By By Marianne Todd/The Meridian Star
Aug. 14, 2001
Peggy Sloan Starns, indicted for murder in the death of Angela Schnoor, was released Monday on $100,000 bond.
Circuit Judge Larry Roberts said the bond carries no restrictions, and Starns is free to return to her Louisiana home until her trial date. The bond and its conditions are normal for non-capital murder charges.
Starns was released from custody at 10:22 a.m., after posting 10 percent of the total bond in cash.
Starns, 38, was extradited to Lauderdale County Aug. 3 after a July grand jury returned an indictment against her for murder. The indictment alleges she is responsible for the July 1984 suffocation death of 4-year-old Angela Schnoor.
Angela's mother, Debbie Boswell, worked with two Lauderdale County district attorneys over the past 17 years before asking Attorney General Mike Moore to re-open the case. He assigned a team of investigators to the case earlier in the year.
At the time of Schnoor's death, Starns was married to Boswell's ex-husband and Angela's father, Michael Schnoor. Angela, who lived with her mother, was visiting her father and step-mother just before her death.
The unconscious little girl was taken to a Meridian hospital, where she died two days later of brain damage due to suffocation.
Starns' trail has been set for Nov. 26.
Marianne Todd is a staff writer for the Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3226, or e-mail her at mtodd@themeridianstar.com.