Glen Stewart Godwin (born June 26, 1958) is an American fugitive and convicted murderer who was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on December 7, 1996, nine years after he escaped from Folsom State Prison in Folsom, California, where he was serving a 26-years-to-life sentence. He replaced O'Neil Vassell on the list, and was the first colored photo used on the list. However, he was dropped from the list on May 19, 2016.
| Glen Stewart Godwin | |
|---|---|
 Photograph taken in 1991 | |
| FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive | |
| Charges |
|
| Reward | $20,000 |
| Alias |
|
| Description | |
| Born | June 26, 1958[1] Miami, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Race | White[1] |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 178 lb (81 kg) |
| Occupation | Self-employed in tool supplies, Mechanic, Construction worker |
| Status | |
| Convictions | Murder (1983) robbery (1983) attempted escape (1987) drug trafficking (1991) |
| Penalty | 26 years to life (1983) 7 years in prison (1991) |
| Added | December 7, 1996 |
| Removed | May 19, 2016 |
| Number | 447 |
| Removed from Top Ten Fugitive List | |
Early years
editGlen Godwin was born June 26, 1958, in Miami, Florida. In the 1960s, his family moved to California and resided in Palm Springs, Riverside County, California.[2] Godwin attended Palm Springs High School, which he graduated in 1975.[3] Godwin did well at school[4] and played on trumpet for many years in the school brass band.[5][6]
Murder of Kim LeValley
editIn 1980, Godwin was living in Palm Springs, California, working as a self-employed tool salesman, a mechanic, and a construction worker, with no discernible criminal history. Godwin and his roommate, Frank Soto, Jr., planned to rob a drug dealer and pilot, Kim Robert LeValley, who was once a friend of theirs.[7] Godwin and Soto lured LeValley back to their condominium where Soto held him, Godwin punched and kicked him, tried to strangle him,[8] then ultimately stabbed LeValley 26 times with a knife.[9] After the murder, Godwin and Soto loaded the body into a truck and set off for the desert. Godwin tried to blow up the evidence by using homemade explosives strapped to the body. The explosion was intended to disguise the murder of LeValley.[10] On August 3, 1980, some Eagle Mountain residents found a blown-up pickup truck with remains of a human body inside of it abandoned in the desert.[9]
Later, police identified the body and charged Godwin with first-degree murder. Although Soto testified against Godwin, Soto was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder in 1982.[8][11] Godwin was sentenced for the murder and robbery[12] to 26 years to life in prison in 1983.
Escape from Folsom State Prison
editIn 1987, Godwin attempted to escape during his incarceration at Deuel Vocational Institute in California, and he was moved to Folsom State Prison, a maximum-security prison. Authorities believe Godwin's wife Shelly Rose Godwin and his former cellmate in Deuel, Lorenz Karlic, helped to plan his escape.[11]
A hacksaw and other tools had been smuggled into the prison for Godwin. On June 5, 1987, he cut a hole through fence wire and escaped into a storm drain that emptied into the American River. Godwin dropped through a manhole and crawled 750 feet (230 m) through the pitch-black drain. An accomplice, suspected to be either Godwin's wife or Karlic, had left a raft that Godwin used to float down the river, following painted arrows on rocks that directed him where to go.[11]
In June 1987, Karlic was arrested in Hesperia, California[13] and convicted for aiding Godwin's escape.[14] Karlic died by suicide on February 12, 2002, while in custody at Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles, California.[15] He had previously been arrested after a foot chase with deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He had been convicted in January 2002 of eight charges related to the pursuit which took place in La Crescenta in April 2001. Karlic was scheduled to be sentenced on February 25, 2002.[15]
In January 1988, Shelly Godwin was classified as a federal fugitive for her role in her husband's escape. She was captured by the FBI in Dallas, Texas, on February 7, 1990.[16]
Capture and escape
editGodwin fled to Mexico, where he unsuccessfully participated in the illegal drug trade. He was arrested in Puerto Vallarta,[17] later convicted for drug trafficking in Guadalajara, Mexico, and sentenced to seven years and six months[18] to Puente Grande prison in 1991. While American authorities were working on Godwin's extradition proceedings, he allegedly killed a member of a Mexican drug cartel in prison. The new murder allegation delayed his extradition, which gave Godwin more time to execute another escape, which occurred in September 1991.[11]
Godwin is currently believed to be involved in the illicit drug trade somewhere in Latin America, having possibly used aliases such as Dennis Harold McWilliams, Nigel Lopez and Miguel Carrera.[12] He is considered to be armed and extremely dangerous, and an obvious flight risk. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Godwin's capture.[11]
He was removed from the Most Wanted List in May 2016 with the FBI director declaring that "We think the payoff from the publicity has diminished over time".[19]
In popular culture
editOn March 15, 2021, Godwin was featured on the first episode of the revival of America's Most Wanted.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "GLEN STEWART GODWIN". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ "Godwin seeks reduced bail. 26 May 1982".
- ^ "Palm Springs High School. Yearbook 1975. Page 14. Glen Godwin".
- ^ "Palm Springs High School Honor Roll is Posted. 31 July 1975".
- ^ "Members Are Listed In High School Band. 23 March 1974".
- ^ "WINNING TEAM Palm Springs schools won their second major title in a month. 30 March 1973".
- ^ "Former valley man on local, federal most wanted list" (Fee required). The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, California. June 11, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
- ^ a b Brummond, Sabrina (January 6, 2005). "Drama, agony relived at parole hearings". Riverside, California: PE.com Southern California News. Archived from the original on August 12, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
- ^ a b Kubelek, Greg (July 24, 1987). "Ex-detective hopes fugitive doesn't keep promise he made in 1981". Blythe, California: Palo Verde Valley Times. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
- ^ "Fourth Suspect in Irvine Man's Killing Surrenders". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 30, 1981. Archived from the original (Fee required) on January 31, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Underwood, Melissa (January 28, 2008). "Glen Stewart Godwin Wanted for Murder, Escape From Prison". New York City: Fox News. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
- ^ a b McDonald, R. Robin (October 27, 1996). "Most Wanted" (Fee required). Atlanta, Georgia: The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
- ^ "Suspected Helper in Prison Escape Seized". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. June 9, 1987. Archived from the original (Fee required) on October 24, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
- ^ Cooper, Anderson (January 28, 2008). "The Hunt for the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" Fugitives". New York City: CNN. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
- ^ a b Hoffman, Gretchen (February 15, 2002). "Man found hanged in cell". Glendale News-Press. Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ "Shelly Godwin Captured in Dallas". America's Most Wanted. January 25, 2007. Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
- ^ Wire, From (December 8, 1996). "Escaped Killer, Dealer, Joins 10 Most Wanted" (Fee required). The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
- ^ "One Fugitive from Folsom Still Loose" (Fee required). The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. April 3, 1992. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
- ^ Don Babwin. FBI adds LA and Chicago area suspects to 10 Most Wanted list Archived 2016-05-21 at the Wayback Machine Associated Press.
- ^ "America's Most Wanted | Premieres March 15 at 9/8c on FOX". Fox Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.