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MARK LONGORIA
The suspect in the April 2018 murder of Mysti Amber Goddard of Amarillo, pleaded guilty to the charge of murder this past week in the 242nd District Court, according to a press release by Sheriff Sal Rivera.
Mark Longoria, 40 of Earth, Texas entered a plea of guilty and requested a bench trial for the punishment phase of the trial, which was scheduled for Dec. 6.
Presiding Judge Kregg Hukill heard witness testimony from both the state and defense. The state was represented by Castro County District Attorney Shalyn Hamlin and Assistant District Attorney Maverik Gfeller. Longoria was defended by attorney Don Snodgrass.
According to District Attorney Shalyn Hamlin, the state presented evidence of the crime, the defendant’s prior criminal history, prior domestic assaults between the defendant and the victim, as well as victim impact testimony from Goddard’s family.
The defense presented evidence from the defendant’s family as well as testimony from a forensic neuropsychologist.
Following three days of testimony and closing arguments, both the state and defense rested their cases. Judge Hukill after a recess came back from his chambers and rendered the verdict of life in prison in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division for Longoria, plus a $1000 fine.
“This was a horrific crime that resulted in the death of Mysti Goddard, the defendant’s ex-girlfriend. Justice was served last week when the defendant received a life sentence for this crime,” said Hamlin. “I appreciate the work of the Texas Rangers and the Castro County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation of this case. I pray this sentence sends a message to the community that violent and senseless crimes will not be tolerated in Castro County.”
Longoria was remanded back to the custody of the Castro County Sheriff’s Office by Judge Hukill until he could be transported to prison.
The case stems from the discovery of a body on April 21, 2018, on CR 510 just north of CR 628 in southwestern Castro County.
The investigation was conducted by the Castro County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers. Longoria was identified as a person of interest in the murder of Goddard, and eventually led law enforcement to Earth, Texas, in Lamb County, where Longoria resided.
The Lamb County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation in Lamb County and Longoria was eventually located and taken into custody. He was charged with murder after he confessed to shooting Goddard and leaving her body in a secluded area in southwestern Castro County and trans ported to the Castro County Jail where he was booked.
“This case has been on the court’s docket for over three-and-half years, and I believe that we have worked hard to get justice for Ms. Goddard,” said Sheriff Sal Rivera. “This investigation was a clear ‘who done it’ and the investigative efforts of my office and the Texas Rangers led to the iden tification of the suspect and eventually his arrest. I want to commend everyone who worked on the case, and especially District Attorney Shalyn Hamlin who was tasked with prosecuting the case and bringing it to a conclusion that served justice.”