Woman faces murder charges

A woman taken into custody today in the fatal shooting of her estranged husband is believed to have planned the slaying, authorities said.

Shelly L. Stark, 45, is facing charges that include pre-meditated first-degree murder in connection with the 1:40 a.m. shooting at 1620 S. Maple Blvd., according to the Spokane Police Department. The identity of the husband, who reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at Deaconess Medical Center, was being withheld by police, but records show the house where the shooting occurred is owned by Dale Stark.

Police said Shelly Stark called authorities about 1:40 a.m. to report that she had shot her 48-year-old husband several times.

The couple’s 17-year-old son had apparently arrived sometime before that with another family member to serve Stark’s husband with a temporary restraining order, police said. Police said there was no history of domestic violence.

The couple had been separated and living outside the area recently but still owned the South Hill residence overlooking the Hangman Valley.

According to detectives, when Stark’s husband was served with the court order, he refused to leave the home.

“The son showed up with the nephew and they served the order. They leave and that’s when they hear the gunshots,” said Officer William Hager. The son and Stark’s nephew left the area immediately and went to another location to call police. Stark also called police to say she had shot her husband.

Police recovered a handgun at the scene, although it was unclear who owned the weapon.

Initially Stark claimed the shooting was an act of self defense, but Hager said evidence suggested otherwise.

“She wasn’t real forthcoming with information, but the homicide detectives seemed to feel that there is definitely more than what she was telling them,” said Officer William Hager. “Some of it points to she kind of planned the thing.”