Deer Park’s Clay D. Starbuck, 47, who was arrested on Feb. 6 in connection with his ex-wife’s murder, was formally charged with aggravated first-degree murder on Thursday in Spokane County Superior Court.
He was subsequently charged with sexually violating human remains on Friday after detectives believe Starbuck placed his wife’s body in a sexually suggestive pose after he killed her.
Chanin Starbuck’s body was found Dec. 3 at her North Reiper Avenue home. An autopsy showed that she had been strangled a few days before her body was discovered by deputies making a welfare check at the home.
Starbuck is being held on $1 million bail.
The Starbucks, who had been married and divorced twice, were involved in legal battles over more than $9,000 in child support payments and contempt of court claims.