Otto B. Goodman

For more than half a century, the identity of the person who killed Otto B. Goodman has remained a mystery. His death stands as the oldest unsolved homicide on the books of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, a quiet but persistent reminder of a life cut short by violence. The few details that are public paint a stark picture of his final moments, but they leave a void where the story of the man himself should be. Who he was outside of his job, his age, his family, and where he came from are all questions that have faded into the past, unanswered in public records.

The crime occurred on Sunday, October 15, 1967, a time when the newly constructed Interstate 95 was still a fresh artery of transit through Florida. Mr. Goodman, a male, was on duty as an attendant at the Standard Station located at the intersection of I-95 and State Road 40, also known as Granada Boulevard, in Ormond Beach. That day, his shift was violently interrupted by an armed robbery. During the commission of the crime, Otto Goodman was shot. He died from his injuries, leaving behind a case that would outlast decades of change in the surrounding community.

The investigation into the murder began immediately, but leads were evidently scarce. In the years that followed, no suspect was ever publicly identified or charged in connection with the robbery and homicide. The case file grew colder with each passing year, a relic of a different era of police work. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office has not released specific details about the crime, such as the exact time of day it happened, what, if anything, was stolen from the gas station, or whether there were any witnesses who saw a person or vehicle fleeing the scene. Even a photograph of Mr. Goodman has not been made available; on the agency's cold case map, his entry simply reads "Photo Not Available."

Decades later, the Volusia Sheriff's Office has made efforts to bring renewed attention to its oldest unsolved murder. In June 2019, the agency launched an interactive online map featuring its 47 cold cases, with Otto Goodman’s 1967 homicide listed as the first and oldest record. The hope was that this new digital platform could jog a memory or encourage someone to come forward with long-held information. A public information officer for the sheriff's office stated at the time, "We never give up on a case, and you never know when a new piece of information might open the door to a new lead. Sometimes all it takes is one solid tip."

As of October 2026, around the 59th anniversary of his death, the investigation into the murder of Otto Goodman remains open. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office continues to highlight his case, asking for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to finally break the silence. The passage of time may have obscured memories, but investigators and the community hold out hope that someone, somewhere, knows what happened that Sunday afternoon in 1967.

No one has ever been held accountable for the crime. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit continues to house the file, awaiting the one piece of information that could solve it. Anyone with a tip is urged to contact the unit at 386-254-1537. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-TIPS, and may be eligible for a cash reward.