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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- August 10, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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On Aug. 10, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a convicted murderer to 15 years in prison.
Elliott Starks pleaded guilty on May 17 to second-degree murder while armed for stabbing Antina Pratt in 2016 on the Buena Vista bike trail between Suitland Parkway and the 2600 block of Pomeroy Road, SE. Starks killed Pratt while he was released on parole after serving a sentence for a 1999 murder conviction.
According to the prosecution, Pratt, 40, and Starks, 35, knew each other. Surveillance footage shows Pratt did not feel threatened by Starks’ presence as they walked on the trail before he stabbed her multiple times.
According to court documents, Pratt fought back. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later identified Starks’ DNA under her fingernails.
According to a press release, Starks stopped reporting to meetings in January 2017 and was arrested on Oct. 4, 2017, after nearly a year in hiding.
“You (Starks) are a murderer and don’t care,” one of the victim’s sisters said during her impact statement, calling him a “monster.”
Madalyn Harvey, Starks’ defense attorney, reminded the court that her client had been in prison since he was 16 years old. “Prison doesn’t make people better,” the attorney said. Harvey requested that Starks be imprisoned in a facility that was accessible to his family. She said familial contact would be a key part to Starks’ rehabilitation.
Judge Craig Iscoe accepted the plea recommendation and sentenced Starks to 15 years of incarceration. Judge Iscoe also recommended Starks be detained in a facility that is close to the area.
In addition to his 15 year sentence, Starks could also be required to serve an additional 25 years to complete his previous sentence. Once released, he will be required to serve five additional years on supervised release.