The murders of John Forest "Johnny" Goosey and Stacy Marie BarnettBrick, Michael. "Closing of murder case involving UT grads opens window into shadowy business of marijuana dealing" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. September 26, 2010. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. "At first, investigators would describe the killings as potentially random, spooking parents across the state. Then court filings would portray a limited picture of Goosey's dealings with marijuana, enough to stir imaginations. Later, Thompson would plead guilty to murder." and "Their son, named John Forest after his grandfathers, grew up chubby, with dark unruly curls. Everybody called him Johnny." and "They had much to discuss: growing up in the same neighborhood, graduating from the same high school, mutual friends." shows that Barnett also attended Lamar. occurred on July 21, 2009, in the West Campus area of Austin, Texas, when a man (James Richard "Ricky" Thompson Jr.), who had two accomplices, shot to death two recent graduates from the University of Texas at Austin who originated from the Greater Houston area. This event is sometimes called the West Campus murders.Holloway, Joe. "West Campus Murders Don't Phase(sic) Students ." Austin Post. August 25, 2010. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. Investigators concluded that the murder was the result of a drug deal debt, and Thompson and his two accomplices all pled guilty to murder and were convicted of the killings. Thompson received two (concurrent) life sentences and the two accomplices received 35-year and 50-year sentences. The murder resulted in media attention on the marijuana trade among young, college-educated people.
The victims Both Barnett and Goosey grew up in West University Place, a city within Greater Houston.Feldman, Claudia. "Drug allegations rock grieving West U families." Houston Chronicle. August 30, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. The parents of the couple lived within blocks of each other.Fikac, Peggy. "Police: UT alums from Houston may have known killer." Houston Chronicle. July 22, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. Goosey's father, Dr. John D. Goosey, is a Houston ophthalmologist.O'Hare, Peggy. "Austin police still searching for Houston couple's killer." Houston Chronicle. July 24, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. Goosey's mother, Claire Goosey, worked as a volunteer. John Goosey attended public elementary schools, Annunciation Orthodox School, and Lamar High School in Houston; he graduated from high school in August 2004. He attended the University of Texas after a transfer from the University of Houston. While Barnett (born September 5, 1986), who was a student at West University Elementary School and Lanier Middle School, - Obituary of Stacy Barnett also attended Lamar, they did not become friends until they attended University of Texas at Austin together.
Barnett began living in a West Campus apartment in summer 2008 and Goosey lived with her. Before the murders, both Barnett and Goosey had graduated, with Goosey obtaining bachelor's degrees in History and English in December 2008 and Barnett obtaining a bachelor's degree in architecture in May 2009. Goosey had plans to attend law school. The couple had been dating for two years and planned to marry. Goosey died at age 21 and Barnett died at age 22."2 men plead guilty to West Campus murders, sentenced ." KVUE. Friday April 8, 2011. Retrieved on February 17, 2013.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), Goosey worked as a midlevel marijuana distributor. Lieutenant Mark Spangler of the APD said that Goosey had a business relationship with Thompson for at least three years.Smith, Jordan. "West Campus Murder Motivated by Drug Debt." Austin Chronicle. Sunday July 26, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. police stated that they did not believe that Barnett was aware of her boyfriend's drug dealing,"Arrest made in couple's murder" (Archive). KTRK-TV. Sunday July 26, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. and that they believed that she did not use marijuana.Ratcliff, R.G. and Paige Hewitt. "Drugs may have led to Houston couple's slayings in Austin." Houston Chronicle. July 26, 2009. Retrieved on February 18, 2013. Anita Hassan, a staff reporter, contributed to this article. The article contains some material from the Austin American-Statesman. The landlord who owned the condominium where Goosey and Barnett lived said that, after smelling marijuana in her apartment and hearing Barnett telling him that her boyfriend had problems with drugs, he warned Barnett about the dangers of her boyfriend's lifestyle."Landlord feared for victim's safety" (Archive). KXAN. Monday July 27, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013.
The perpetrators James Richard "Ricky" Thompson Jr. is the son of parents who had divorced. His mother was an anthropology lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin who lived in the West Campus area, and he lived with her after his parents divorced. After his mother remarried, Thompson moved to Lakeway with his father. Thompson attended Austin High School in Austin and later Lake Travis High School. He dropped out of high school and worked several menial jobs. Thompson began distributing marijuana he received from Goosey. At the time of the murder, Thompson lived in a house on Alexandria Drive in South Austin.Smith, Jordan. "Double Murder: The Dark Side of Reefer Madness." Austin Chronicle. Friday July 31, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013.
The other two people involved were Roy M. RenickWolfson, Shannon and Pamela Cosel. "Plea deal reached in W. Campus murders." KXAN. Published Monday August 23, 2010. Updated Tuesday August 24, 2010. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. and Samuel Hadden Gifford.
According to police, Thompson owed $8,500 ($ when adjusted for inflation) to Goosey as part of a drug deal, and Thompson wished to erase the debt.
