By Trend News Line 2024-04-02 22:27:00.
**Man Faces Second-Degree Murder Charges**
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
Anthony Melvin Harris, Sr., a 60-year-old man from Detroit, Michigan, appeared in court on Tuesday to face second-degree murder charges. The charges stem from an incident where Harris, Sr., allegedly ran over a woman multiple times and disposed of her body at a gas station in Mitchell. Judge Donna Bucher set his bond at $250,000, and he is currently being held in the Davison County jail as the case progresses.
**Victim Identified as Melody Faye Gooch**
The victim in this tragic case has been identified as Melody Faye Gooch, a 57-year-old woman also from Detroit. Authorities were able to identify her through fingerprint analysis using an automated system. The investigation into her death revealed gruesome details surrounding the disposal of her body.
**Allegations of Dismemberment and Improper Disposal**
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
According to an arrest affidavit, Harris, Sr., who works as a truck driver, is accused of not only running over Gooch multiple times but also dismembering her body. The victim’s remains were discovered under pallets at the I-90 Travel Center, near a city water tower. Additionally, officers found the victim’s head placed inside a garbage sack at the crime scene.
**Investigation Leads to Arrest**
The investigation into Gooch’s murder ultimately led to the arrest of Harris, Sr. He has been charged with second-degree murder and improper disposal in Davison County. Second-degree murder is classified as a Class B felony, which carries a mandatory life sentence upon conviction. The arrest affidavit details the horrific scene where Gooch’s body was found and the suspicious movements of a truck in the area.
**Surveillance Video Key to Investigation**
Law enforcement officers reviewed surveillance footage from the area and observed a truck making suspicious movements in the parking lot where Gooch’s body was discovered. The truck was seen leaving the scene and heading westbound on Interstate 90. Family members of the victim identified Harris, Sr., as the last person seen with Gooch, adding to the evidence against him.
**Additional Evidence Links Harris, Sr., to the Crime**
Further investigations revealed that Harris, Sr., had traveled to the location of the Travel Center parking lot on the day of the alleged crimes. Records from his trucking company, Transfinity Logistics, Inc., showed his presence in the area at the time of the incident. The collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the DCI and Mitchell police Department, led to his arrest.
**Upcoming Court Appearance**
Harris, Sr., is scheduled to appear in court on April 15 to face the charges against him. While he has been charged with second-degree murder and improper disposal, the case has yet to be presented to a grand jury for indictment. Mitchell attorney Chris Nipe is representing Harris, Sr., in this ongoing legal battle.
**About Sam Fosness**
Sam Fosness, a journalist with the Mitchell Republic, has been covering this developing story since its inception. A native of Mitchell, S.D., Fosness graduated from Mitchell High School and went on to pursue a degree in journalism from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. With a passion for storytelling and investigative reporting, Fosness continues to provide in-depth coverage of local events and news..
Truck driver allegedly murdered woman
First court appearance Mitchell Republic.
