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Race car legend Mickey Thompson, and his wife, Trudy, are gunned down in their driveway.  Mickey and Trudy Thompson  Sketch of suspect Suspect #1: Gender: Male  Sketch of suspect Suspect #2: Gender: Male CASE DETAILS  Police found Mickey & Trudy dead in the driveway Mickey Thompson was a legend in the world of auto racing. Among his many innovations were the “slingshot” dragsters. His home-built “Challenger” was the first car to break the 400 miles per hour mark. Mickey was also a pioneer in promoting off-road racing. Mickey’s son, Danny Thompson, recalls his father’s natural drive:
 The killers did not take Trudy’s jewelry Sometimes, Mickey’s obsession with speed drove him too far. A speedboat accident paralyzed him from the waist down. Doctors said that he would never walk again. With the support of his wife, Trudy, he made an incredible recovery and returned to business as usual. Mickey developed an extremely profitable stadium-racing venture. But the deal, with business partner Richard Goodwin, went sour. It ended up in a nasty lawsuit. According to Collene Campbell, Mickey’s sister, Mickey told her that he and his wife had received death threats:
Mickey and Trudy lived in Bradbury, California, an affluent rural community located near Los Angeles. On the morning of March 16, 1988, the peaceful quiet was shattered by the sound of gunfire. The shots came from Mickey Thompson’s home. At the bottom of the driveway, sheriffs found Trudy shot to death. A few yards away, near the garage, Mickey Thompson was also found, dead.  A stun gun was found at the scene When Trudy was killed, she was wearing over $70,000 worth of jewelry. She and her husband were carrying $4,000 in cash. But nothing had been taken. Robbery was an unlikely motive. Police were able to learn that one of the neighbors was a witness. Appearing on Unsolved Mysteries with his identity disguised, the witness described what he and his wife heard that morning:
Mickey Thompson’s sister, Colleen, had a possible scenario:
The witness again:
 Who were the two men on bicycles? The police theorized that when Mickey came out through the garage, he was confronted by the gunmen. One of them immediately shot Mickey, while the second approached Trudy. Mickey was forced to watch as the second gunmen shot his wife. Mickey was then executed as well. The witness said he also saw the gunman:
The two suspects were dressed in jogging suits. They were between 20 and 30 years of age and were approximately six feet tall. Police are certain that they were hired to do the killings. Update: After investigating the case for 13 years, police arrested Thompson’s former business partner, Michael Goodwin, and charged him with the double murder. Lt. Daniel Rosenberg layed out the case against Goodwin:
Goodwin’s lawyer, Jeffrey Benice, says his client was falsely accused:
 Michael Goodwin However, an eyewitness came forward and said Goodwin was seen sitting in a station wagon in the Thompson’s’ neighborhood, spying on them with binoculars several days before the murders. Michael Goodwin pleaded not guilty, but the jury didn’t buy his story. At his trial, they heard that Goodwin had bragged that he would, quote, “Have Mickey Thompson wasted.” Further, he had left the country right after the murder. Michael Goodwin was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. The police are still trying to identify and prosecute the two gunmen. A one million dollar reward is being offered in this case. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season one with Robert Stack and season one with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
Ernest Holton Jr
You Did Pinpoint This They Would Be Two Ex-LAPD Officers David Mack And Amir Muhammad If You Hunch Is Correct We Have Them But The Cops Have To Get The Truth Out Of Michael Goodwin To Be Sure If It Is David Mack And Amir Muhammad We Have Our Men But We Need To Get The Truth Out Of Michael Goodwin and Find Out Where They Are So We Need To Get Them Out Of Hiding Somewhere And We Will .
Veronica
Just watched this case on Netflix, I had never heard of it. Very sad that these two great people were murdered. After watching I’m thinking about the orange peel the criminalist found at the scene, I am wondering if they ever tested it for DNA. I’m sure they did but just curious since it wasn’t mentioned.
Gregory Vilme
I’ve heard from reliable sources that the hired contract killers are ex LAPD officer David Mack and his close friend Amir Muhammad aka Harry Billups. Consequently these two are the prime suspects in the murder of Christopher Wallace aka Biggie Smallz. Check out the composite sketch of the two suspects and see the similarities.
Tim
I just saw this episode on Pluto. Was this theory ever explored?
Ernest Holton Jr
The Only Person Who Knows Who They Are Is Michael Goodwin You Have To Get That Out Of Him If He Hire The Gunmen He Knows The Gunmen So Michael Goodwin Is Responsible For This He Knows.
Kenne
The D.O.B. for the suspects is wrong, if they were born in 1978 that would make them 10 years old at the time of the shootings.
Julia
Where do you see the date of birth for the suspects?
Anonymous
Has anyone contacted brain McPherson worked Mike Goodwin as a driver wife was sec Barbra Howard Randolph McPherson
Anonymous
You should ask Donald Lee short
Cory mcmillen
In the late fifties Mickey Thompson was in Mexico racing in the off road race I believe he was racing a lincolin back then I know a gentleman still alive today it was on his pit crew he told me a story of how Mickey Thompson crashed into a giant field of spectators killing many of them he was arrested by the Mexican police and he was broke out of jail by his pit crew one of the gentleman I personally know I believe the descendants of some of these victims were involved in his death. if not hired by the gentleman in jail
lord rob main
has the killers ever been caught.id like to know my self.robbmain@hotmail.com
robbmain@hotmail.com
the email should read robbmain@hotmail.com
fred
The two suspects that were bicycleing were the killers and the second suspect had a mustace.