A Texarkana man accused of causing serious injuries to a woman by dragging her with his car was indicted Thursday by a Bowie County grand jury.
Adonta Rashad Starks, 21, is accused of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon in a March 15 encounter with Terralyn Murphy that left her seriously injured.
Starks allegedly told investigators with the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department that he and Murphy, who had been in a dating relationship, were arguing March 15 about their relationship while Starks was seated in the driver’s seat of his Chevy Impala while parked at the intersection of Texas Blvd. and west 24th Streets, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“He stated he was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle while she was talking to him from the passenger side rear door,” the affidavit states. “He stated she had her body halfway inside the vehicle while she was yelling at him.”
Starks allegedly told investigators that Murphy slapped him and punched him in the back of the head.
“Starks stated he smashed on the gas pedal causing the tires to spin,” the affidavit states. “He said Murphy was hanging on to the vehicle when he pulled off.”
Murphy managed to hang on to the car for a few seconds before releasing her grip. Murphy allegedly suffered fractures to most of the bones in her face “including her chin tha was completely split.” Murphy was transported to Little Rock via ambulance for additional treatment after being seen by medical personnel in Texarkana.
Starks faces five to 99 years or life in prison if convicted of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon. The deadly weapon identified in the affidavit is the Chevy Impala.
Starks is currently being held in the Bowie County jail. His case has been assigned to 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart.
