The true story behind Connie Goodwin's case on The Murder Tapes

In Deerfield, Missouri, a 63-year-old grandmother, Connie Goodwin, was found dead in her home on October 28, 2020. She had been decapitated, her head missing, hinting this was a homicide. A day later, partial remains-including her severed head-showed up in a trash bag inside a pickup truck parked at a Walmart in Hot Springs, Arkansas, over 300 miles away, as per Law &Crime.

The only suspect was her 38-year-old son, Aaron Enoch Goodwin, who vanished after the discovery of her body and subsequently became the object of a multi-state manhunt. Five months later, Aaron's remains were discovered by hikers in a wooded area near Hot Springs, ruled to be a suicide. This left the case unsolved as no apparent motive was ever determined.

This true story of family tragedy and an interstate pursuit is relived through raw police footage in Investigation Discovery's The Murder Tapes season 10 episode 1, titled Head in a Bag. The episode aired on November 12, 2025.

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The discovery of Connie Goodwin's Body

The Murder Tapes season 10 episode 1(Image via Unsplash/@JOSHUA COLEMAN)

Connie Goodwin lived in Deerfield, a small community near Nevada in Vernon County, Missouri. Born on February 4, 1957, in El Dorado Springs, she was a mother to six children, including Aaron, as per her official obituary on the Ferry Funeral Home website.

On October 28, 2020, deputies from the Vernon County Sheriff's Office responded to a welfare check at the residence. They entered and found Connie Goodwin's body inside, confirming she had been the victim of foul play. Her body was decapitated, with the head nowhere to be seen, according to KATV.

Initial reports indicated no signs of forced entry, leading investigators to suspect that someone close to the family was involved in the murder.

The victim's son, Aaron Goodwin, could not be reached after authorities discovered the decapitated body. He was quickly named a person of interest, with his sudden disappearance being cited as suspicious.

The sheriff's office processed the crime scene, collecting evidence such as fingerprints and personal items to establish a timeline of events. The missing head added urgency; investigators feared it could hold key forensic clues, such as defensive wounds or identification marks, as per the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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The gruesome find in Arkansas

Connie Goodwin's body was found inside her house (Image via Unsplash/@Scott Rodgerson)

Less than twenty-four hours later, the investigation took an unexpected turn. Later that day, on October 29, 2020, officers on a routine patrol in Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas, came upon a Walmart parking lot. They noticed a suspicious-looking trash bag in the bed of a parked pickup truck; its unusual shape and weight alarmed them, as per KATV.

Connie Goodwin's severed head, wrapped in plastic, and other partial remains were visible when it was unzipped. Security footage from a nearby hotel showed an unidentified individual leaving the bag in the truck overnight; the truck belonged to a local man who was not involved in the crime.

This placed the disposal about 300 miles from Deerfield, suggesting the killer had traveled far to discard evidence, according to Law & Crime.

Dental records and DNA quickly confirmed that the remains matched Connie Goodwin, linking the sites. Aaron's involvement seemed even clearer, as phone pings placed him in the Hot Springs area around that time.

He faced charges for abandonment of a corpse, with murder suspicions mounting due to his disappearance, as the Vernon County Sheriff's Office reported. Cross-state coordination kicked in: Vernon County shared photos and details, while Arkansas issued alerts.

Connie Goodwin's funeral was held shortly after the discovery of her body, arranged by Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, Missouri.

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The manhunt for Aaron Goodwin

Aaron Goodwin's body was found in the woods (Image via Unsplash/ @ Markus Winkler)

As evidence piled up, the manhunt for Aaron extended over two states. The Vernon County Sheriff's Office led efforts, partnering with Arkansas authorities and federal tip lines.

Tips flooded in, with many placing him near Hot Springs sightings at motels and gas stations, but all were false leads, according to KARK. Investigators canvassed the area, checking woods and abandoned spots, while analyzing his phone and bank records, which had gone silent after October 28.

No weapon or full motive surfaced; theories ranged from a family dispute to mental health issues, but nothing concrete, according to Law & Crime.

By November, rewards were offered and media appeals aired nationally. Aaron's siblings cooperated, providing background, but urged his safe return. The manhunt strained resources, with patrols increasing in Garland County. Winter weather slows ground searches, but drones and K-9 units were deployed. Months passed without any arrests.

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The suspect's death and case closure

The manhunt came to an abrupt end in March 2021. Early that month, the remains of a body were found in a wooded area on Columbia Hills Street outside Hot Springs. Found on March 8, the bones were scattered but were identified as belonging to Aaron Enoch Goodwin, as per Law & Crime.

On March 12, an autopsy was performed by the Arkansas State Crime Lab, and the death was determined to be a suicide. However, the exact method was not publicly released, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

No suicide note was found, and the remains had been exposed to the elements for months, as per Four State Homepage. With Aaron now dead, no interrogation could take place, thus stalling the investigation into Connie Goodwin's killing.

Without other suspects or accomplices, authorities closed the case without charges, according to KARK. A motive remained elusive; personal struggles were suspected, but it was never confirmed.

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To know more about Connie Goodwin's murder, watch The Murder Tapes season 10 episode 1 on Investigation Discovery.