Terri Goodman
Terri Sue Lawson Goodman (Feb. 10, 1963 – May 20, 2000) was a Huntsville woman who was murdered in May 2000 by Hubert Glenn Sexton Jr. amid an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by the TN Dept. of Children’s Services.
Biography
Born Feb. 10, 1963, Terri Lawson was the daughter of Clifford Lawson (1904-1995) and Mary Hatfield (1920-2001). She had three siblings: Sisters Jaretta and Sharon, and brother LaMance Bryant. Her brother is a former principal at Huntsville Middle School.
Terri married Stanley Eric Goodman and they lived in Huntsville. Goodman’s three children from a previous marriage also lived at the home, as did Hubert Glenn Sexton Jr. and Sexton’s wife, before Sexton and his wife left the residence and moved to Cleveland, Tenn.
Terri was seriously injured in a 1985 automobile accident, which required her to re-learn to talk and walk. She spent several months in physical therapy and years in a wheelchair before finally beginning to walk on her own just six months before her death.
Death
Stanley and Terri Goodman were murdered in their sleep by Sexton on May 20, 2000. Goodman’s daughter, who lived with the Sextons in Cleveland, had accused Sexton of sexually abusing her in March 2000. An investigation by the TN Dept. of Children’s Services had resulted in no charges being filed. In May 2000, the 8-year-old girl again accused Sexton of abusing her. This time, DCS removed three children from the Sexton home. Sexton, who denied the allegations, accused Stanley Goodman of coercing the child to make the allegations and told multiple people that he would kill Goodman.
On Saturday, May 20, 2000, Sexton obtained a .22 long rifle from an acquaintance, purchased clothing from a Dollar General in Cleveland, and made the 2.5-hour drive to Huntsville, where he shot the Goodmans as they slept in their bed. Both were shot multiple times in the face.
Sexton was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. However, the Tennessee Supreme Court overturned the death sentence in 2012. Sexton is currently serving a life sentence at Northeast Correctional Facility in Johnson City, Tenn.
Terri Goodman was buried at Reed Cemetery in New River. Her husband was buried at Morris Goodman Cemetery in Oneida.