Veronica Dawn Tussey-Taylor was remembered by loved ones as a unique and unforgettable woman who was completely and unapologetically herself. The 59-year-old female resident of Bryan, Texas, was described as loving, wild-hearted, funny, fiercely independent, and free-spirited. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on November 13, 1966, Veronica lived a life full of passion and varied interests.
She loved the freedom of riding motorcycles, was an animal lover, and had a creative, crafty side that led her to make everything from homemade soaps to other projects that captured her fancy.
Veronica was a devoted mother and is survived by her two sons. She also leaves behind a sister, nieces, nephews, and many friends whose lives she made "a little more colorful." Her family recalled her love for gardening, especially her roses, and her special affection for angels and crosses. She was also known as the queen of bargain hunting, taking genuine joy in finding a good deal at flea markets and with coupons. Those who knew her said she loved hard, lived freely, and left behind memories that would continue to bring laughter through their tears.
On the evening of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the Brazos County Sheriff's Office was called to perform a welfare check at a home in the 6400 block of Trace Bend in Bryan. After 9 p.m., deputies arrived at the residence and made a tragic discovery. Inside, they found Veronica Tussey-Taylor deceased from a gunshot wound. The initial investigation quickly revealed that her vehicle was missing from the home.
Investigators soon identified a suspect in her death: 54-year-old John Goodwin of nearby College Station. The Brazos County Sheriff's Office noted that Tussey-Taylor and Goodwin were known to each other, though the nature of their relationship and what led to the fatal shooting was not immediately clear. Using automated license plate reader technology, including Flock cameras, investigators determined that the victim's vehicle had been driven out of Brazos County and was in the Houston area.
A multi-agency effort was launched to locate the stolen vehicle and the suspect. A Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter was deployed and successfully located Tussey-Taylor's car on a property in northern Harris County, near a salvage yard in the 159000 block of Archduke Drive. As Brazos County deputies conducted surveillance in an unmarked vehicle, they requested assistance from the Harris County Sheriff's Office to approach the property.
On the morning of Thursday, October 1, 2026, just after 7 a.m., as Harris County deputies were responding to the scene, the situation came to a grim conclusion. Before law enforcement could make entry onto the property, John Goodwin fatally shot himself with a firearm. Emergency medical services were called to the scene and pronounced him dead. With the primary suspect deceased, the case was effectively closed. The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, and everyone affected by this tragic incident.”
