Homicide Investigation In Tuolumne County

by Claire Sharpe , March 27, 2023

Photos below courtesy of Tuolumne County Sheriff

TUOLUMNE COUNTY — A homicide investigation is underway following the discovery of a deceased man in Columbia, California. On Wednesday, March 15th at around 3:00 pm, an ambulance was called to the area of Calle Quartz Drive for a report of a man found on the ground in his home. The man was later identified as 63-year-old Ben Lindsey. When medics arrived, they determined Lindsey was deceased and requested the Sheriff’s Office respond. Through their investigation, detectives and the Coroner determined the death was a homicide, with Lindsey’s cause of death later revealed to be blunt force trauma through autopsy.

Witnesses in the area reported Lindsey’s Jeep had been missing for a few days. Detectives processed the scene and pursued available leads. During the course of their investigation, detectives authored several search warrants, obtained video surveillance, and conducted numerous interviews with potential witnesses. Detectives learned that Lindsey’s neighbor and tenant, 63-year-old Jon Starkweather, had recently had his daughter, 28-year-old Sabrina Starkweather and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Kasual McGuire-Meder, stay at his residence.

Over the following days, detectives learned McGuire-Meder had been arrested for an unrelated crime in the Washoe County area. Detectives arrested McGuire-Meder on Friday, March 17th at the Washoe County Jail. McGuire-Meder was booked for the crimes of murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Jon Starkweather was arrested on the same day in the area of Calle Quartz Drive. He was transported to the Dambacher Detention Center where he was booked on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, and robbery. Sabrina Starkweather has an active warrant for her arrest for the crimes of murder and violation of probation.

The investigation is still ongoing, and anyone with information related to this case or information on Sabrina Starkweather’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division.