Murder In The Fast Lane

A Woman Seeks Justice For The Murder Of Her Brother And Sister-In-Law

(CBS)  For Michael Goodwin, it seems as if there has been nothing but suspicions and allegations since the day he met Mickey Thompson. But so far there has been no proof.

So Goodwin carries on, living life in the murky limbo that comes with being tagged a murderer but not being arrested.

Under suspicion but never charged, Goodwin says he has been a convenient target, and it has ruined his life. "I cannot imagine a more quantum change from what our life was back then to what it’s been now. I’ve lost my wife over this. I’ve become a pariah in many circles," he says.

But the police won’t stop chasing Goodwin. He claims when it comes to the murders of Mickey and Trudy Thompson, he is victim number three. "If they want ya’, they’ll get ya’. I mean I truly do believe that they’ll sometime come and grab me on fabricated evidence," Goodwin says.

His life as a jetsetter is over and his savings are all but gone. Goodwin now lives in a trailer with his aging father. And he blames the politically connected Collene Campbell for all his troubles. "She doesn’t really want the real killers of Mickey Thompson. She wants Michael Goodwin," he claims.

But Collene says she doesn't care about Goodwin at all. "I only care about the person who murdered my brother and if that happens to be Mike Goodwin, then I'd like to have him behind bars," she says.

It's August 2001, and Michael Goodwin’s fears-and Collene's wishes-may be coming true. Two new witnesses claim to have important information.

Goodwin was arrested by police, to stand in a line-up.

Det. Lillienfeld brought in the witnesses. He says they did come forward at the time of the murders, but only now has their information come into clear focus for the cops. "And what they saw was two men sitting in a car in front of their home and they were just watching the roadway using a pair of binoculars," he says.

Lillienfeld believes that it was "some type of a dress rehearsal." But there’s just one problem with the detectives theory: the car was at the bottom of the hill and the Thompson home is at the top.

Goodwin attorney Elena Saris is quick to point out that slight problem with Lillienfeld’s theory: “There’s no proof it was Michael Goodwin.” “The car was facing the wrong way.” “This evidence is laughable to me.”

Twelve hours after his arrest, and back at the county jail, Michael Goodwin is walking out a free man once again.

The two witnesses did identify him in the lineup, but unbelievably, authorities decided not to hold him. Goodwin says that's because there’s no case against him.

Asked if it was him in the car with the binoculars, Goodwin says, "Absolutely not."

About the witnesses, Goodwin says, "They are lying. They’re not wrong. They’re lying. It’s been set up that way. This is all part of Collene Campbell and Detective Lillienfeld’s script to convict me for the crime because they can’t find the real killer."

But Lillienfeld says he doesn't have a "personal agenda or grudge" against Mike Goodwin. "I mean he’s the man all the evidence led me to. So the logical conclusion at the end of the trail is Mike Goodwin," the detective says.

"Here’s one of the reasons some people say you look guilty. You owed Mickey Thompson money, he’s murdered and you leave the country," Lagattuta remarks.

"Yes, but they may not be asking for the real facts," Goodwin replies.

"Did you leave the country?" Lagattuta asks.

"Yes, but not for five months and for the two and a half to three years that we were out of the country, they never called and asked for me to return. Because there is no evidence to connect me," Goodwin says.