In late March 2022, the disappearance of 27-year-old Justin Goins from Knoxville, Tennessee, set in motion a chain of events that would uncover a tragic end to his life. Concerns for Goins' welfare arose on March 31st when he was reported missing. Witnesses last saw his car parked at a residence on Leon Drive alongside a maroon Chrysler minivan. When these witnesses tried to approach the minivan, the driver, later identified as 25-year-old Darius Smith, hastily fled the scene.
Shortly after, Goins' own vehicle vanished, only to be found abandoned later on French Road. A disturbing clue was discovered inside the car; although it had been meticulously cleaned with chemical agents, a small amount of blood remained in a cupholder.
The investigation intensified on April 1st when police received a license plate reader hit on the Chrysler minivan. Officers located the van and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Smith fled, leading them on a high-speed chase. The pursuit came to an abrupt end when Smith crashed the minivan into a tree at the intersection of Elm Street and Virginia Avenue. He then attempted to escape on foot, but officers quickly apprehended him inside a nearby home where he was found hiding under a bed.
Following Smith's capture, a search of the wrecked minivan revealed the grim discovery of Justin Goins' body in the back of the vehicle. An autopsy would later confirm that he had been shot multiple times. Darius Smith was arrested and faced a slew of charges, including first-degree murder, felony evading arrest, and reckless driving. Investigators learned that Smith was in a relationship with an ex-girlfriend of Goins, suggesting a possible motive for the violent crime.
