Crime Junkie: "MURDERED: Jessica Starr"

Host: Ashley Flowers
Date: October 13, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Crime Junkie, hosted by Ashley Flowers, dives deep into the unsolved 2011 murder of Jessica Starr in Elkhart, Indiana. Ashley, after visiting the crime scene herself, discusses the baffling circumstances of Jessica's death, explores police mishandling of the investigation, lays out potential suspects and theories, and gives a voice to Jessica’s family’s quest for justice. The episode unfolds with first-hand accounts, new insights, and persistent community rumors, all highlighting how Jessica's case remains unresolved—and how it still affects those left behind.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Night of Jessica Starr's Murder

[03:25 - 09:40]

• Crime Scene Recap:

  • Jessica, a young woman living temporarily with friends after a breakup, was attacked outside her trailer late at night.
  • Witness: An 11-year-old boy, Jeff, home at the time, recalls hearing terrifying screams:
    “This was primal, guttural screaming coming from somewhere in the front yard... then she sounded like she got like a hand clapped over her mouth and she got pulled away.” —Ashley Flowers quoting Jeff ([04:30])
  • Jessica was found with her throat cut, stabbed, and bruised on her arms, indicating a violent struggle.

• Evidence from the Scene:

  • Her car was parked with groceries in it, door ajar, but no blood nearby—suggesting the attack began at the car and ended on the side of the trailer.
  • Baseball bat-sized branch used as a weapon was found near the body.
  • Porch light bulb was missing, pointing to premeditation in the attack.

2. Police Investigation & Family Criticisms

[10:00 - 17:50]

• Major Alleged Mistakes:

  • The crime scene was poorly secured—Jessica's car wasn’t towed or fingerprinted, and mourners at a vigil disrupted potential evidence.
  • Police did not communicate with Jessica’s family or share information about evidence (like DNA from under her fingernails or autopsy findings).
  • Police denied FOIA requests for files and declined to comment for the episode.

• Impact:

  • Family believes the mishandling may have irreparably damaged the case.
  • Community distrust grows due to the Elkhart PD’s history of corruption and civil rights abuses.

3. Early Suspect: Tavares “Bae” Browning

[17:55 - 23:30]

• Background:

  • Jessica’s ex-boyfriend; alleged by friends and family to have been emotionally abusive and stalked Jessica after their breakup.
  • Friends urged her to seek a restraining order; she reportedly didn't.

• Alibi and Police Approach:

  • Police visited Bae the night of the murder; he was found in bed with another woman.
  • He was never publicly ruled out via DNA or other evidence; however, he remains in prison on unrelated charges and denies all involvement.

4. Alternative Theories & Potential Suspects

[23:35 - 37:45]

• Other Leads:

  • Female Involvement Hypothesis:

    • A neighbor heard a woman say, “Well, we gotta get out of here now,” after the screaming ([28:45]).
    • Jessica's work environment included colleagues allied with her ex, some of whom disapproved of her leaving him.
    • Former roommate Anna had a grudge and knew of conditions (like the loud fan) that masked noise in the house.

  • Anna’s Account:

    • Anna denies involvement and shares that a subsequent boyfriend (connected to Bae’s circles) threatened her:
      “He threatened her with a knife and allegedly said, ‘Do you want to end up like Jess?’” —Ashley Flowers ([35:45])
    • No corroboration could be found for this threat; still seen as worth investigating.

  • Older Incident Suspect: Josh:

    • Assaulted Jessica in 2001 in a separate incident; ruled out due to confirmed alibi in Michigan.

  • Vengeance/Collateral Motive:

    • As a domestic violence liaison and former prosecutor’s office employee, Jessica could have angered other dangerous individuals, but her supervisor recalls no case that would fit this theory.

5. Lingering Community Questions & Rumors

[37:46 - 42:15]

• Suspicions pointed at housemate Terri (Jeff’s mom), but Ashley and Jessica’s family defend her actions as maternal—focused on protecting her sons in the chaos.
• Ongoing rumors and leads surface, often centering on Bae or women in his network.

6. Legacy, Family Trauma, and Calls for Justice

[42:16 - end]

• Jessica’s family recounts ongoing devastation:

  • Her mother died within a month of Jessica, compounded by grief.
  • Her father spent the rest of his life independently investigating but died earlier this year without closure.

• Jessica’s Impact and Memorials:

  • She is remembered for helping others escape abuse, carrying a photo of herself after an assault to inspire victims.
  • Family and the podcast made donations to Safe Haven, the Elkhart County women’s shelter, in her honor.

7. The Call to Action

[53:00+]

• Ashley encourages anyone with information to submit tips to both audiochuck and the Elkhart Police.
• Stresses that secrets “don’t stay secrets forever” and appeals to listeners to help keep Jessica’s case alive.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “How did someone… blitz attack a young woman, then drag her to the side of her trailer and cut her from ear to ear without a single witness seeing? It didn't seem possible.”
  —Ashley Flowers, setting the stakes of the case ([02:20])

• On Elkhart Police:

  • “Police haven't even moved the car… they'd left everything, including Jessica’s purse, which leads me and Jessica’s family to believe this wasn’t a random robbery. Jessyca was targeted.”
    —Ashley Flowers ([09:50])

• Community Frustration:

  • “Her family worries they’re never going to tie anyone to the crime because of how royally they think Elkhart police screwed up the investigation from the start.” ([50:35])

• On Jessica’s Legacy:

  • “She would tell people they could survive what was happening to them because she had—and she even kept a photo of her 18-year-old self in her desk to show people what they could come back from.” ([52:00])

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [03:25] Crime scene and eyewitness account by Jeff.
• [09:50] Description of police mishandling the crime scene.
• [17:55] Introduction and analysis of Bae as a suspect.
• [23:35] Alternative suspects and theories (factory coworkers, Anna, Josh).
• [28:45] Neighbour’s account of hearing a woman’s voice after the attack.
• [35:45] Anna’s alleged threat from her boyfriend.
• [42:16] Jessica’s family tragedy and lasting impact.
• [52:00] How Jessica inspired others and her family’s memorial project.
• [53:00+] Call to action and closing thoughts.

Summary & Listener Takeaway

Ashley Flowers’ meticulous retelling both honors Jessica Starr’s memory and starkly exposes the failings of law enforcement in her case. The episode balances empathy with investigative curiosity, reviewing possible motives, suspects, and the ripple effects of a murder left unsolved. Not just a cold case recap, it’s a call for renewed attention—and a reminder that keeping these stories alive might be the key to finally finding justice.