In the late summer of 1931, the community of Blytheville, Arkansas, was shaken by the violent death of its Chief of Police, Marion Gustavus Goodwin. A 53-year-old white male, Goodwin was a respected figure who had dedicated seven years to the Blytheville Police Department. On September 22nd, while investigating a series of home burglaries that had plagued the area, Chief Goodwin identified and moved to arrest a suspect believed to be responsible for the crimes.
As the arrest unfolded,
Chief Goodwin escorted the man to his vehicle to retrieve some form of identification. In a sudden and tragic turn of events, the suspect produced a. 32 caliber handgun and fired at the police chief. Goodwin was struck four times. Despite the swiftness of the attack, law enforcement was quick to respond. A Mississippi County deputy sheriff apprehended the suspect just minutes after the shooting.
Chief Goodwin succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind his wife, Maude Fowler Goodwin, and their daughter, Jewel Goodwin Smith. The man responsible for his death was taken into custody. However, there would be no trial for the murder of Chief Goodwin. Approximately six weeks after his arrest, the suspect took his own life while incarcerated, slashing his wrist with a razor in his jail cell. The community mourned the loss of their chief, who was laid to rest in Elmwood Cemetery in Blytheville.
