A Eureka man who pleaded guilty to stabbing four strangers — two of them fatally — was sentenced to serve four life sentences in prison today by Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran.
According to a press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Wesley Lee Starritt, 26, had pleaded guilty to murdering Roger Mitch Clark in May of 2020 and Charles LeVaugh on Dec. 4, 2017, and attempting to murder Bryon Tatum on April 20, 2020, and Ciuleandra Smith on May 13, 2020, in brutal string of seemingly random attacks.
“There are no words,” Killoran said at Starritt’s sentencing, according to the press release. “These killings are inexplicable, cowardly, monstrous; and … all I could think was even these adjectives don’t describe it well enough. It doesn’t really capture how truly horrendous these actions were. And, unfortunately, … I find nothing redeeming at this time in the defendant or his character. … So, as I was kind of struggling in deciding what it was that I would say to all of you today, I thought, really, at the end of the day, I would just mention those folks who lost their lives, what excellent community members they were, how greatly they would be missed and … focus on the two men who lost their lives and just being thankful that the defendant was not successful as to Bryon Tatum and Ms. Smith and the attempted murders of those individuals.”
At the sentencing hearing, LeVaugh’s sister, Charlotte LeVaugh-Paul, told the court her brother was a “a good man, he was kind to everyone,” while Clark’s son, Mitchell Clark, described his father as a 50-year member of the Eureka community who gave generously to charities and would buy bicycles for local children in need every year.
“He was a wonderful, generous man who did not deserve to die this way,” Mitchell Clark said, according to the press release.
Police alleged that Starritt fatally stabbed LeVaugh, a 56-year-old houseless man, as he slept on the street. Starritt then stabbed Clark, 84, more than 90 times after breaking into his home, according to preliminary hearing testimony.
About a month before Starritt killed Clark, he walked up to Tatum, 43, and began stabbing him, apparently without reason, stopping only when his knife broke. He then reportedly stabbed Smith in Cooper Gulch multiple times after asking her for a cigarette, stopping only when his knife broke, just days before Clark’s killing.
Police said Starritt confessed to the stabbings and also made a variety erratic statements, including that he was “Lucifer,” and legal proceedings were later suspended when he was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. He was also charged with several crimes while in jail, including attacking guards and throwing human excrement “and other bodily fluids” at them. Ultimately, he was deemed restored to competency and legal proceedings continued. He pleaded guilty to the two murders and two attempted murders in August in a deal that saw prosecutors dismiss some of the enhancements and other counts charged.
The press release from the district attorney’s office praises the work of the Eureka Police Department, as well as the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, in identifying and apprehending Starritt.
“Without the hard work of the detectives, patrol officers, and forensic technicians at the Eureka Police Department, these crimes wouldn’t have been linked together so quickly and a suspect identified and arrested,” the release states, adding that the case was initially prosecuted by Distirct Attorney Stacey Eads and later taken over by Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees. DA Investigator Rick Bise and Victim Advocate Michala Pelran also worked the case.
Under state law, Starritt will become eligible for parole after serving 25 years.
See the full press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office copied below:
Wesley Starritt Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murders of Charles LeVaugh and Roger Mitch Clark
Office of the District Attorney – Stacey Eads, District Attorney
News Release
November 1st, 2024
Today, Judge Lawrence Killoran sentenced Wesley Lee Starritt, age 26, to serve four life sentences in prison for the murders of Mr. Roger Mitch Clark on May 18-19th, 2020, Mr. Charles LeVaugh on December 4th, 2017, and the attempted murders of Bryon Tatum on April 20th, 2020, and Ciuleandra Smith on May 13th, 2020. Each of his victims were strangers to Mr. Starritt.
In sentencing Mr. Starritt, Judge Killoran stated, “There are no words. These killings are inexplicable, cowardly, monstrous; and … all I could think was even these adjectives don’t describe it well enough. It doesn’t really capture how truly horrendous these actions were. And, unfortunately, … I find nothing redeeming at this time in the defendant or his character…. So, as I was kind of struggling in deciding what it was that I would say to all of you today, I thought, really, at the end of the day, I would just mention those folks who lost their lives, what excellent community members they were, how greatly they would be missed and … focus on the two men who lost their lives and just being thankful that the defendant was not successful as to Bryon Tatum and Ms. Smith and the attempted murders of those individuals.”
Mr. Levaugh’s sister, Charlotte LeVaugh-Paul, addressed the judge prior to sentencing and described her brother as a generous man who was always helping others, stating, “My brother was a good man[,] he was kind to everyone.” Charlotte detailed the effects that the loss of her brother has had on her family, including her mother, who unfortunately passed away before she could see Mr. Starritt sentenced.
Mr. Clark’s son, Mitchell Clark, and niece, Kimberly Perris, addressed the profound loss to their family at the hands of Mr. Starritt. Mitch recalled his father’s service in the armed forces, and his dedication as a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. But Mitch’s description of his father’s contributions to Eureka and Humboldt County demonstrates how this loss has affected everyone: “He was a member of the Eureka community for over 50 years, and a local business owner until his retirement just a few years ago… He gave generously to many charities, both locally and nationally. For example, he bought bicycles for local under privileged children at Christmas every year. He was a wonderful, generous man who did not deserve to die this way.”Kimberly described her uncle and aunt (who predeceased him): “…They worked tirelessly, investing in their business’s success, and dedicated to supporting their employees. Though they led simple, frugal lives personally, they were remarkably generous to others, giving to many causes they believed in. One example of their compassion was their annual support of Toys for Tots, to which they contributed money and toys to children in need…. Uncle Mitch was known for his vivid childhood memories and his knack for storytelling. Though gruff on the outside, he had a huge heart and cherished his family deeply.”
The investigation of each of these cases was led by the Eureka Police Department, with assistance from the Eureka Problem Oriented Policing Team and the Humboldt County Drug Task Force. Without the hard work of the detectives, patrol officers, and forensic technicians at the Eureka Police Department, these crimes wouldn’t have been linked together so quickly and a suspect identified and arrested. The case was prosecuted initially by District Attorney Stacey Eads, and later by Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees, with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Rick Bise and Victim Advocate Michala Pelran, among others.
Mr. Starritt waived his right to appeal any aspect of his sentence, and because he was convicted of murder, he will have to serve every day of his sentence. Under California law, Mr. Starritt will be eligible for a parole hearing after he has served 25 years of his life sentence.
This article appears in ‘Doing its Part’.
