In the early morning hours of January 26, 2020, a horrific act of violence shattered the peace of a Newburgh, New York home, claiming the lives of three family members. Among the victims was 26-year-old Shatavia Crisantos, a female described as a loving and determined mother and wife who was dedicated to her family's future. The attack, which authorities later described as a targeted home invasion, also resulted in the deaths of her 27-year-old husband, Jimmy Crisantos, and her 9-year-old son,
Giovanni Tambino.
The tragedy was discovered after neighbors reported hearing gunshots emanating from the family's residence on Route 300 just after 8 a.m. When police arrived, they found a brutal scene. Shatavia, Jimmy, and Giovanni had all been fatally shot. Miraculously, there were survivors. The couple's 3-year-old son was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital in critical but stable condition. Another child, who was 5 at the time, was present in the home during the attack but was not physically harmed, though he witnessed the devastating events.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect. The day after the murders, Town of Newburgh Police announced the arrest of 30-year-old Kaliek Goode-Ford of Newburgh. Authorities confirmed that Goode-Ford had a relationship with the victims, though a clear motive was not immediately released. He was charged with three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon. In the days following the arrest, investigators, including New York State Police divers, searched the Hudson River near the Walkway Over the Hudson for the weapon used in the killings. It was later revealed that Goode-Ford had thrown the pistol and magazine into the river after the shootings.
The legal process that followed revealed a motive rooted in jealousy. Prosecutors stated that Goode-Ford's suspicion of an affair between his girlfriend and Jimmy Crisantos fueled the violent rampage. After killing the couple, he proceeded through the house, shooting the children. In January 2025, after a two-week trial in Orange County Court, a jury found Kaliek Goode-Ford guilty of all charges, including three counts of first-degree murder. Two months later, in March 2025, a judge sentenced Goode-Ford to the maximum penalty: life in prison without the possibility of parole. Throughout the legal proceedings, Goode-Ford maintained his innocence and planned to appeal the verdict.
