Video: Jogger-attack suspect pleads not guilty, bail set at $25,000

(added 12:56 pm, :30 from this morning’s hearing; this courtroom has glass between defendants and spectators/media)
We are at the King County Jail, where 46-year-old Duane Starkenburg has just pleaded not guilty to an assault charge stemming from the Lincoln Park jogger attack first reported here yesterday afternoon. Because of his criminal history, as noted in our story from last night, the judge agreed with the city’s request to set his bail at $25,000. His lawyer says Starkenburg just accidentally tripped the victim and tried to apologize, “but she sprinted off.” Also defending him, in a brief interview outside the courtroom with us and multiple TV news crews, his mother Lois Starkenburg, who said her Army-veteran son, currently unemployed, wouldn’t do something like that. His next hearing is set for early February; if he does post bond, he is under orders to stay away from the victim – “I don’t know her,” he assured the judge – and out of Lincoln Park. As for other charges, that will be up to city and county lawyers to review; right now, he is charged only in connection with what happened yesterday, though a similar recent incident was mentioned briefly when the city was arguing for the $25,000 bail.

Side note that we discovered while researching this story; the family is connected to a tragic crime that made regional news 20 years ago. Duane Starkenburg’s parents, longtime West Seattleites, are also the parents of Kimberly Starkenburg, shot dead in 1990 in a multiple-shooting case for which an already-convicted killer named Charles Corliss was found guilty. That case was NOT discussed in the courtroom – it came up while we were researching Duane Starkenburg’s background last night.

Back to this case: The judge allowed video in the courtroom and we will add ours as soon as we are back at headquarters.

onceachef January 26, 2011 (11:53 am)

Hmmmm…I guess it’s “innocent until proven guilty” but sounds suspicious…for instance, why was he jogging so close to her that he “tripped” her? It doesn’t sound like it was crowded and he was forced to be near her.

marty January 26, 2011 (11:55 am)

I’m sure all of his previous arrests were “accidents” too.

acemotel January 26, 2011 (12:18 pm)

wow. good research, WSB!!

Jeff January 26, 2011 (12:20 pm)

Per KOMO, possible link to a prior incident

http://westseattle.komonews.com/content/police-link-suspect-lincoln-park-attack-similar-december-incident

Whatev January 26, 2011 (1:05 pm)

Wasn’t there a recent similar “I tripped while jogging” report at Lincoln Park? Within the last year? I remember reading something about that!

WSB January 26, 2011 (1:11 pm)

Yes, it was linked in the first story we reported yesterday –

Venessa January 26, 2011 (1:26 pm)

OMG! He is a long time family friend and someone who used to babysit me and my siblings. All I have to say is that yes, I can see him doing something stupid like this.

cherylc January 26, 2011 (1:41 pm)

I remember the case with his sister. So sad. I followed the link and the rage of his parents against that killer was really clear. To have their son turn out to a perpetrator (if he is) is a lot of grief for one family.

cherylc January 26, 2011 (1:44 pm)

I just read the the original report, and it makes sense in a crazy way. He probably thinks this is an attack that’s not actionable. He tripped, he groped, who gets arrested for that? I’m glad we take this kind of thing seriously now.

Whatev January 26, 2011 (1:52 pm)

Is there any way to find the august victim and see if she can identify him as her perv? I mean perpetrator?

Sonoma January 26, 2011 (1:57 pm)

Sad about his family’s tragedy, but I sure couldn’t serve on the jury for this guy’s case. My heart does NOT go out to him. Women should not have to live in fear of being attacked while jogging in a park. If he had accidentally “tripped,” he would have stood up and apologized. In all the time I’ve been in Seattle, I’ve never seen a someone accidentally trip over a lone woman.

NotMe January 26, 2011 (2:30 pm)

For a mere $2500, this guy is walking the streets and park paths again.

WSB January 26, 2011 (2:44 pm)

Hey “NotMe,” unless you work in the jail and have info fresher than the register, he hasn’t bailed out so far – I just checked a second ago – or maybe you mean “for a mere $2500, he could be …” which of course is true, and so we will be checking the jail register every few hours. If anyone DOES see him in Lincoln Park, he was ordered to stay away, so that would be an instant police call and he would be violating terms of release … TR

angelescrest January 26, 2011 (2:55 pm)

This infuriates me.
He tripped, huh? And what if the jogger hadn’t been able to get away from his “clumsy” appendages?

Alki Resident January 26, 2011 (3:16 pm)

@Jogger-dont’t let this guy make you second guess what really happened.He still lives with his mother whom I wouldn’t be surprised if he completely controls and intimidates her.Therefore is always prone to say he’s innocent.I dated a guy just like this so know the scoop.And to say he tripped?Again,is going to make the vistim feel even more victimized trying to prove herself.
@WSB-Isn’t it Jill Starkenburg that was murdered?She was our frined all the way through school?Maybe Kimberly was her real name or second name.
Also,I don’t give a rip this guy is a vet,it’s always an excuse for thier actions somehow,and we should feel sorry for him.Of course he’s unemployed,who needs to work when your almost 50 living with mom?

