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Menifee Man, 31, Pleads Not Guilty To Murdering His Girlfriend, 38

RIVERSIDE (CBS) —  A Menifee man accused in his girlfriend's shooting death pleaded not guilty Friday to a murder charge.

Adam Michael Starkey, 31, could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted in the Jan. 24 slaying of 38-year-old Jennifer Bowers.

Along with murder, Starkey is facing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

He appeared with a public defender before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Becky Dugan.

Starkey remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Todd Torrenti, the defendant called 911 shortly after 10 on the night of the shooting, saying he had shot a woman inside his home.

Deputies rushed to Starkey's house in the 25000 block of Bundy Canyon Road and detained the allegedly drunken man in front of his residence.

Torrenti said that when deputies walked into the house, they found the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A motive for the murder has not been disclosed.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

 

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