APRIL 19, 2024:
A 60 year old Detroit, MI, man has been sentenced to 360 days in the Davison County Jail for pleading guilty to the improper disposal of a body in connection with a female who was found deceased March 11, 2024, in Mitchell.
Friday (April 19, 2024), Anthony Harris pled guilty and was then sentenced in Davison County Circuit Court.
Harris was initially charged with both Second-Degree Murder and Improper Disposal of a Body in the death of Melody Fae Gooch, 57, of Detroit, MI. Her body was discovered at the Mitchell I-90 Travel Center. Harris was detained in Washington State and later extradited back to South Dakota to face charges.
The final autopsy report indicated that the cause of death was an accidental drug overdose, and that the death did not occur in South Dakota. The final autopsy report further indicated that the blunt force injuries sustained by Ms. Gooch when she was run over at the truck stop did not occur while she was alive. The State therefore proceeded on the Improper Disposal of a Body charge in the death of Melody Gooch.
Harris was given credit for 41 days already served in jail. He also was ordered to pay both autopsy and extradition costs, the towing bill for the truck he was driving when he was detained, and funeral costs for Melody Gooch.
Michigan state officials will now determine if Harris will face additional charges in that state.
Several different local and state agencies were involved in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office and the Davison County State’s Attorney’s Office.
APRIL 5, 2024:
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and Davison County State’s Attorney Jim Miskimins have announced that based on a further review of the evidence, including the forensic pathologist autopsy results, the appropriate charge in South Dakota is Improper Disposal of a Body in connection with a female that was found deceased March 11, 2024 in Mitchell.
Anthony Harris, 60, of Detroit, MI, had been charged with Second-Degree Murder and Improper Disposal of a Body in the death of Melody Fae Gooch, 57, of Detroit, MI. Her body was discovered at the Mitchell I-90 Travel Center. Harris was detained in Washington State and later extradited back to South Dakota. As set forth in the affidavit of probable cause based on collected evidence, Harris was charged with both Second-Degree Murder and/or Improper Disposal of a Body in the death of Ms. Gooch.
The final autopsy report, which was received Wednesday, indicates that the cause of death was an accidental drug overdose, and that the death did not occur in South Dakota. The autopsy specifically lists cause of death to be combined drug toxicity due to Buprenorphine, Fentanyl, and Cocaine, and that the manner of death to be accidental.
The final autopsy report further indicates that the blunt force injuries sustained by Ms. Gooch when she was run over at the truck stop did not occur while she was alive. Additional evidence did not indicate that Ms. Gooch was alive in South Dakota.
Prosecutors Friday afternoon filed a dismissal of the Second-Degree Murder charge in Davison County Circuit Court. Harris remains charged with Improper Disposal of a Body in South Dakota. Michigan state officials will now determine if he will face additional charges in that state.
Attorney General Jackley and State’s Attorney Miskimins want to thank the different local and state agencies who were involved in this investigation.
MARCH 15, 2024:
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and Mitchell law enforcement announce that a person has been arrested in the investigation of a female that was found Monday night (March 11, 2024) in Mitchell.
The deceased has been identified as Melody Fae Gooch, 57, of Detroit, MI. Her body was discovered around 11pm CT (10:54pm) at the Mitchell I-90 Travel Center.
Jackley says South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation and Mitchell law enforcement have been working to notify Melody’s family members, collect evidence, and analyze security videos. He says 50 year old Anthony Harris, also of Detroit, MI, has been detained in Washington State. He has been charged with Second-Degree Murder and Improper Disposal.
The investigation is ongoing and Jackley asks that people who may have known or seen the deceased in the Mitchell area between Saturday, March 9, and Monday, March 11, are asked to call the Mitchell Police Department at 605-995-8400.
Comments