| For Immediate Release August 26, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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OCDA TO OPPOSE PAROLE OF INMATE CONVICTED OF STRANGLING-MURDER OF WOMAN
SANTA ANA – Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas is opposing the parole of a man convicted of murdering a woman by strangling her with his bare hands in 1989. Michael Raymond Goodson, 55, was found guilty of one felony count of first degree murder and sentenced on Dec. 6, 1990, to 30 years to life in state prison. The inmate is currently being held at Avenal State Prison. This case was originally prosecuted by former Deputy District Attorney Lewis Rosenblum. Goodson is scheduled for a parole hearing tomorrow, Aug. 27, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. at the prison before the Board of Parole Hearings, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Deputy District Attorney Nagy Morcos will appear at the hearing to oppose Goodson’s parole.
Circumstances of 1989 Murder
At approximately 7:00 a.m. on Sept. 2, 1989, then-31-year-old Goodson attempted to rape his 48-year-old ex-girlfriend, Harriet Anne Fleming. During the struggle, Goodson strangled the victim with his bare hands and broke her neck, causing blood to flow out of her mouth. The autopsy report showed that the victim died of asphyxiation due to manual strangulation.
After murdering Fleming, the inmate wrapped the victim’s body in a bed comforter tied with electrical cords. He was seen by a witness stuffing it into the trunk of his car. The witness contacted the Orange Police Department, who arrested Goodson later that day.
Lack of Insight and Risk to Public Safety
Since his incarceration, Goodson has received several prison violations including providing false information to correctional officers, disobeying smoking policy, and using and possessing controlled substances. Just recently, the inmate tested positive for methamphetamine for the second time.
Goodson lacked insight into his crime during his sentence. Since then, the inmate has failed to take responsibility for his actions and has not demonstrated any empathy for his victim or her family.
Due to the violent nature of Goodson’s crime, his inability to follow rules in a controlled environment, and his lack of insight into his criminal behavior, the inmate poses an unreasonable risk to public safety and, therefore, should not be released.
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