Killers for Hire Read Free Page B

suspects were about 10 years younger.
    Anthony Triarsi told a deputy that he only saw the suspect who shot Trudy. That man was 5’10” to 6’0”, 170-180 pounds, with a muscular build and long, curly wavy hair, “like the Night Stalker Richard Ramirez.” He was “possibly black,” Triarsi said. However, Triarsi had described the suspect to the 911 operator as “a white guy with black pants” and “about 5’7”-5’8”, slight build”—an apt description of the bicyclist at the bus stop.

    Sketches of suspects
    After performing several cursory interviews at the scene, Sgt. Rey Verdugo and his partner, Gerald Jansen, were given the assignment of investigating Mickey’s business dealings. They arrived at the Anaheim Police Department at 3:15 PM and interviewed Carl Schiefer, who had worked with Mickey at Thompson Entertainment Group. One night the previous November, Mickey told Schiefer that he had written proof of a contract that Goodwin had put out on his life.
    “You should call the Orange County District Attorney’s Office immediately,” Schiefer told him.
    “I hesitate to do this because he might harm Trudy,” Mickey replied. “We’re afraid to walk outside our house because of Goodwin.”
    Other business associates knew of the threats as well.
    “He was concerned about leaving work at night and would keep the drapes drawn,” Bill Marcel said. “We are up in the offices at Anaheim Stadium, and when it’s dark, everyone can see inside. I think he felt really vulnerable at the stadium but secure at the house.”
    Marcel said Mickey didn’t dwell on his problems with Goodwin, but had once said, “Goodwin says he’s going to kill me and he wants me dead.” To counter that, Mickey said he would take precautions.
    Marcel wasn’t sure what they were other than the fact that Mickey owned a shotgun.
    Goodwin lived 55 miles away from the Thompsons, in Orange County’s Laguna Beach. An officer from that city’s police department called Verdugo to say Goodwin had been in to the station shortly after the murders.
    “He burst into the lobby and put on a show, saying: ‘My God, they got Mickey and they are going to get me next!’” Verdugo said. “The desk officer said, ‘Wait, sir!’ Goodwin said, ‘I can’t!’ and fled.”
    “Everyone was calling in saying Goodwin, Goodwin, Goodwin,” Verdugo recalled.
    In the detective’s experience, people who publicize their actions following a murder are usually the suspects. “The average person doesn’t need to document that they were here or there,” Verdugo explained of Goodwin’s behavior. “A normal person wouldn’t run out into the street, yelling to everyone that someone had just died in their house. They’d just pick up the phone and call 911.”
    Detectives worked about 20 hours the first day, chasing down leads phoned in by witnesses or given to them by neighbors. It would continue like that for the first week, as hundreds of clues were investigated.
    “I remember going home and coming back four hours later. We didn’t get very much sleep,” said Griggs’ partner, Sgt. Doug Oberholzer. “It was like that the whole week.”
    Then a series of roadblocks were set up; detectives hoped to find someone who had pertinent information. Deputies passed out thousands of flyers asking for help.
    A woman jogging near the intersection of Mount Olive and Royal Oaks drives told a deputy that her husband was at work in the area on March 16 when he saw two black men walking along, pushing their 10-speed bikes. They were both tall, looked like Crips gang members, and were overheard saying: “Didn’t we have fun killing those white people.” The woman refused to identify herself or her husband to the deputy.
    “We’re just afraid,” she said.
    A composite of the killers was released to the press, generating another flood of calls from people who thought they had seen the gunmen. Detectives chased down every one of the leads, but couldn’t find