For Immediate Release January 8, 2009
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325
Chambers Pleads Guilty To His Role In Alleged Perjury Conspiracy In Connection With Investigation Into 1993 Unsolved Murder
Agrees To Cooperate In Full With Commonwealth
WOBURN – A Woburn man has pleaded guilty to his role in an alleged perjury conspiracy in connection with the investigation into the 1993 unsolved murder of Dr. Linda Goudey, 42, of Stoneham.
Richard Chambers, 45, a former patient and friend of Dr. Timothy Stryker, pleaded guilty today in Woburn Superior Court to 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. Sentencing was continued until the resolution of the Commonwealth’s case against Stryker. In exchange for Chambers’ commitment to cooperate in full with the Commonwealth in its case vs. Stryker, the District Attorney’s Office has agreed not to recommend committed time.
Stryker, 56, has also been indicted in connection with the alleged conspiracy. He was indicted on July 18, 2008, 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 at his Stoneham medical office on July 21, 2008, at approximately 11 a.m. by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. He was arraigned that day and ordered held on $100,000 cash bail. Stryker later posted bail.
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.
Stryker’s case is currently scheduled for trial on April 21.
“Two of the three members of the alleged perjury conspiracy have now admitted their involvement, accepted responsibility, and are cooperating in full,” District Attorney Leone said. “We now continue to move forward with our case against Mr. Stryker.”
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. Stryker, Goudey’s boyfriend at the time of her death, has remained a suspect throughout the entirety of the homicide investigation.
On June 16, 2006, a jury returned a civil verdict finding Stryker responsible for the wrongful death of 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, Chambers and others to appear before a Grand Jury investigating the veracity of Pizzano’s affidavit in the motion for new trial as it related to 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 alleged that Stryker enlisted Chambers to recruit Pizzano in an effort to tell a concocted alibi story. At Stryker’s direction, the story was supplied to Pizzano by Chambers regarding the night that Dr. Goudey was murdered. In exchange, Stryker told Pizzano and Chambers that there would be thousands of dollars in it for both them. Stryker indicated that the money would not be available until he and his finances were freed from the civil judgment.
Telephone records indicate numerous conversations between Stryker, Chambers and Pizzano at critically important junctions, including the period before the filing of the motion for new trial and the following related court hearings.
Following that investigation, Pizzano recanted his story and testified to the Grand Jury that he swore to and delivered the alibi story as part of a scheme that was concocted and orchestrated by Stryker using Chambers.
Chambers too has now recanted and admitted to the facts as outlined by the Commonwealth about his involvement in this scheme with Pizzano and Stryker, and that he and Pizzano were used by Stryker to commit perjury.
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
June, 2008 Pizzano recants and agrees to cooperate with the Commonwealth re: his involvement with Stryker and Chambers
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.
July, 2008 Chambers recants and agrees to cooperate with the Commonwealth in full re: his involvement with Stryker and Pizzano
January 8, 2009 Chambers pleads guilty to his role in conspiring with Stryker and Pizzano to provide false information to a Grand Jury.
April 21, 2009 Trial scheduled in case of Commonwealth vs. Timothy Stryker
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