dec. 1, 2011, based on a 911 call from her home. After hearing arguments, Superior Court Judge Greg Sypolt ordered Starbuck today to remain in the Spokane County Jail on the same $1 million bond. Channin Starbuck’s body was discovered Dec. 3, 2011, inside her rental home at 509 N. Reiper St. in Deer Park. The Starbucks divorced in the summer of 2011 and were in legal battles over assets when the homicide occurred, according to court records. Detectives believe Clay Starbuck lured his ex-wife from her home by telling her that his car had broken down and asking her to drive their children to school. The investigators believe Starbuck then went to the home and waited for her to return. Investigators arrested Starbuck in February when lab results confirmed that his DNA was found under Chanin Starbuck’s fingernails, on her neck and on her face. Clay Starbuck’s trial had been set for Jan. 14, but defense attorneys recently requested a delay to have more time to process evidence provided by prosecutors. The new trial has been set for May 6, said Karen Bachmeier, who is Sypolt’s judicial assistant.