WSB January 26, 2011 (3:29 pm)

Alki Res – all the past clippings name the murder victim as Kimberly. One story I found mentioned a sister named Jill. This all happened just months before we got here but, separate from the actual incident this story is about, discovering this was chilling, as I remember the “Corliss case” still being a hot topic of discussion when I arrived here in spring 1991 to go to work as a local TV-newscast producer … TR

anonymous January 26, 2011 (3:43 pm)

This guy looks to me like the guy who attacked (oh, tripped) me in 2007 as well. When I hit his arms and yelled at him, he went into a sort of “I don’t know what you’re talking about” mode. He then ran away and, since I wasn’t carrying a cell phone at the time, he was gone by the time I could report the attack (though passers by in the park did stop him for a short time since he was running as though fleeing . . . which he was). Of course, I’m sorry that he’s done this again, but I hope that the fact that there are multiple women now who have gotten away from him and who are willing to speak about it will mean that he won’t simply be able to easily wander back to his life and his habits.

cherylc January 26, 2011 (5:18 pm)

Anonymous, I encourage you to report your assault. There are likely to be other people who didn’t report it as well, and the more victims the longer the sentence, I hope. Although, I have to say I’ve never reported anyone who grabbed or groped me; I was always afraid of retribution. So I understand if people don’t want to.

Frank January 26, 2011 (7:06 pm)

Someone should “accidentally trip” this guy when he gets out. He will most likely plea to a lesser charge do a few months and be back out in society. I walk that trail a lot and if I saw that happen he wouldn’t be doing too good.

anonymous January 26, 2011 (7:53 pm)

Thanks, cherylc, I did report it to the police when it happened and have contacted them again to let them know that I think this might be the same guy. I even went downtown and met with a sketch artist after the attack–the whole nine yards.

Dean January 26, 2011 (8:35 pm)

If the judge was smart, they would order that DNA samples be taken from this dude and kept on file.

Dean January 26, 2011 (8:44 pm)

I run in races -like Seattle marathon – where its really crowded. I have never never seen anyone fall “onto” someone in such a way where they would put their arms around them in any way. Its more than suspicious to “trip and fall” just as youre following a lone female jogger. Not credible at all as an explanation! This guy is dangerous and women need to be prepared to defend against. What ever your defense plan you MUST practice it until it’s automatic or you will just panic when attacked.

Frank January 26, 2011 (8:48 pm)

I agree with you on that 100% dean, they should do that with all cases like this.

WSRes January 26, 2011 (10:13 pm)

This site (http://www.dui1.com/DuiCaseLawDetail11150.htm) appears to show that the Starkenburg’s received a $250,000 judgement against the state of Montana for negligence in letting a criminal go free who eventually murdered their daughter. Ironic that they are now arguing to let this criminal (note previous conviction for assault) go free under the guise of a misunderstanding.

WSB January 26, 2011 (10:15 pm)

Yes, there was a whole lot of interesting – though tangential – reading when I happened onto the murder-case connection last night.

chicago January 26, 2011 (10:32 pm)

my heart goes out to the victim/victims of this man, including his own family.

mitch January 26, 2011 (11:28 pm)

I filmed part of a documentary in the Montana prison where Chuck Corliss was doing time for murder, before he killed Kimberly. He was without a doubt the most frightening and cold blooded person I’ve ever met, and we interviewed many killers (he refused). Dead, ice blue eyes that still give me the creeps to this day.

Ray Ray January 27, 2011 (8:02 am)

Innocent or guilty, this incident and surrounding media, raises awareness to be prepared and on the defense. I am a regular runner and have experienced scary situations. The most recent and local was September 2009 on the Longfellow Creek trail off Delridge. My sister and I were on a training run and encountered a man having sex with an inflatable doll. Creepiest, scariest situation ever. I had my phone and police responded quickly but only the package from the blow up doll remained. I have not run that trail since and always run with my phone.

anonymous January 27, 2011 (10:59 am)

this guy has lived with his parents his whole life. he has never been able to hold onto a job for more than a few months at best. he has gone to school multiple times trying to learn a trade. he has never had a meaningful relationship w a woman. he is an alcoholic. he has road rage. he tried to kiss my 14 year old sister once, and he used to flirt w me too when i was a teenager. he is creepy, and weird. he believes he is of high intelligence and strength. he has a skewed vision of who is really is. it doesn’t surprise me at all to be seeing him in this kind of case.

NotMe January 27, 2011 (4:30 pm)

Sorry, WSB… I only meant that $2500 was all he would have to pay in order to get out… not much considering what he is doing. I understand the bail was increased today… Whew.

Sorry, comment time is over.