The second area man charged with murder in the death of a Vermilion man nearly two years ago will spend over 20 years in prison for the crime.
The Marshall County Attorney’s Office says Jefferson Goad received 23 years, nine months after pleading no contest to second-degree murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and arson in the death of 83-year-old Donald McLaughlin in early 2020.
Goad’s sentence follows one for Melvern resident Jeremy Penix II, who received 25 years with no chance of parole on a charge of first-degree murder in McLaughlin’s death.
McLaughlin’s body was found in his burned-out home, starting a multi-agency investigation at the county and state level that ultimately led to the arrests of Goad and Penix.
