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MARIONAfter an emotional week in court, the Herrin woman on trial for killing her three-year-old daughter has decided not to testify, according to court documents.

Prosecutors began presenting their case against Karrae Starr, 20, by playing the tape of the 911 call she made in late September 2008.

They wrapped it up Friday morning by showing the jury a recording of her interview with investigators, which was conducted hours later.

In the video Starr wore a t-shirt with blood stains on it. She acknowledged the blood belonged to her daughter, Bianca.

During the interview, Starr told investigators Jill Blus of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department and Bruce Graul of the Herrin Police Department she got angry when Bianca went to the playground with her boyfriend without telling her.

In the recording, Starr tells the investigators Bianca threw a fit when she dragged her home.

Once in Bianca’s bedroom, “I held my hand over her mouth” to make her stop screaming, Starr said.

“I was extremely [expletive] pissed off and drunk,” she continued. She told detectives she had five shots of vodka that night.

Starr said Bianca eventually calmed down, so she removed her hand, and asked Bianca if she was okay. Bianca said yes.

According to Starr, as she was leaving the room she heard Bianca get out of bed, so she turned around. When she did, she saw blood and foam coming from Bianca's nose.

Thursday a forensic pathologist testified that the blood and foam, combined with swollen organs which were discovered during an autopsy, indicate Bianca was smothered.

“All indications are she didn’t stand up out of bed herself,” Blus told Starr.

Starr, who was a nursing student at the time, did CPR on her daughter. Eventually, she told investigators, “I picked her up and held her and told her to come back….I was giving up because she wasn’t responding.”

Starr said her boyfriend was in the other room on the computer as she gave Bianca CPR.

Throughout the interview Starr said she was in school because Bianca was the only “remotely good” thing in her life.

She became hysterical when the detectives told her Bianca died.

“I want her back,” she cried.

The tape shows that Starr calmed down within minutes. Eventually she said, “Safe to say to say I killed her. Safe to say I'm going to go to jail. Safe to say I’m never going to be sane again.”

Starr also told investigators she had skipped a dose of an anti-depressant.

As the recording played for the jury, Starr became visibly upset several times.

The trial continues Monday. It's expected to wrap up by Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney Danny Kay and State’s Attorney Chuck Garnati are prosecuting the case. Public Defender Larry Broeking represents Starr.

By Dana Jay
djay@wsiltv.com

Prosecution Rests in Starr Case