A recent Texas County Circuit Court filing says an Eunice murder suspect may gain competency to stand trial in the 2022 murder death of his sister-in-law.
Joshua Goodchild, 46, is held at the Fulton State Hospital for inpatient services following a court’s determination that he lacked competency to proceed on the murder charge against him. He was committed to the Missouri Department of Health for care, treatment and possible restoration of his mental health to proceed with the first-degree murder charge against him.
In December, examiners at the Fulton State Hospital issued a written report on Goodchild’s mental status and said he remains incompetent to proceed. It noted, “There is a substantial probability that defendant will regain competency in the foreseeable future.”
Circuit Judge William Hickle ordered a case review at 9 a.m. Aug. 5 in an order signed Dec. 30.
Goodchild is accused of murdering Nikki Goodchild, 31, of Eunice, at her home. About two years later, her husband, James, was killed in a house fire.
The victim was found in the living room floor just inside the doorway with bullet wounds to her head, chest and right shoulder. One 45-caliber projectile was found on a chair.
The next day, law enforcement served a search warrant at Joshua Goodchild’s home, where he lived in an RV.
Several weapons and boxes of ammunition were seized at the home, along with .45-caliber colt bullets — Hornady Frontier Cartridges Cowboy Action Load — similar to that found at the murder scene. On social media, videos show Goodchild shooting weapons, including a .45-caliber colt revolver.
Authorities said Joshua Goodchild had become estranged from his family and had an encounter with the victim about two weeks before the crime.
He is represented by a St. Louis public defender.