A Texas woman has been taken into custody after authorities accused her of shooting her common-law husband to death and attempting to flee the scene using a kayak.
Texas woman on the hook for murder
Faith Paige Goynes, 40, from Texas, faces charges of murder and arson after law enforcement discovered the body of her partner, Tomas Calavera Jr., 30, in his San Antonio home.
The investigation started when Calavera’s father was officially informed by the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office following a welfare check requested by Calhoun County authorities.
When he went to see his son at his home, Calavera’s father was unable to find him and called the police.
Deputies from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office later searched the home, where they located Calavera’s body inside a closet. He was killed by a gunshot wound to the face.
Further inquiry linked Goynes to the incident after she allegedly set a 2024 GMC pickup truck on fire in Port O’Connor, which is around 150 miles away from their home.
An affidavit tied to her arrest affidavit detailed that Calavera’s truck was severely damaged by flames. A yellow gas can along with a lighter were found near the area of the burned vehicle.
A witness came forward claiming they saw a woman, identified as Goynes, trying to put out flames on herself as she was walking from the burning truck.
Texas woman caught with victim’s ID
Later, deputies along with an officer from Texas Parks and Wildlife located Goynes, who was attempting to escape by paddling away in a kayak.
She had substantial burns on her right hand and was found in possession of Calavera’s ID when they took her into custody.
During an interview with law enforcement, Goynes admitted to shooting Calavera, stealing his truck, and setting it ablaze. Officials arrested her in Calhoun County on Monday.
Goynes now faces allegations of murder and arson that caused either serious injury or death, and she is currently being held in the Calhoun County Jail.
Meanwhile, across the country, a Florida man who confessed to repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will serve six decades in prison.
Steven Joseph Cozens, 27, was initially arrested on August 28, 2022, after police discovered his girlfriend’s body wrapped in a sheet beneath a bed at a Bradenton motel, America’s Best Value Inn.
Her identity remains undisclosed due to Florida’s Marsy’s Law, which grants victims rights regarding anonymity.
The incident came to light when hotel housekeeping staff found the body and contacted law enforcement.
Cozens was later located near the crime scene and informed of his Miranda rights before openly admitting to the murder.
Florida man confesses to murder
According to WFLA, a local NBC affiliate, Cozens confessed to the killing, stating he had stabbed his girlfriend “a lot.”
Reports suggest that the fatal altercation erupted following a verbal dispute between the couple, who had been living at the hotel at the time.
Cozens said that he stabbed her multiple times during the confrontation. Afterward, he wrapped her body in a sheet in an attempt to disguise what had happened but fled the motel without much success.
Cozens was held without bail for over a year prior to being indicted on January 17, 2023, for first-degree murder.
Although his trial was initially scheduled for December 16, he entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder with a weapon three days later.
A judge sentenced him to 60 years in prison while also granting credit for his time already served. Cozens has 30 days to file an appeal if he wishes.
Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O’Donnell praised the swift actions taken by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit in apprehending Cozens.
She stated, “Due to the excellent work of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit, the defendant was apprehended within hours of this murder and made a full confession. This sentence will not bring Jennifer back but hopefully it will provide some comfort to her family.”
