A Bad Guy Killed The Goodmans

Expired

Stanley Eric Goodman was born on July 6, 1963 to Willard and Essie Goodman in Scott County, Tennessee. He was married at a young age to Sherry Goodman and was a father of 3. When Stanley and Sherry split, Sherry moved to Cleveland and the 2 children spent time with both their mother and father.
Terri Sue Lawson Goodman was born February 10, 1963 to Clifford and Mary and was described as a sweet and sensible person who had overcome a tragedy in her 20’s. Terri Sue was almost killed in a car crash in 1985, which had her hospitalized for months and years of therapy to learn how to walk and talk again. She was never able to work after the accident but she eventually met Stanley. And they married.
In February of 2000 DCS was called to the Black Fox Elementary School where 8 year old BG had confided in her teacher about the sexual abuse she was receiving at the hands of her step father Hubert. Hope Tharp, the Child Protective Services team leader in Cleveland, Tennessee, responded to a courtesy request from the Scott County Department of Children's Services to investigate allegations of sexual abuse of B.G. by her stepfather. Ms. Tharp interviewed B.G. and B.G.'s mother. As a result of the reports and the investigation, the decision was made to remove B.G. and two other children from the Sexton home. Hubert explained that B.G. was getting this information from her sister and her father saying, Mr. Goodman had told BG to say those things so he could get full custody of the children.
On May 16, 2000, Bradley County Sheriff's Detective Tony Alvarez had responded to a complaint initiated by a teacher at the Black Fox Elementary School. Along with DCS, Detective Alvarez spoke with B.G. regarding the allegation. He later spoke with Hubert regarding the allegation and advised him of his Miranda rights. Hubert Sexton waived those rights and signed a written waiver. Mr. Goodman was not too happy about that arrangement and he was just getting the children to trump up some false allegations of improper sexual conduct.
On May 20, 2000, Hubert and Preston went to work around 8:00 a.m. They left work around 12:30 p.m. Hubert drove Mr. Adams to the Budget Inn, where Mr. Adams was living at the time. Around 6:00 p.m. Hubert went to Maxi Muffler to visit with Clinton Daniel Mason, a mechanic at the Cleveland store. He asked Mr. Mason for his gun, a .22 rifle. Hubert. When they arrived at The Muffler Shop, Hubert informed Mr. Mason that he had to "take care of some business in Scott County." E.G. accompanied the Strunk family to the races. Due to rain, the races were cancelled and the family returned home around 8:30 p.m. The Strunks took E.G. to her home around 11:00 p.m. Vella Strunk observed that no lights were on in the house. Vella Strunk remained in her car while E.G. went inside the house to get her some coffee. After E.G. returned with her coffee, Vella Strunk went home. EG then went back inside, went to her room and fell asleep for the night. The next morning, Vella Strunk telephoned her brother, Stanley Goodman. There was no answer at the Goodman residence. Within ten minutes, E.G. telephoned Vella Strunk, crying. E.G. told Vella that her father and stepmother were still in bed and that they had blood on them. Vella Strunk drove to her brother's home where she discovered the bodies of Stanley and Terry Goodman. She then called the police.
The jury found, as to each count of first degree murder, that the proof established the aggravating circumstance that the murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding, interfering with, or preventing a lawful arrest or prosecution of the defendant or another. The jury determined that the statutory aggravating circumstance outweighed any mitigating circumstances and, therefore, imposed sentences of death for the murders of Stanley and Terry Sue.

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