For Immediate Release July 21, 2008
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325
Stryker Arrested For Alleged Perjury Conspiracy In Connection With Investigation Into 1993 Unsolved Murder
Defendant To Be Arraigned This Afternoon In Woburn Superior Court
WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today that a Winchester man has been indicted and arrested for allegedly conspiring to suborn perjury in connection with the investigation into the 1993 unsolved murder of Dr. Linda Goudey, 42, of Stoneham.
Timothy Stryker, 56, was indicted on Friday by a Middlesex County Grand Jury on one count of conspiracy to commit subornation of perjury, seven counts of subornation of perjury, one count of willfully misleading a police officer, and three counts of conveying something of value to a witness. Stryker was arrested outside his house at approximately 11 a.m. by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
Stryker, Goudey’s boyfriend at the time of her death, has remained a suspect throughout the entirety of the homicide investigation.
Richard Chambers, 44, a patient of Dr. Stryker, was also indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit subornation of perjury, three counts of subornation of perjury, four counts of perjury, three counts of willfully misleading a police officer, and two counts of conveying something of value to a witness. Chambers was arrested over the weekend by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
Stryker and Chambers will be arraigned this afternoon at 2 p.m. in Woburn Superior Courtroom 440.
The subornation of perjury charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in State Prison and the conspiracy to commit subornation of perjury charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in State Prison.
“We allege that these defendants committed the most serious of frauds upon the court and frustrated our efforts to determine who killed Linda Goudey in the process,” District Attorney Leone said. “We allege that Tim Stryker and Richard Chambers formed an agreement to deceive, and then sought out a potential witness to lie and swear to a false alibi.”
Leone, who as a Middlesex Assistant District Attorney investigated the murder of Dr. Goudey back in the 1990s, added “This investigation is part of a decade-old promise I made to Linda’s family that we would do everything we could to unravel the truths around her murder. Our investigation will continue into this matter and the unsolved homicide.”
According to authorities, on September 30, 1993, Dr. Linda Goudey was last seen at New England Memorial Hospital in Stoneham where she worked as a high-risk obstetrician. On October 4, 1993, Goudey was found dead, covered in a blanket in her Saab at the hospital’s parking lot.
An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (ME) ruled the death a homicide caused by manual strangulation.
Stoneham police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office commenced a criminal investigation into the circumstances of the murder. That investigation is ongoing.
On June 16, 2006, a jury returned a civil verdict finding Stryker responsible for the wrongful death of Linda Goudey. Stryker was ordered to Goudey’s family more than $7 million, which has increased to over $15 million dollars with interest since that time.
On March 26, 2007, Stryker filed a motion for new trial in the civil case. The motion included an affidavit from a new witness, Craig Pizzano, who was 18 years old in 1993. Pizzano claimed to have seen Goudey in her Saab in the parking lot of New England Memorial Hospital on the evening that she had last been seen. He claimed that he saw her in the car with a man who looked like “Boomer Esiason,” former Jets and Bengals quarterback in the National Football League, and not someone who looked like Stryker. Pizzano claimed that the reason he came forward more than 13 years after her death was because he read about the civil verdict and, after he heard about O.J. Simpson writing a book and making money off of his own murder trial, Pizzano wanted to “clear an innocent man.”
Later in 2007, Leone called Pizzano and others to appear before a Grand Jury investigating the unsolved murder of Dr. Goudey.
An extensive investigation ensued, including witness interviews and analysis of telephone records, financial statements, and computer records.
The indictments allege that Chambers and Stryker enlisted Pizzano in an effort to tell an alibi story, supplied by Stryker and Chambers, regarding the night that Dr. Goudey was murdered. In exchange, Pizzano was told that Stryker indicated that there would be thousands of dollars in it for both him and Chambers. Stryker indicated that the money would not be available until he was freed up from the civil judgment.
Telephone records indicate numerous conversations between Stryker, Chambers and Pizzano at critically important junctions, including before the filing of the motion for new trial and afterwards.
