Delaware News

DOJ Secures Guilty Plea For Claymont Man In Brutal 2022 Murder Case

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, October 20, 2023


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A Claymont man has pleaded guilty to several charges in the 2022 murder of Kevin Goodson, which means that all three men responsible for the murder are convicted and face up to life in prison. On October 10, 21-year-old Justin Locke pled guilty to Murder 2nd Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy 1st Degree and Kidnapping 1st Degree in New Castle County Superior Court. The plea follows an investigation that found that Locke and two associates assaulted Goodson in a Claymont parking lot, beating him nearly to death before kidnapping him, dumping him in the woods to die, and ultimately shooting and setting fire to his lifeless body. 

 

“These men displayed an abhorrent level of violence and cruelty,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “The kind of hatred and disregard for human life that can drive this brutality is unfathomable. I’m grateful for all the work our prosecutors and the Delaware State Police did to find these killers, to hold them accountable, and to secure justice for the victim.”  

On July 24, 2022, Locke and two associates, Jeffrey Labarge, 23, and Tyler Simpson, 23, physically assaulted Goodson, 56, in a parking lot off Philadelphia Pike in Claymont, beating him unconscious before fleeing. The three returned shortly thereafter, loaded Goodson into Locke’s vehicle, and drove him to a secluded section of the former Claymont Steel property, where they abandoned him. The men later returned to the Claymont Steel property after purchasing a can of gasoline.  They moved Goodson’s body to a location further into the property, where Locke shot him four times before the body was set on fire. Goodson’s remains were discovered beneath a tarp covered in a layer of rocks along the Delaware River.  

With this plea, all three defendants have now pleaded guilty. Tyler Simpson and Jeffrey Labarge previously entered guilty pleas to Murder 2nd Degree, Conspiracy 1st Degree, and Kidnapping 1st Degree, and each face a sentencing range of 17 years to life in prison. Locke faces a sentencing range of 20 years to life. 

This plea agreement was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Jamie McCloskey and Isaac Rank with the assistance of Paralegals Jamie Prater, Administrative Assistant Evelyn Davis, and Social Worker Crystal Pitts following an investigation led by the Delaware State Police.  

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DOJ Secures Guilty Plea For Claymont Man In Brutal 2022 Murder Case

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, October 20, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

A Claymont man has pleaded guilty to several charges in the 2022 murder of Kevin Goodson, which means that all three men responsible for the murder are convicted and face up to life in prison. On October 10, 21-year-old Justin Locke pled guilty to Murder 2nd Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy 1st Degree and Kidnapping 1st Degree in New Castle County Superior Court. The plea follows an investigation that found that Locke and two associates assaulted Goodson in a Claymont parking lot, beating him nearly to death before kidnapping him, dumping him in the woods to die, and ultimately shooting and setting fire to his lifeless body. 

 

“These men displayed an abhorrent level of violence and cruelty,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “The kind of hatred and disregard for human life that can drive this brutality is unfathomable. I’m grateful for all the work our prosecutors and the Delaware State Police did to find these killers, to hold them accountable, and to secure justice for the victim.”  

On July 24, 2022, Locke and two associates, Jeffrey Labarge, 23, and Tyler Simpson, 23, physically assaulted Goodson, 56, in a parking lot off Philadelphia Pike in Claymont, beating him unconscious before fleeing. The three returned shortly thereafter, loaded Goodson into Locke’s vehicle, and drove him to a secluded section of the former Claymont Steel property, where they abandoned him. The men later returned to the Claymont Steel property after purchasing a can of gasoline.  They moved Goodson’s body to a location further into the property, where Locke shot him four times before the body was set on fire. Goodson’s remains were discovered beneath a tarp covered in a layer of rocks along the Delaware River.  

With this plea, all three defendants have now pleaded guilty. Tyler Simpson and Jeffrey Labarge previously entered guilty pleas to Murder 2nd Degree, Conspiracy 1st Degree, and Kidnapping 1st Degree, and each face a sentencing range of 17 years to life in prison. Locke faces a sentencing range of 20 years to life. 

This plea agreement was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Jamie McCloskey and Isaac Rank with the assistance of Paralegals Jamie Prater, Administrative Assistant Evelyn Davis, and Social Worker Crystal Pitts following an investigation led by the Delaware State Police.  

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Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.