The murders On Tuesday, July 21, 2009,"Headlines". Austin Chronicle. Friday July 31, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. the murders occurred at Stacy Barnett's second floor apartment within the Preservation Square condominiums, located at 904 W. 21st Street, in the West Campus area in Austin, Texas.
Thompson arrived at 9:50 am that day. Police said that Thompson shot Goosey multiple times in the head, went upstairs, and shot Barnett twice in the head, including the face.Kreytak, Steven and Tony Plohteski. "Emotions raw after plea in West Campus murder case" (). Austin American-Statesman. Tuesday August 24, 2010. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. A police affidavit said that all three perpetrators agreed that Barnett, if present, "would be killed because she knew who Thompson was". After the couple was dead, Thompson retrieved his shell casings and smashed the victims' cell phones in an attempt to prevent police from tracing a phone call that he placed to Goosey before the killing. Thompson was picked up by the getaway driver at 10:12 am. Police said that Renick, who had helped plot and cover up the crime, served as the getaway driver.Kreytak, Steven. "Final conviction secured in West Campus slayings." Austin American-Statesman. April 8, 2011. Retrieved on February 18, 2013.
To prepare for the killings, according to Thompson, his accomplices helped him plot the crime. The group rearranged the furniture in Thompson's apartment to resemble the furniture in Barnett's apartment.Newton, Noelle. "Ricky Thompson pleads guilty in West Campus murder case ". KVUE. August 23, 2010. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. Renick designed a homemade silencer used by Thompson.
The police found no signs of forced entry into the Barnett residence.
Legal action Police received anonymous tips that correlated with leads and evidence. Using the tips, on the Friday after the killings, police searched Thompson's house, found marijuana, and arrested Thompson. Thompson admitted to being involved in the murders after being interviewed by police detectives. On Saturday July 25, 2009,Juarez, Leticia. "Drugs Involved In Murder of UT Couple." KIAH at the Chicago Tribune. July 26, 2009. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. Thompson was charged with two counts of capital murder.YNN Staff. "Two more convicted in West Campus double murder" (Archive). TWEAN d/b/a Your News Now (YNN) Austin. April 8, 2011. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. After his arrest, Thompson cooperated with police. He was held at the Travis County Jail.
In August 2010 Thompson pleaded guilty to killing Stacy Barnett. Thompson received a life sentence and will be eligible for parole in 2039. Thompson, had he not taken the pleas, would have faced the death penalty or life without parole for killing Barnett. As part of the plea deal, Thompson promised to testify against his two accomplices, in exchange for changing his plea for the Goosey murder to "guilty" and receiving a concurrent life sentence. If Thompson was not forthcoming, the prosecutor had the option of charging him for Goosey's murder and asking for the death penalty. As part of the deal, Thompson changed his plea in regards to the murder of Goosey to "guilty" and was eligible for a second life sentence running concurrently with the first life sentence. Perry Minton, Thompson's attorney, said "The evidence is overwhelming. Because of the evidence in this case, we believe that these two life sentences are the best that he could get."Musa, Aziza. "Suspect to Plead Guilty to 2009 West Campus Murders." The Daily Texan. Monday August 23, 2010. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. This also meant that Thompson did not receive capital punishment and life without parole penalties that could have resulted from being convicted of Goosey's murder.
Renick and Gifford were also charged with capital murder. On Friday, April 8, 2011, both had pleaded guilty to murder. Renick received a 35-year sentence, and Gifford received two concurrent 50 year sentences. Renick was 22 and Gifford was 20 when they pleaded guilty and were sentenced. Steven Brand, the prosecutor, said that Renick received a shorter sentence than the other two because of the information he gave to police and prosecutors.
, Thompson, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)#01661932 and State ID (SID)#08172250, is currently located in the Robertson Unit."Thompson, James Richard III" (Archive). Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on January 7, 2016. Renick, TDCJ#01709362 and SID#08664372, is currently located in the Eastham Unit."Renick, Roy" (Archive). Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. Gifford, TDCJ#01709305 and SID#08417157, is currently located in the Alfred Hughes Unit."Gifford, Samuel Hadden" (Archive). Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. A private vigil and viewing of the victims occurred in the George H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home in Memorial area of Houston on Sunday July 26, 2009. A joint funeral for Barnett and Goosey was scheduled to be held at the St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Houston on Monday July 27, 2009. The victims were buried together at the Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.
Before the information about Goosey's drug involvement surfaced, parents of University of Texas at Austin students felt concern for their children. After the murder occurred, the majority of students in the West Campus area and in the UT Austin area said that they did not feel concern about their safety.
Analysis Clete Snell, a criminal justice professor at the University of Houston–Downtown, said that violence is expected in instances where illegal drugs are involved but that "What makes this case unusual is the status of the people involved. Everyone is asking why a kid who seemed to have a bright future would get involved in this sort of thing." Snell said that many young people believe that the sale of illegal drugs is an easy method of generating income.