Oil City Man Charged with Murdering Wife Waives Preliminary Hearing

| April 16, 2015

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FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – A 49-year-old Oil City man accused of killing his wife in February waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.

Jeffrey A. Goodman, 49, of Oil City, faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and a firearms violation, in connection with the the shooting death of his wife on February 7 in Oil City.

Police Dispatched to Crime Scene

According to a criminal complaint, around 11:16 p.m. on February 7, Venango County 911 dispatched the City of Oil City Police Department to 142 Charlton Street, indicating that a male had just shot his wife in the head. 911 stated that “the male was still on the line and had placed the loaded gun on the victim who is his wife, Cathy Goodman.” Upon arrival at the scene, at 11:28 p.m., Chief Wenner and Patrolmen Orr and Rembold were met at the back door by the 49-year-old Goodman.

Goodman Placed in Custody

The complaint states that at 11:30 p.m. Goodman was placed into custody, and at 11:32 p.m., Chief Wenner advised him of his rights. Goodman advised Chief Wenner that he understood those rights. At that time, Goodman allegedly stated that he had shot his wife in the head and that “she was laying on the couch where her body is laying now and (he) shot her once in the head then called 911.”

At 12:45 a.m. on February 8, Patrolmen Orr and Meehan transported Goodman back to the Oil City Police Department.

Goodman Waives Rights, Talks to Oil City Police

According to the complaint, at 1:41 a.m. Chief Wenner and Patrolman Daly conducted an interview with Goodman, at which time, Goodman was advised of his rights. He waived them and agreed to talk to the officers.

Goodman allegedly admitted that he had asked her (Cathy Goodman) to come upstairs to talk, and she would not which made him angry. He allegedly stated that he then went upstairs to the attic to grab the gun – which was a .270 caliber rifle – and came back downstairs, the complaint indicates.

He continued, allegedly stating that when he came back downstairs, he had two bullets in his hand and pointed the empty rifle to her head and said “come upstairs to talk.” He allegedly said that “she had laughed at him in which made him very angry,” according to the complaint.

The complaint indicates that Goodman allegedly stated that he stood on her left side and had the rifle about two to three feet from her head; he then loaded one bullet into the rifle and pointed it back at her and shot her in the left side of her head, the complaint states.

Then, he allegedly said that he emptied the discharged shell from the rifle and loaded the other bullet and stated that “once you shoot something you have to make sure that it is dead.” He allegedly stated that then he knew she was dead, so he placed the rifle on her and called 911, the complaint indicates.

According to the complaint, Goodman allegedly stated that “he feels free and that the system has railroaded (him) and that he had just had enough” and that “he feels sorry for his children but not for what (he) did.”

Goodman Jailed on $500k Bond, Awaits Preliminary Hearing

Jeffrey Goodman faces one count of Criminal Homicide, Felony 1, “for intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, and negligently causing the death of 49-year-old Cathy Goodman with a single gunshot to the head with a .270 caliber rifle,” according to the criminal complaint.

Goodman is being represented by Seneca Attorney Scott A. White.

He remains in the Venango County Jail on $500,000.00 monetary bail as the case continues to make its way through the system.


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