BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: File photo of Kimberly Starr Mulder.
A Redland man who was arrested in 2021 and accused of murdering his ex-wife is free of charges, after an Elmore County jury found him not guilty Friday.
Thomas Whitehurst, 66, was arrested in 2021, a year after his ex-wife’s skeletal remains were found in the Conecuh National Forest.
Kimberly “Starr” Mulder was last seen in June of 2016. She was listed as a missing person, and the Elmore County Sheriff’s office worked the case. Whitehurst was originally questioned about her disappearance. His murder charge did not come until a year after Starr’s remains were found.
No other suspects were named officially in the investigation, so with Whitehurst being found not guilty, it is unknown what the future holds at this time.
Back in 2016 we covered this story, and have had other reminder articles about Mulder’s missing status since that time. She was living in Redland at the time of her disappearance but was from Wetumpka.
Starr had been ill and hospitalized shortly before she was reported missing. She was living with Whitehurst who was caring for her.
Whitehurst told investigators at the time she was reported missing that he had left the home to get her breakfast, and when he returned she was nowhere to be found.
Her personal items, including her vehicle, remained at the home. She was never seen alive again.
After her remains were found, Forensics investigators learned that Starr had apparently died from a gunshot wound from a small caliber gun to the head.
Our sincere condolences go out to Starr’s family and friends. Throughout the years, her friends and family have reached out, always speaking of her great personality, charm and good nature.
