Anyone interested in fast cars and motorsports will have probably heard of Mickey Thompson. He was a talented hot rodder and dragster champion, who became the first American to break the 400mph barrier in his Challenger 1. Thanks to his innovation and the rise of powerful custom engines in the 1950s and 60s, he set more speed and endurance records than any other driver in racing history.
However, his legacy took a dark turn when he and his wife were gunned down outside their home in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Despite the media circus surrounding the case, the crime went unsolved for nearly 20 years.
The crime
There was nothing distinct about 16th March 1988. Mickey and his wife Trudy were pottering around their Bradbury home in California, discussing the day ahead while eating breakfast – just like they always did.
The conversation may have turned to their joint venture, the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG), which promoted indoor motocross and off-road vehicle racing on the international stage. Or, they may have simply enjoyed each other's company. Unbeknown to them, it would be the very last morning they'd spend together.
While the couple got ready inside, they were oblivious to the danger beyond their four walls. Outside, two assailants were lurking in the shadows, waiting patiently for the duo to leave for the day.
After warm goodbyes, Mickey opened the garage door for his wife before heading to his own vehicle. One of the assailants attacked and wounded him, dragging his body onto the driveway. Cautious to leave no witnesses, the other man fatally shot Trudy as she backed out, killing her almost immediately.
Mickey was still alive after the initial attack, but his wife's killer hastily returned and shot him in the head. Afterwards, the attackers escaped on the bicycles they had ridden to the family’s residence.
The motive
When a famous and wealthy couple is murdered in their own home, robbery as a motive springs to mind. However, the police quickly ruled this out as the perpetrators hadn't stolen any cash or jewellery from the Thompsons' bodies. Despite exploring many leads, they couldn’t locate the two gunmen. So, they turned their attention to Mickey's former business partner, Michael Frank Goodwin.
Goodwin was widely known as the ‘father of modern supercross’. In fact, he was more successful than Mickey in the promotional space, always putting on the best shows, pinching the most talented drivers and packing out the largest stadiums.
It's easy to see why Mickey wanted a slice of the pie. Perhaps, Goodwin thought that partnering with the ‘fastest man on wheels’ would generate even more profit. Whatever their reasons, the two teamed up in 1984, but the business quickly haemorrhaged money.
Mickey eventually sued Goodwin to recoup some of his losses, and the judge awarded him a staggering $800,000 settlement – a decision that left the once promising promoter bitter and bankrupt.
The conviction
Goodwin and his wife engaged in some pretty suspicious behaviour around the time of the double homicide. They bought $275,000 worth of gold coins two months before the murder and wired $400,000 to offshore accounts in the Caribbean. Then, they mysteriously vanished on their yacht, evading the law for more than 10 years.
When Goodwin returned to the US in 2001, he was charged with the Thompsons' murders in Orange County, but the case was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. Not to be bested, the police then arrested him in Pasadena, Los Angeles. This time, a superior court judge ordered him to stand trial.
During the proceedings, new details emerged from several witnesses that strengthened the prosecution's case. According to one, Goodwin had stated several times that he was ‘going to kill that son of a bitch’. Another remembered Goodwin ranting, ‘I'm going to take out Mickey. I'm too smart to get caught. I'll have him wasted. He'll never see a nickel’. Combined with his questionable behaviour after the murders, this was enough to sway the jurors.
On 4th January 2007, Michael Goodwin was found guilty of murdering Mickey and Trudy Thompson. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
In court, he expressed sympathy to Mickey and Trudy’s family, notably to Mickey’s sister, Collene, and the couple’s son, Danny, but refused to apologise on the grounds of his ‘innocence’. At his sentencing, he said, ‘I have condolences for Ms. Campbell, but I can’t apologise, because I’m not guilty’.
The two gunmen who shot the couple have never been found.
