Patrick Goodman: California toddler killer to walk free unless Gov Gavin Newsom overrules parole board
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Patrick Goodman, a California child killer convicted of brutally beating his girlfriend's 3-year-old son, Elijah Sanderson, may soon walk free if Governor Gavin Newsom does not overrule the recent parole board decision.
Goodman, now 49, caused Elijah to suffer numerous traumatic injuries, broken bones, and "pulverized" organs in a horrifying incident that occurred in December 2000.
Patrick Goodman was initially sentenced to life in prison
Goodman, sentenced in 2002, was originally quoted as facing life in prison without parole. However, he received a sentence of 25 years to life with the possibility of parole. Now, with the parole board's recent decision, the fate of Goodman's release lies with Governor Newsom's office.
Despite a prosecutor's steadfast commitment to keeping the suspect behind bars for life, the parole board approved his release after a December hearing.
"I hope that one day I will be able to show Elijah’s family, society and everyone who got caught in the ripple effect of my actions, that I’m no longer the monster that I used to be," the convict reportedly told parole board commissioners at a December 14 hearing.
Parole board approves release of Patrick Goodman after brief 15-minute deliberation
During the hearing, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' office vehemently argued against Goodman's release, emphasizing the gravity of his crime.
The parole board, comprising Commissioners Michele Minor and Dane Blake, surprisingly concluded that the convict "does not currently pose an unreasonable risk to public safety" and deemed him suitable for parole after just 15 minutes of deliberation.
Ex-officer stresses the importance of strict laws in cases like these
Former San Francisco Police officer Britt Elmore, commenting on the case, described it as "the most heinous crime there is" due to its devastating impact on a defenseless child.
Elmore anticipates Newsom intervening to uphold justice and recommends a comprehensive review of the parole board's qualifications.
"See if they're even fit to be in these hearings," he claimed. "This is the worst of the worst, and this is supposed to be what the strictest of our laws are for." Elmore emphasized that the 3-year-old victim was not only helpless but also deemed "the most innocent victim" Goodman could have targeted.
"A lot of people put themselves in predicaments. … A child doesn’t make those decisions," he remarked. "The child’s just put there."
Crime victims and survivors urged to utilize the state's victims' services program
Jonathan Hatami, a prominent district attorney candidate in Los Angeles County, condemned the decision as "horrific" and stressed that individuals who victimize defenseless children pose a severe danger to the community.
"I’ve tried numerous high-profile child murders," he said, "If you will murder a child, someone who is the most vulnerable in our society, you are a danger to our entire community," Fox reported. A spokesperson for Newsom assured that the case would be "reviewed carefully," urging crime victims and survivors to utilize the state's victims services program.
