Michael Goodwyn: Guilty or innocent of murdering Mickey and Trudy Thompson?

[XCalibur]

What do you all think of this case?

To refresh everyone's memory, It was racing legend Mickey Thompson and Trudy Thompson's murder case aired in 1988 or 1989 first season I think. They were shot to death in their driveway in 1987 or 1988, two black males on ten speeds were seen fleeing the scene. Believed to be professional hitmen.

Some years later, I think in 2007 Michael Goodwyn was charged with the murders. Goodwyn was a former business partner of the Thompsons, and was known to have made threats against them. I think he was the individual discussed in the UM segment Mickey Thompson feared would hurt Trudy. Its believed he hired the two black males seen on ten speeds to kill the Thompsons.

However, it sounds to me like a lot of the evidence was circumstantial, and based on a eyewitness testimony. One eyewitness claims they saw Goodwyn in the vicinity of the Thompson residence a day or two before the murders with someone who resembled one of the gunmen and that seems to be the main thing. If I'm not mistaken others claimed Goodwyn bragged about ordering the murders, and also owned a stun gun like the one that was found at the crime scene. But the two actual gunmen were never found.

I just wonder what exactly occurred between Goodwyn and the Thompsons business wise that made him so angry, I know they were business partners but I never have heard it specified what supposedly happened to anger him.

Also, were there any suspects besides Goodwyn? Could anyone else have ordered the murders and are the police certain the two gunmen were actually hitmen? I think its likely they were given how well it seemed to be planned, but as far as I know the Thompsons didn't have any enemies who resembled the two men. The motive would be confusing, Trudy having 70,000 worth of jewelry left on her seems to eliminates robbery. Even if the motive wasn't robbery I was always surprised the gunmen didn't take it, if for no other reason to make it look like robbery and have an added bonus, unless they just wanted to get out of there as quick as possible.

I can't think of any other motive for these two to have acted alone, unless it was a racially motivated crime given the gunmen were African American and the Thompsons were white, but it seems far fetched at 6 AM these two would just randomly decide to bump off a couple of rich white folks, even with that motive I would imagine they would have taken that jewelry. I don't think in 1987 racially motivated crimes by blacks were common in this part of the country so that seems far fetched.

Any thoughts on this? Do you all think Goodwyn was guilty?

[TheCars1986]

I firmly believe he is guilty. You can read the decision on one of his appeals here.

[Huskerz85]

I definitely think Goodwyn was guilty. Given that robbery wasn't a motive and the fact it was done professionally means only someone with a personal grudge could've been responsible - that fits Goodwyn to a 'T'

[jbjr56]

Guilty. 48hrs mystery had a good feature on the case.

[XCalibur]

Just an off the wall theory about the two gunman:

Does anyone else think the original composite drawings of one of the killers looks a lot like the composite of the
Don Smith's killer the guy who called himself Larry Monroe?

Estimated height and weight of taller of two Thompson gunman: 6'0 175 lbs.

Estimated height of man calling himself Larry Monroe:
6'0 180 lbs.

Date of Don Smith murder: May 11th 1987
Date of Thompson murders: March 16th 1988

I know its a long shot, but that's sort of interesting. Could one of the Thompson killers have been Larry Monroe?

[MegtheEgg86]

Guilty. He had the motive, means, and opportunity.

The 48 Hours episode on the case goes into the finer details of what exactly the beef with Mickey Thompson was about. Basically, Goodwin tried to take Thompson by claiming Thompson defaulted on a joint business venture, which would then entitle Goodwin to take over Thompson's racing promotion business. Thompson sued Goodwin, kept his business, and got nearly a million dollars out of the judgement. Goodwin then whined that Thompson broke him, and the rest is unfortunate history.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

Guilty.

[JC1957]

No doubt in my mind guilty.