How runaway convict & mum-of-four who met in sweet factory, went on a violent rampage, brutally killing OAP florist
OPENING the front door and stepping into the hallway, the police officer wrinkled his nose and recoiled at the putrid stench before surveying the chaotic scene that lay before him.
A vase was smashed on the floor, blood smeared across the hallway and down in the basement is where he discovered 74-year-old Guy Goodman’s decomposing body.
It was a horrific and cruel end to the poor retired florist’s life, whose only crime was to try to help convicted robber Bradley Martin turn his life around.
And the trail of crime and killing didn’t end there either – with Martin going on the run with the lover he met working in a sweet factory, before also executing a tour guide and leaving her body in the desert to be eaten by coyotes…
‘Why would anyone hurt him?’
Before Guy Goodman’s death, he’d retired and was finally enjoying a much-deserved quiet life.
He was well-known and well-respected in the small town community where he lived, and was an active member of his church who enjoyed helping out with local charities.
He had two grown up children, and while he was divorced and lived alone, his neighbours had nothing but kind things to say about him.
Speaking in Hayu’s documentary series Killer Couples, Guy’s friend Robert Silverman says: “Everybody liked him. Why would anyone hurt this little old guy? Especially… how brutal it was.”
‘The stench was overwhelming’
His murder came to light on 25 September 1993, when 911 dispatchers in the small borough of Palmyra received a disturbing report that he’d been missing for days.
His neighbours became concerned when they noticed his mail piling up on his lawn, so police attended to do a welfare check.
Laura LeBeau, News Director at WLBR, explains: “When the officer arrives at Guy Goodman’s apartment, he was able to look through a window and saw the place was in disarray.
“He then went to the front door, which was unlocked, and as soon as he opened it he was confronted by a horrible smell.”
Former Lebanon District Attorney Bradford Charles added: “The stench was overwhelming.
“By the time you got in it was so bad that breathing was difficult.”
Dead & decomposing
Making his way down to the basement, the officer found Guy’s body, wrapped tightly in a bedspread and a sheet of plastic.
The only visible part was a hand already showing signs of decomposition – which meant the body was identified through dental records, and he’d been dead at least a week.
He’d been beaten and bludgeoned around the back of the head and was left to slowly suffocate, with the cause of death identified as asphyxiation.
The killers had ransacked his home, taking his cheque book, car and credit card, making police believe it was a possible robbery.
However with no sign of a forced entry, it meant it was likely it was someone he knew.
DNA evidence
That theory gained momentum when detectives noticed three coffee mugs on the table – meaning there may be two suspects.
Lucy Noland, FMR Anchor, WTXF explains: “Investigators checked the prints against a local database and immediately got a match.”
Police soon discovered they belonged to Bradley Martin, a 21-year-old inmate in the local prison serving 23 months for parole violation, and had been in and out of jail for numerous times for theft and burglary.
When police checked the visitation records, they discovered Guy had made several visitations to the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, after signing up to a programme to mentor troubled youth.
As a trusted inmate, Martin was allowed to be released daily to work at a sweet packaging factory, where his employers reported he was a good employee who’d never missed a shift.
There, he’d met girlfriend Carolyn King, 27, who he was allowed to meet up with for two hours a week as a reward for working and returning to prison without incident.
But on September 15 he signed out, and never signed back in – instead going to Mr Goodman’s house two days later with Carolyn.
They were invited in, and Bradley said he’d been released early from jail and asked for money – but Guy had refused, which is when the violent attack took place.
The motive of a married mother?
Not knowing if she was in danger or an accomplice, police immediately began searching for Martin’s missing girlfriend – and Guy Goodman’s car.
And it turned out Carolyn was leading somewhat of a double life.
Detective Michael Wahmann says: “We were able to find out that Carolyn was originally from Virginia, and we were able to determine that she was married.”
Not only that, but she was a mum to four kids, the oldest being 12, and her husband and kids had even made plans to join her once she’d got on her feet.
