Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

xepherys · 12-08-2006, 09:00 AM

For those of you not familiar with The Baseline Killer, read that URL for some background. He was suspected killer in the Tempe/Mesa suburbs of Phoenix over the last year or so suspected of multiple robberies, rapes and killings. Well, they finally found a person they think is behind it all in Mark Goudeau. Now they think he's responsible for as many as 71 OTHER crimes.

LINK

Quote:

Goudeau linked to 71 more 'Baseline' crimes

Judi Villa
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 8, 2006 12:00 AM

From the day Mark Goudeau was arrested and accused of a sexual assault linked to the "Baseline Killer," police say they had "a good idea" he was responsible for the entire string of murders, rapes and robberies that terrorized the city for 13 months.

Three months later, they are confident they have the right guy. Police on Thursday asked Maricopa County prosecutors to charge Goudeau, 42, with an additional 71 crimes, including nine murders, five sexual assaults and 12 armed robberies.

"We've locked in on the one suspect," Phoenix police Lt. Benny Piña said. "There isn't anybody else out there."
advertisement

The investigation into the Baseline Killer case was the largest ever in Phoenix history. If Goudeau is guilty, he is the city's most prolific serial killer.

Police say combined ballistics, DNA and circumstantial evidence point to Goudeau as the man who plucked random victims from public places after dark, often while wearing a disguise of dreadlocks and a fishing hat. Goudeau stalked areas he was familiar with, using them as a "hunting ground," police say.

"My wife paid the ultimate price for no reason at all," said Alvin Hogue, whose wife, Romelia Vargas, was killed along with her co-worker Mirna Palma-Roman in February. The two women were working in a lunch truck in west Phoenix when they were attacked.

"This doesn't bring my wife back. I miss her dearly," Hogue said after Thursday's announcement. "But they have the killer. The monster is off the street. It is an exciting day. The only day that would be better is if there was no monster and my wife was still here."

As for Goudeau, Hogue said, "whatever happens to him at this point is too good for him."

Police now are accusing Goudeau in 19 attacks, including a ninth murder that previously had not been linked to the Baseline Killer cases. That victim, Sophia Nuñez, was shot to death in her home on April 10. Nuñez's 8-year-old son found her body in the bathtub when he returned home from school. The boy tried to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but Nuñez was already dead.

Nuñez's close friend Rose Valenzuela said Nuñez had met Goudeau at a video game arcade in Tempe. Still, Valenzuela said, it never crossed her mind that he would be accused of killing Nuñez.

"It really caught me as a surprise when I found out," Valenzuela said. "I'm still sick to my stomach. . . . She was such a good person. I can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt her. May he rot in hell."

Police remain tight-lipped about the evidence that links Goudeau to all the attacks. Cmdr. Joe Klima said authorities don't want to say too much before Goudeau is formally charged so they don't jeopardize the case. But, Klima said, "we're confident with the evidence we have."

"All of this evidence points directly to Mark Goudeau as the one who committed these crimes," he said.

Trying to link him to the attacks has been a painstaking process that has unfolded slowly in the months since he was arrested in the September 2005 sexual assaults of two sisters at a south Phoenix park. Goudeau has been indicted on 20 counts relating to that attack. He has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney, Corwin Townsend, is trying to get the case sent back to the grand jury for further review.

At a court hearing Thursday afternoon, Townsend also asked the judge to set bond for Goudeau "so that he can get on with his life."

When asked if Goudeau still professed innocence, Townsend said, "Absolutely."

Thursday's announcement by police comes after months of speculation about whether the suspect in the Baseline Killer cases was really in custody or if he might still be roaming the streets. Assistant Chief Tracy Montgomery said that even though formal charges are pending against Goudeau, police decided to go public to put the community at ease.

"There's tons of women that are making decisions about the way they live their lives because they're not sure," Montgomery said. "This is the guy. We have linked him with great confidence to these violent crimes."

Goudeau, a construction worker who was paroled from prison in March 2004 after serving 13 years for aggravated assault, armed robbery and kidnapping, lived near many of the attacks and had relatives who lived in the vicinity of others. Police say he trolled the areas he was familiar with looking for victims.

"It's my opinion there are two Mark Goudeaus," said Detective Alex Femenia, lead investigator. "One that's hardworking, articulate and charming, and another one that we suspect of being involved in these heinous crimes."

The nine murders all have been linked by ballistics, Piña said. Police have not found the murder weapon, but they say they have DNA evidence from some of those killings, and Sgt. Andy Hill said two searches of Goudeau's home were "productive."

Piña said it was about a month after Goudeau's arrest on Sept. 6 that officials received the first positive test results linking Goudeau to more crimes in the spree that began in August 2005. Those results spurred the second search warrant at Goudeau's home, where 150 items, including clothing and footwear, were recovered.

Police found "confirming evidence" in Goudeau's home, including items that supported the armed-robbery charges, Piña said.

It was during that search when detectives realized they had Goudeau, Piña said.

"It was a relief," Piña said.

Police still needed two more months to shore up the case by processing more evidence and working through tips.

"When you put the pieces of the puzzle together, it all points to him. It's all one person," Piña said. "We've done a lot to make sure we were right."

Police checked out more than 1,000 people and followed up on about 8,000 tips called in to Silent Witness before the evidence zeroed in on Goudeau, Piña said.

At the same time, police were looking for another serial predator who was randomly shooting people outside alone at night. In August, police arrested Dale Hausner and Samuel Dieteman in connection with the "Serial Shooter" cases that left seven dead and at least 18 wounded over 14 months.

Goudeau was arrested a month later.

On Thursday, Femenia said, detectives knew they were looking for a person who "was very good at what he did" and seemed to have some knowledge of forensics and police procedure.

"All that's on our mind is to get the person responsible before the next one," Femenia said.

"We knew we had a person out there who was going to commit another murder. The race was on."

Police have collected 1,500 pieces of evidence during the Baseline Killer investigation. Some scientific evidence still is being analyzed.

It is now up to prosecutors to review the investigation and either file charges directly or present the case to a grand jury.

"This man never again should be able to walk the streets of this Valley or anywhere else in freedom," Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said. "This man needs to feel the hard steel of the law, and I believe he does today, and he will continue to."

When asked what she hoped would happen to Goudeau, Sophia Nuñez's mother, Maria, said, "I would like him to get life because I am going to go the rest of my life without my daughter, and I want him to spend the rest of his life without anything."

I wonder if these allegations are all true, and if so what implications this will have for him. I don't believe Arizona has a death penalty. If he's found guilty of the full group of charges, though, I'm not sure 50 consecutive life sentences (or whatever) is really justice. How do you feel about the death penalty? Is there ever an appropriate situation where it's the only true justice?