Man wanted in connection with abandonment of corpse

On Friday, Vernon County Sheriff's Office announced a warrant for the arrest of Aaron Goodwin, 38, on charges of abandonment of a corpse in connection with the homicide investigation of his mother Connie J Goodwin, 63, of rural Vernon County.

According to an updated press release on the VCSO’s website Friday, Aaron Goodwin is being sought by authorities for abandonment of a corpse in connection with the Wednesday, Oct. 28, homicide in southwest Vernon County. The victim has been identified as 63-year-old Connie J. Goodwin, the mother of Aaron Goodwin, according to a Vernon County Sheriff’s Office press release.

As of Friday morning, Aaron Goodwin was believed to be in the Hot Springs, Ark., area.

The charge of abandonment of a corpse is related to a body in Missouri, according to a spokesperson with the VCSO Friday morning. The spokesperson said no other information was being released.

A Thursday VCSO press release states the sheriff’s office responded to a report of a deceased person at a residence on Quail Run Road in the southwest area of Vernon County. Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher said his office requested assistance from the Missouri State highway patrol’s Investigations Unit and the Bates County Sheriff’s Office.

Mobile command units were set up near the crime scene as the investigation was conducted.

Also on Thursday, the Hot Springs Police Department issued a press release stating at about 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, Hot Springs Police Department officers responded to a Hot Springs Walmart in reference to a suspicious package. Upon arrival, officers discovered possible evidence in a trash bag in the back of a pickup truck, according to the HSPD press release.

The owner of the pickup truck was interviewed. Investigators learned through video surveillance the trash bag was placed into the back of the truck at a local hotel the night before by an unknown individual, the press release states.

It was later discovered that the evidence is connected to the homicide in Deerfield, the press release states.

The Hot Springs Police Department is assisting the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation.

According to a HSPD wanted poster, Aaron Goodwin is 5,’8”, 140 pounds and listed with a birthdate of May 31, 1982. He is a white male with brown hair and one brown eye and one blue eye.

He was last seen near the 4800 block of Central Avenue in Hot Springs, Ark., wearing a black sweatshirt, black ball cap and was carrying a backpack. He also had a beard.

Citizens are warned to not approach Aaron Goodwin as he is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about Goodwin’s location is urged to call 911, the Vernon County Sheriff’s office at (417) 283-6042 or the Hot Springs Police Department at (501) 321-6789.