A person of interest in the homicide of an 84-year-old Campton Road resident found dead in his home May 20 has been arrested on unrelated charges, the Eureka Police Department reports.
Wesley Lee Starritt, 22, was arrested by an EPD Problem-Oriented Policing Unit detective following a traffic stop May 26 while other investigators were watching his residence, which is also located on Campton Road. Starritt, who EPD reports is also a person of interest in two recent stabbings, was booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of unrelated charges, including violation of probation, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
A search warrant was served at Starritt’s Campton Drive home and additional evidence collected, according to a news release.
Roger Mitchell “Mitch” Clark was found dead in his home by a relative. An autopsy conducted on May 23 confirmed his death was a homicide, EPD reports. The specific cause and details of his death are not being released at this time to “protect the integrity of the investigation,” the release states.
“Detectives are actively working to build their case. No arrest for Clark’s murder has been made at this time,” the release states. “However, we feel confident we have our suspect now in custody and that an arrest for murder will soon be made. Further details will be forthcoming following Starritt’s anticipated arrest for murder and other serious offenses.”
Read the full EPD release below:
On May 20, 2020, at about 7:38 p.m., Eureka Police Department officers responded to the 4000-block of Campton Road for the report of an elderly male found deceased in his residence by a relative. Upon arrival, officers found 84-year-old Roger Mitchell (“Mitch”) Clark deceased, alone in his home. It was immediately evident that Clark had been murdered.
EPD Detectives and Evidence Technicians responded to process the scene. On May 23rd, an autopsy was performed on the victim. To protect the integrity of the investigation, the specific cause and details of death are not being released at this time but it was confirmed as a homicide. Search warrants have been served and evidence collected from the scene is being sent to a forensic laboratory for expedited DNA analysis.
Detectives have since canvased the neighborhood, interviewed dozens of known associates, and met with other local agencies, including the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, to review the case.
On Tuesday, May 26th, EPD Detectives identified a strong person of interest in this homicide and two other recent stabbing cases. 22-year-old Eureka resident Wesley Lee Starritt was arrested by an EPD Problem-Oriented Policing Unit Detective following a traffic stop later that evening as other investigators surveilled his residence.
He was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on unrelated charges including violation of probation, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and other offenses. A search warrant was executed at his Campton Drive residence and additional evidence collected.
Detectives are actively working to build their case. No arrest for Clark’s murder has been made at this time. However, we feel confident we have our suspect now in custody and that an arrest for murder will soon be made. Further details will be forthcoming following Starritt’s anticipated arrest for murder and other serious offenses.
This article appears in Triggers and Clusters.
It would seem that the whole concept of probation is flawed. In this case, allowing a felon out who went on to perpetrate other misdeeds. If he was a person of interest in the murder case his probation officer SHOULD have known his whereabouts. I wonder what is the cost differential between incarceration and administering probation. It seems like a government office that could be done away with if they kept prisoners in prison for their stipulated sentences. It is probably too ingrained into the system to do away with now, but so many of the reports I see are about parolees violating the terms of their parole to go onto commit further crimes.
Sorry. But the guy was 84 years old! What on earth can kill him besides old age? So the arrested man had a firearm? Soooooo we….assume the old man was shot? I mean….it don’t take a genius to read between the lines…..ya know?!and really,WHY? What reason? Does he have a good size estate? Seems like there’s a systematic rythm for the (financially well off) old around here…..This entire article has more holes than your swiss cheese. SERIOUS. Why would anyone want an 84 yr old dead is for obvious reasons come on. THIS IS AN AGE OLD story BUT with a bad twist…..the “felon” (conveniently) has a firearm, thus violating his probation/parole w/e so THAT was reason to arrest but he’s (why???) a “strong suspect” in the case anyways, then (jumping the gun a bit early) blabbing “you feel confident the suspect is in custody”..? Are you f**in serious? Come. On. Wow. REALLY?? Weird stuff in Humboldt county. Really. Weird.
By the way I’m totally just saying. Personal opinion was all I was expressing above in my comment. Please no offense to anyone involved in this story I apologize for being so blatant and posting without thinking about others at the moment.