But those plans changed when she met Bradley Martin, and the pair quickly fell head over heels for each other.
Another potential victim
A few days after discovering Guy’s body, on September 27 detectives got a lead when the trace on Guy’s credit card came in, with transactions showing up showing the user travelling through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and going west.
However the trail went dead after a hotel receptionist reported the card for suspicious activity.
I’m thinking ‘oh my god, there’s another potential victim.
Detective Wahmann
Detectives called the police department in the area, with Detective Wahmann saying: “The detective… advised me he wasn’t certain how much help they could be because they were busy with the fact a woman was missing from a hotel in Bismark.
“As they were telling me the name of the hotel… I’m looking at a cheque written to that hotel on Guy Goodman’s cheque.
“I’m thinking ‘oh my god’ there’s another potential victim.”
Held hostage
The missing woman was 59-year-old Donna Martz, a tour bus guide who just happened to be in the area after a tour she was working on ended.
She’d promised her daughter Marydawn Christopherson, she’d call when she got home safely after the work trip – but she never rang.
When Martin and King realised Guy’s cards were being traced, they looked for a new victim – who happened to be Donna.
The pair were arrested a week later on October 5 after a high-speed car chase.
There was no sign of Donna, but when Carolyn was interviewed on October 7 she admitted she’d been there on September 26 when Donna Martz was kidnapped by Bradley at knifepoint.
He stabbed her in the side and then led her into the car park, before tying her up and putting her in the boot of her own car, where she was kept hostage for five agonising days.
On September 30 they drove to the Nevada desert, where Bradley forced her out of the vehicle and shot her in the head.
They then callously left her body in the desert, in the hope coyotes would devour her body, before heading for California with plans to flee across the border.
A TIMELINE OF THE EVENTS
- On September 15 1993 prisoner Bradley Martin signs out of prison for an approved two hour pass to visit his girlfriend – but doesn’t sign back in.
- Two days later on September 17, the pair visit Mr Goodman’s house and ask him for money – but he refuses, and Martin attacks him, before wrapping his body up and leaving him to slowly suffocate in the basement.
- On September 25 neighbours report Mr Goodman missing, and police carry out a welfare check, where they find his body.
- On September 26 Donna Martz is kidnapped by Bradley at knifepoint.
- On September 27 detectives get a lead when the trace on Guy’s credit card comes in, and reveals the route the couple are taking.
- On September 30 they drive to the Nevada desert, where Bradley shoots Donna in the head and leaves her body for coyotes to eat.
- The pair are arrested a week later on October 5, after a high-speed car chase.
- On October 11 1994 the pair are found guilty of all charges – and sentenced to death – which is reduced in 2016 on appeal- and an additional sentence of life without parole.
Bound & gagged
Bradley confirmed he killed both Guy Goodman and Donna Martz, and showed remorse, however police were still suspicious over Carolyn’s involvement.
She was bound and gagged and alive in the trunk of her car.
Donna's daughter Marydawn
Donna’s daughter Marydawn said: “My heart broke for my mum.
“Knowing that she was bound and gagged and alive in the trunk of her car, hot days, hot nights.
“Knowing she couldn’t do a thing about it.”
Mercifully, Caroyln and Bradley agreed to cooperate with authorities, and they drew a map to where Donna’s body was so her family could at least bring her body home.
‘Look where it got her’
Carolyn claimed she was also a victim, but store clerks reported she showed no sign of distress and the pair were both officially charged with theft, kidnapping and two counts of murder.
On October 11 1994 the pair are found guilty of all charges – and sentenced to death – which is reduced in 2016 on appeal- and an additional sentence of life without parole.
Even today many elements of the case remains a mystery.
As Lucy Noland said: “One of the biggest questions is – why was Carolyn King involved?
“She obviously felt incredibly attracted to Bradley and anywhere Bradley went Carolyn went – and look where it got her.”
All episodes of Snapped: Killer Couples are available to stream on Hayu.
