A woman known for the motto “setting standards in personal service” has been charged with injuring one of her students.
Mary Louise Starkey, 58, founder of the Starkey International Institute for Household Management, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly hurting a student’s neck in February at the Starkey Mansion, 1350 Logan St.
Police are investigating possible second-degree assault, and she is free on a $35,000 bond.
“It’s so wrong,” Starkey said Thursday. “I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing for 27 years.” Starkey trains butlers, private chefs, household assistants and estate managers.
The student, Lisa Kirkpatrick, told police that on Feb. 7 she was on her way to a get a formal photo taken.
Kirkpatrick told police that Starkey told her: “I already told you 20 times not to have your picture taken until you have had your hair done.”
Starkey allegedly grabbed Kirkpatrick by the neck and “dragged” her to a mirror. According to the court record, Starkey continued to shake Kirkpatrick and “growled: ‘Now do you get it?”‘
A doctor found that Kirkpatrick suffered a cervical disc injury, the court report says.
