IHRA - International Hot Rod Association Drag Racing

"48 HOURS" Examines The 14-Year Murder Mystery Of Legendary Racecar Driver Mickey Thompson And His Wife On Monday, May 20
Suspect is Arrested and the Trial is Set to Begin This July
May 16, 2002

CBS News - Legendary racecar driver Mickey Thompson literally lived his life in the fast lane, setting almost 400 speed records, until March 16, 1988, when he and his wife, Trudy, were brutally shot and killed in their driveway, in San Gabriel Valley, Calif., by two men. Bill Lagatutta interviews Thompson's sister, Collene Campbell, who has always believed Thompson's business partner, Michael Goodwin, was responsible. Goodwin was arrested in December 2001 for the murders, but tells Lagattuta he's an innocent victim of a 14-year vendetta by Campbell. 48 HOURS: "Murder in the Fast Lane" will be broadcast Monday, May 20 (10:00-11:00 PM, EDT/PDT) on the CBS Television Network.

In 1978, Thompson brought outdoor car racing to indoor stadiums. Goodwin was doing the same, but for motorcycles. They went into business together, but quickly had conflict. Goodwin tells 48 HOURS, "[The business] was truly hell from the first day." Campbell says her brother told her that Goodwin stole $50,000 from him. And, Shirley Brown, Thompson's bookkeeper, says she received complaints from contractors who weren't being paid by Thompson and Goodwin. Goodwin denies stealing company money and insists the problem was Thompson, who wouldn't live up to the deal. Later, Thompson took Goodwin to court, claiming he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the business. Thompson won a $514,000 judgment against Goodwin, who declared bankruptcy and refused to pay.

Campbell says that after Goodwin lost the legal battle, her brother told her he was concerned that Goodwin was going to hurt his wife, Trudy. Bill Wilson, a retired police officer, remembers Goodwin telling him, "I'm gonna take [Thompson] out. [The police] won't catch me. I'm too smart for that." Thompson and Trudy were murdered about two weeks later. Goodwin denies that he ever made any threats against Thompson and points out that Wilson didn't bring the alleged threats to the police at the time of the murders.

Goodwin has been the lead suspect -- accused of hiring the hit men who got away – but says he had nothing to do with the murders. Goodwin's former assistant and friend, Linda Terbush, says, "He's incapable of that kind of act [murder]. He's incapable of thinking that way." Goodwin says Campbell, former mayor of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., has used her political influence unfairly to make him the target of an investigation that has ruined his life. Campbell says, "I'm on a crusade to get whoever killed Mickey and Trudy. If that happens to be Michael Goodwin, then I certainly hope they get him."

48 HOURS: "Murder in the Fast Lane" is produced by Abra Potkin and Jamie Stolz. The senior producer is Katie Boyle, the executive editor is Al Briganti and the executive producer is Susan Zirinsky.

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