Following that investigation, Pizzano recanted his story and testified to the Grand Jury that he delivered the alibi story as part of a scheme that was concocted and orchestrated by Stryker and Chambers.
Leone has made the investigation of unsolved homicides a priority in his office, creating an unsolved homicide system in which new ADAs are assigned to take a fresh look at older cases and determine if new developments and technologies can help solve them.
The case is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone. The victim witness advocate is Anne Foley.
Timeline of Investigation Into 1993 Homicide of Dr. Linda Goudey
September 30, 1993 Dr. Linda Goudey last seen alive at New England Memorial Hospital in Stoneham
October 4, 1993 Dr. Linda Goudey found strangled to death in her Saab in parking lot at New England Memorial Hospital
October 4, 1993 – present Criminal investigation pending. Timothy Stryker, Dr. Goudey’s boyfriend at the time, has remained a suspect throughout.
June 16, 2006 Civil verdict returned against Stryker in a wrongful death suit brought by Goudey’s family. Stryker was ordered to pay the family more than $15 million (including interest) as a result of the verdict.
March 26, 2007 Motion for new trial filed by Stryker in civil case. Motion included affidavit from a new witness, Craig Pizzano, who came forward claiming to have seen Goudey parked in car with a man who looked like “Boomer Esiason” just prior to her death.
October 2007 Leone convenes Grand Jury
July 17, 2008 Timothy Stryker and Richard Chambers indicted in connection with their role in procuring and conspiring with Pizzano to provide false information to a Grand Jury.
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For Immediate Release: December 20, 2007
Contact:
Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia (MDAO) 781-897-8325
Deputy Robert DeMoura (Lowell PD) 978-937-3200
Reward Offered For Information That Leads To Arrests In Two Unsolved Lowell Homicides
LOWELL – Crime Stoppers of Lowell will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s) responsible for the unsolved homicide of Hermes Pena and Augusto Degree, Lowell Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee and Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced today.
Speaking at a joint press conference at the Lowell Police Department, the District Attorney and Superintendent Lavallee announced the reward offerings in connection with two homicides:
· Hermes Pena, age 60, found on Appleton Street in Lowell on February 28, 2006
· Augusto Degree, age 19, found in a second floor apartment of 251 Central Street in Lowell on December 15, 2006
“These continue to be active homicide investigations and we are asking the public for their help in attempting to solve these two murders,” District Attorney Leone said. “I know our office and the Lowell Police will not give up until we have arrested the people responsible for these crimes, and we hope that these rewards will help lead to someone coming forward to assist us in our investigation.”
“The Lowell Police Department and the District Attorney Office continues to actively investigate both homicides. We understand the pain and anguish both families have endured. We will not rest until the perpetrators of both homicides are brought to justice,” Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee stated.
Below are details on each case:
Hermes Pena
At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2006, Lowell Police responded to a parking lot on Appleton Street for a report of an unconscious man. Upon arrival at the scene, they found Pena, evidencing multiple physical injuries. He was transported to Saints Memorial Hospital in Lowell, and later to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. On Wednesday, March 8, 2006, Pena was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital. On March 9, 2006, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (ME) completed its autopsy of Pena and ruled the death a homicide caused by head trauma. At this time, Police believe that Pena was severely beaten.
Augusto Degree
At approximately 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2006, Lowell Police responded to the second floor apartment of 251 Central Street in Lowell for a report of an unresponsive male. Upon arrival at the scene, police found the victim unconscious. He was immediately transported to Lowell General Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. On December 16, the ME completed its autopsy of Degree and ruled the death to be a homicide by gunshot wound to the chest.
Crime Stoppers of Lowell, Inc. will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s) responsible for the unsolved homicide of Hermes Pena and Augusto Degree. If you have any information on this or any other crime, please call: 978-459-TIPS (8477).
All callers remain anonymous. You will be assigned a code number. If the tip results in an arrest, the tipster can present the code number to a designated bank and then, if confirmed, is paid a cash reward.
Members of the public with information can also call the Lowell Police Department at 978-937-3242 or State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office at (617) 679-6600.
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