Sentenced: Mom Marries Man That Killed Her 5YO Son; Unlikely He Will Do Any Time

[Sugar Cookie]

A woman’s boyfriend is facing a murder charge for making her “unruly” 5-year-old son get out of his car in the rain Sunday night before the child was hit by another vehicle on Alabama Highway 165.

The child, Austin Birdseye, died from his injuries at Piedmont Columbus Regional.

35-year-old soldier Bryan Starr is charged with murder because of his reckless disregard for the boy’s safety.

Starr is the longtime boyfriend of Austin’s mother and resides with the mother and child.

Christina Birdseye was not present when the child was killed.

https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/crime/article247505815.html

According to investigators, 35-year-old Bryan Starr told detectives the child was being unruly in the vehicle, so he pulled over in the rain at a church and told the boy to get out. Starr told investigators he lost track of the boy in the rain. Investigators say the boy wandered onto the busy highway and was struck by another vehicle.

Man faces murder charge after 5-year-old forced from car for ‘being unruly’ is fatally struck, sheriff says

An Alabama man and Fort Benning soldier faces a reckless murder charge after investigators say he made the 5-year-old son of his live-in girlfriend get out of a vehicle because he was “being …

www.myhighplains.com

From Mom's FB

The most amazing thing we can give our kids are memories. I may not always give them the most elaborate gifts, fanciest clothes or most expensive toys, but I hope one day they can talk about all the things we did together and what they learned to do growing up!! with
Bryan Starr

#makingmemories #innature #makinggoodhumans #livelaughlove #ourfamily #ourstorytotell #writteninthestarrs


You gave your children an abusive prick - what great memories

Facebook

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[Totemic]

What great memories mom gave the other kid! Her abusive asshole boyfriend killed his brother.

 

[Busy Bee]

So I do understand about etiquette and rules when driving, all occupants should be in an approved restraint belt or infant/child seat. My rule is no loud arguments , keep your hands to yourself, don’t distract Bubbie!
My grands are older now they know. But to put a minor 5 year old child out, in the rain, near a dangerous hi-way and then he walks away! Horribly neglegent! He sure created a terrible memory for everyone in that car! Not to mention the person who hit the child. Very sad!

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Starr is an active-duty soldier at Fort Benning

https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/crime/article247505815.html

So he is probably is a controlling rigid asshole.

The fact that he lost track of the boy in the rain makes me think he was having the boy run laps.

He not only killed this boy, he destroyed the boys sibling and the individual who hit the boy.

 

[Inferus]

If anything you should get the guy for littering.

 

[Sejanus]

In his mind he won.
That boy will never act up again...or do anything else for that matter.

Have Pistonhead run laps on the shooting range during live fire training.
He will have the same chance the child had.

 

[Blizzard]

Starr is the longtime boyfriend of Austin’s mother and resides with the mother and child.

Another one of these. Where this would not have been the first incident of unreasonable treatment of the children, and Mommy maintained things other than her children's quality of life and safety as her priorities.

 

[cubby]

If he were 15, yeah put the little shit out, but FIVE!? I hope you get the maximum for your serious lack of judgement. Probably thought the little boy should act like he was grown all the time and punishing him every time he acted like a little boy.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

 

[Granmaw]

An article I read said the little boy liked to "sing at the top of his lungs" while riding in the car. I hope he died instantly and didn't suffer. Poor little mite.

 

[Freyja]

Whatever happened to "Don't make me turn this damn car around?"

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Austin John Birdseye

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Sep 15, 2023

A controversial sentencing decision by Russell County Judge Walt Gray has left both prosecutors and investigators stunned, as a Fort Moore soldier, Bryan Starr, who pleaded guilty to the Felony Manslaughter of his girlfriend’s young son, may avoid jail time altogether.

The sentencing has drawn criticism from both Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey and Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor.

The tragic event that led to the charges occurred on a cold and rainy November night in 2020. Starr ordered his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son, Austin Birdsey, out of the car near a church off Highway 165. The little boy was reportedly having behavior problems and Starr told him he could find a new family at the church. Surveillance videos were rolling as Starr refused to let Austin back into the vehicle, even as the young boy chased after it and begged to get back in. Instead, Starr drove off in the rain. Desperate for help, Austin ran to the church’s locked door. In his distress, he lost a shoe but didn’t stop to retrieve it. Tragically, Austin was struck moments later and killed by a passing vehicle on Highway 165

District Attorney Rick Chancey vividly recalled the heartbreaking video evidence of Austin’s futile struggle for help. “Watching that baby, I will never get the image out of my mind of that baby frantically looking for help. He was left and abandoned, it’s heartbreaking,” said Chancey.

Starr pleaded guilty to Felony Manslaughter as part of a plea deal with the District Attorney’s office, which had recommended a 60-month jail sentence. However, Judge Walt Gray imposed a five-year reverse split sentence, a decision that has raised significant concerns amongst those who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Under this sentence, Starr does not immediately serve jail time. Instead, he starts with three years of probation, during which he is required to perform Sunday trash pickup along Highway 165, the very place where Austin lost his life. After three years, the judge has the discretion to extend the probation period or impose a two-year jail term, meaning Starr might never serve jail time for his role in Austin’s death.

District Attorney Rick Chancey expressed his shock and disappointment over the sentencing decision. Sheriff Heath Taylor, whose investigators were haunted by the helplessness they witnessed in the video of Austin’s final moments, shared similar sentiments. “We watched a video where he had several opportunities to put the child back in the car and go home. I do think his actions at the church should have been different, and I think the sentence should’ve reflected that,” said Sheriff Taylor.

Both Chancey and Taylor respect the judge in the case and understand he made his decision after hearing from several character witnesses who testified in favor of Starr. Still, they both believe the sentence falls short of delivering justice for Austin Birdsey and sends a distressing message to adults responsible for the well-being of children.

WRBL has reached out to Starr’s defense attorney, Eric Fundeburk for a comment. When Starr took the plea deal he told the judge, “Things got out of control.” And District Attorney Chancey says he did not see the remorse in the defendant he had hoped to see.

Starr and the boy’s mother, Christina Birdseye, have since married. The boy’s mother took the stand in the victim’s impact hearing. She was not in the car when the tragic events occurred. She said the blame for this rests with multiple people. She said Starr blames himself.

Starr, a Sgt. 1st Class soldier in the 36th Brigade, is currently in the process of retiring.

Judge Rules: Fort Moore soldier could avoid jail in Felony Manslaughter of young boy

RUSSELL COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL) – A controversial sentencing decision by Russell County Judge Walt Gray has left both prosecutors and investigators stunned, as a Fort Moore soldier, Br…

www.wrbl.com

Mom is a piece of shit - not only did she marry the man that killed her baby she is saying others are at fault for the child dying.

Is she saying the child has some responsibility in his own death? The person driving on Highway 165 who should have know Bryan Starr was an asshole that would put a five year old out of his vehicle at nighttime.

I hope the father got custody of the sibling cause this woman will not protect her child/ren from this man.