On Feb. 2, 2022, at about 2:30 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a local hospital for the report of an assault victim.  

Deputies contacted an adult female victim who was being treated for serious injuries. During their investigation, deputies learned that the victim had been held against her will by her partner, 58-year-old Edward Daniel Starkey, at a remote residence in the Mad River area of Humboldt County. Starkey is alleged to have repeatedly assaulted the victim over the course of a week. On February 2, the victim was able to escape the residence and obtain emergency assistance.

On February 7, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division conducted a special operation to apprehend Starkey. At approximately 9:14 a.m., Starkey was located and taken into custody without incident at his Mad River residence.

Starkey was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of kidnapping (PC 207(a)), false imprisonment (PC 236), assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm (PC 245(a)(1)) and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse (PC 273.5(a)), in addition to unrelated warrant charges of unauthorized cultivation of cannabis (HS 11358(d)(3)(D)). Additional charges may be requested as this investigation continues.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Edward Daniel Starkey Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility