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Written by: E. George
Published October 28, 2023 @ 12:00 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding sexual violence against children.
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. – On October 7, 2023, Catoosa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 53-year-old Rossville woman, Melissa Denise Starks, for sexually assaulting a juvenile male. On October 1, 2023, deputies met with the complainant, who said Starks molested her 14-year-old grandson.
She explained that a witness had called her to inform her that Starks “had kissed [her grandson] and showed him her private parts.” The witness told the deputies Starks threatened to call the police and tell them that he, the witness, was molesting the victim.
When deputies arrived at Starks’ Stencil Road residence, “she was extremely drunk.” She refused to step outside, and when they asked for her identification, she “closed the door and went to grab her wallet.”
She reemerged and struggled to find her identification in her wallet due to how drunk she was. She turned and reentered her home.
The deputies interviewed the victim, who said that “when [he] returned to his house, he got a phone call from the offender; the offender was telling him that she loves him and that she was going to kill his family if they did not drop the charges from earlier this date.”
The boy’s stepfather had heard part of the conversation. He said he heard her tell him she loved him but did not hear the threat to kill his family.
Later that day, Starks arrived at the sheriff’s office to “file a complaint,” but when deputies learned of her active warrant, they placed her under arrest.
Detectives spoke with the victim’s mother and arranged a forensic interview with the juvenile at the children’s advocacy center.
Following an investigation, deputies charged Starks with child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes (the victim was 14 but less than 16). This case is currently pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on October 01, 2023]
On 10/1/2023 Deputy Rendon was dispatched to [200 BLOCK] Key West Ave in reference to a child molestation case.
Upon arrival Deputy Rendon met with the complainant and she stated that her grandson was molested by the offender. The complainant stated that the witness called her and advised her to get her grandson away from his house because the offender had kissed him and showed him her private parts to the victim. That’s when the grandmother called to make the report.
Deputy Rendon relocated to [300 BLOCK] Stencil Rd to meet with the offender. When Deputy Rendon made contact with the offender, she was extremely drunk. Deputy Rendon asked her to step out and she wouldn’t, then Deputy Rendon asked the offender for her Identification and she closed the door and went to grab her wallet, then she came out and she was struggling to find her Identification in her wallet due to how drunk she was. Then the offender went back inside the house.
Deputy Rendon then met with the witness and he stated that the offender started telling him that she was going to call the police and tell that the witness was molesting the victim. The witness stated that he called the parents and told them what the offender did around 11AM or 12pm on (10/01/2023) Deputy Rendon asked the witness what happened and he stated that the offender had kissed the victim and that she showed her private parts to the victim.
Deputy Rendon contacted CID and they advised him if he had enough evidence to make an arrest if not to make a report and they will be making a follow up with the parents of the victim.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on October 01, 2023]
On Sunday October 1st 2023 Deputy Kuzma was dispatched to the listed address in reference to the victim [VICTIM #1] leaving his house and going over to his friend [REDACTED] house. [REDACTED] lives next door to the offender [Melissa]. When [VICTIM #1] returned to his house he got a phone call from the offender, the offender was telling him that she loves him and that she was going to kill his family if they did not drop the charges from earlier this date.
Deputy Kuzma asked if any one else heard the threat made by the offender and he was told that [VICTIM #1] heard it as well as his step dad [WITNESS #1] heard it as well. When Deputy Kuzma asked what he heard he said that he could hear the offender telling [VICTIM #1] that she loved him but did not hear her say that she was going to kill his family if they did not drop the charges. [WITNESS #1] said that [VICTIM #1] had went inside the house and told him what he heard the offender say.
Deputy Kuzma told the complainant that he would do a supplemental to Deputy Rendons report for documentation purposes.
On this date Deputy Ramirez meet with the subject in the lobby. Subject was wanting to file a complaint and it was determined the subject had an active warrant.
The subject was placed under arrest by Deputy Ramirez, by placing handcuffs in the front of her. Cuffs were checked for proper fit and double locked. Subject was walked back to booking where she was turned over to booking staff. Deputy Ramirez served the subject with two valid warrants. Warrants were sent to dispatch to be cleared from NCIC.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on October 02, 2023]
On October 2, 2023, Detective Thompson spoke with the complainant, Ms. [WITNESS #2], and confirmed the information given. Detective Thompson explained the procedures of a forensic interview to Ms. [WITNESS #2] and she agreed to bring the juvenile victim to the Children’s Advocacy Center, for the forensic interview.
Detective Thompson contacted [REDACTED] with the Children’s Advocacy Center and scheduled the interview for Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 1:00pm. This case is active, pending the results of the interview and investigation. All other information will be included in the case file.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #4 on October 07, 2023]
On October 7, 2023, the offender was arrested on two valid arrest warrants. This case will be cleared by arrest. All other information will be included in the case file.
[End of Narrative]
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