In the late hours of a Thursday evening in Lewisburg, Kentucky, the quiet of Deer Lick Road was shattered by the discovery of 57-year-old Ronald Ronnie Woodrow Cable, who was found shot to death in his own driveway on August 11, 2022. Kentucky State Police were summoned to the scene by Logan County deputies and immediately launched a murder investigation into the death of the local man, a mechanic for Fluor Corp. at Logan Aluminum. The community was left to mourn a man described as a beloved son, brother, and a very loving father and grandfather.
The investigation into Cable's death delved into his final hours, leading detectives to examine his cellphone records. This digital trail uncovered communications with a number linked to an online escort service. According to court documents, it appeared Cable had arranged to pay $500 for prostitution services shortly before he was killed. Witnesses reported seeing Cable follow a woman to a dark gray SUV. As the vehicle began to pull away, Cable was seen hanging onto it just before gunshots rang out. Tragically, he then stated that he had been shot.
The digital footprints left behind proved crucial in identifying suspects. The online escort service account was allegedly linked to 39-year-old Elizabeth Ford of Clarksville. Further investigation, including surveillance footage from a Clarksville motel, reportedly showed Ford and 26-year-old Maleek A. Goodson, also of Clarksville, leaving in a gray SUV on the day of the shooting. Police also found evidence of a $500 payment from Cable to Goodson via a cash-sharing app just before the fatal encounter.
In 2022, a grand jury indicted both Goodson and Ford in connection with the death of Ronald Cable. Goodson faces charges of murder, first-degree robbery, and tampering with physical evidence. Ford was initially charged with complicity to murder, tampering with physical evidence, and prostitution. In a development in March, Ford pleaded guilty to reduced charges of first-degree hindering prosecution/apprehension, as well as the tampering and prostitution counts. As part of her plea, Ford has reportedly provided a deposition to be used in Goodson's trial, which is scheduled to take place in early 2025.
