The shocking Los Angeles cold case murder of Mickey Thompson and Trudy Thompson
Detailed in the documentary series "Homicide: Los Angeles," the 1988 murder of well-known race car driver Mickey Thompson and his wife Trudy Thompson is a confusing and sad story that still enthralls viewers. In 1960, Mickey Thompson became well-known worldwide as the first American to exceed 400 mph in a land speed record effort. He then went on to compile a run of championship wins in several racing disciplines. Eventually the couple moved to Bradbury, California, a suburb roughly 24 miles east of Los Angeles's downtown.
Mickey and Trudy Thompson's Shockingly Unbelievable Crime
Mickey and Trudy Thompson were deadly shot in their driveway on March 16, 1988. With Trudy still wearing priceless jewelry and the couple carrying a large sum of money, the absence of evidence of a robbery immediately pointed toward a focused attack. Earlier death threats directed against Mickey Thompson confirmed his suspicions about a planned murder.
Suspects and Witnesses Surface in the Case
Hearing the gunshots, a neighbor claimed to have seen two Black men, around six feet tall and between twenty and thirty, riding bicycles away from the scene. At first, these people were just suspects. After the case aired on "America's Most Wanted," in 2001, something very important happened. Two men in a car observing the Thompson house with binoculars four days before the murders were seen by a witness who came forward. The driver's account remarkably matched that of Michael Goodwin, Mickey Thompson's former business partner, who harbored a known resentment toward him.
Michael Goodwin: A Motive Suspect
Michael Goodwin was arrested and put on a lineup, but he was finally freed without charges. The witnesses, nevertheless, positively identified him. True crime books, "Killing of a Legend: Mickey Thompson Double Murders" by Ronald E. Bowers and "Mickey Thompson: The Fast Life and Tragic Death of a Racing Legend" by Erik Arneson started to center Mickey Thompson's murder. These books explored the specifics of the case, so offering more understanding of the circumstances preceding the sad deaths.
Michael Goodwin: a Motive Suspect
Michael Goodwin was a top suspect from the start, but his relationship to the crime scene wasn't clear until 2001. Tasked with deciding whether enough proof existed for an indictment, an Orange County grand jury decided not to move against Goodwin. He was formally charged on two counts of murder only late in 2006. Witnesses' identification and a strong motive were among the proof against him. Mickey Thompson's legal conflict with Michael Goodwin had earlier come out in his advantage. The California Supreme Court maintained this decision two weeks before the murders, so inspiring Goodwin's need for vengeance. The prosecution further claimed that Goodwin hired the two men riding bicycles to execute the murders.
Michael Goodwin's Convision
Michael Goodwin found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder by a jury on January 4, 2007. Two aggravating circumstances—that Goodwin had committed multiple murders and that he had been waiting—were found by the jury Goodwin received a life in prison sentence devoid of parole possibility.
The Murder Case of Mickey and Trudy Thompson: A Continuum of Influence
The racing community as well as Bradbury, California's population were startled by the terrible deaths of Mickey and Trudy Thompson. The case reminds us sharply of the terrible results of unresolved problems and shows the extent people would go to in search of retribution. Notwithstanding great obstacles and delays, the narrative also emphasizes the need of thorough research and the continuing power of justice. Though first stalled, the inquiry finally brought justice to the families of the victims and provided closure and responsibility for a horrible crime. The murder of Mickey and Trudy Thompson is still a moving reminder of the frailty of life and the possibility of darkness even in apparently perfect environments.
