Arrest Made in Thompson Slayings

Orange County prosecutors have filed murder charges against a businessman long suspected of masterminding the 1988 execution-style slaying of racing legend Mickey Thompson and his wife, authorities said Thursday.

With pistols drawn, sheriff’s deputies broke down the door of the Dana Point trailer belonging to Thompson’s former partner, Michael F. Goodwin, about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

It marks the second time police arrested Goodwin this year; in August, he was temporarily taken into custody and placed in a lineup before witnesses.

Goodwin, 56, is accused of furnishing Thompson’s killers with a stun-gun and a firearm for what is known as one of Southern California’s enduring murder mysteries. Authorities also allege in court documents that Goodwin lay in wait for Thompson and hoped to gain financially from the murder.

Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty against Goodwin, who has long maintained his innocence. Neither he nor his attorney could be reached for comment Thursday.

John Bradley, a television producer who has worked with both Goodwin and Thompson, said he believes that Goodwin is innocent and that detectives assigned to the case have had tunnel vision.

“I think they are investigating these murders to convict Goodwin, not to find the murderers,” Bradley said. “It’s sick what is happening now. I absolutely believe that Mike did not do it.”

Thompson’s sister, who has publicly named Goodwin as the prime suspect in her brother’s death, said she never gave up hope that his killer would one day be brought to justice but felt mixed emotions at news of the arrest.

“It’s always a realization that it doesn’t change anything,” said Collene Campbell, a prominent victim-rights activist. “There is no closure for anybody who’s had somebody murdered.”

Authorities declined to explain what prompted Thursday’s arrest, which had been scheduled for this morning but was moved up when word of the plan leaked out. The move comes amid a renewed investigation into the slayings.

Earlier this year, the Orange County Grand Jury heard testimony from witnesses to the killings. And in August, Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives arrested Goodwin but released him a day later. During his brief stint in jail, Goodwin was placed in a lineup in which two witnesses allegedly identified him.

Thompson, the first American to break the 400-mph land speed mark, was slain in March 1988 in front of his 13-car garage as he and his wife left their home in the upscale community of Bradbury in the San Gabriel Valley.

Witnesses told police they saw two men flee on 10-speed bicycles. The killers didn’t take anything from the house or from the couple, who had nearly $70,000 in jewelry and $4,000 cash on them.

Ruling out robbery as a motive, investigators quickly targeted Goodwin as a prime suspect. He and Thompson had recently dissolved their partnership during a bitter feud over finances.

Goodwin lost a $531,000 legal battle with his former partner when a judge ruled he had misappropriated Thompson’s investments in various joint business dealings. Goodwin was forced to file for bankruptcy soon afterward.

For more than a decade after the murder, investigators in Los Angeles and Orange counties chased down more than 1,000 clues--most of them leading nowhere. Thompson’s sister put up a $1-million reward for information about the murder. But the case grew cold.

In 1998, however, Orange County prosecutors announced they had been asked to help out because Los Angeles detectives believed the murder plot was in their jurisdiction. Three years later, Goodwin was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.

But Goodwin and his lawyers have waged their own publicity battle to counter the allegations, accusing detectives of locking in on him to the exclusion of other potential suspects.

In recent weeks, Goodwin promoted a theory to reporters that Thompson was under investigation by federal drug authorities at the time of his death. The former race car driver, he alleged, was also tied up with loan sharks. And Goodwin said Thompson had taken to wearing a bulletproof vest because of his troubles.

On Thursday, Orange County district attorney spokeswoman Tori Richards called that theory ridiculous.

“If we thought drug dealers had killed Mr. Thompson, then we wouldn’t be looking at Mr. Goodwin,” Richards said.

Murder charges were filed Dec. 6, but authorities said more work needs to be done on the case. Detectives are still hunting for the triggermen as well as a faded green or blue Chevy Malibu station wagon that was seen in the neighborhood several days before the slayings. The people inside the car were possibly “casing the Thompson residence prior to the murders,” sheriff’s officials said.

“We are still actively seeking to identify the two gunmen,” said sheriff’s Det. Mark Lillienfeld. “We believe they are not from the Southern California area.”

Neighbors in Goodwin’s mobile home park on Del Obispo Street said investigators remained at his trailer late Thursday evening, apparently searching the home.

“There’s a lot of stuff in there,” neighbor Thomas Allen said. “He’s got papers and books stacked to the ceiling in every room. He’s kind of a pack rat.”

Goodwin is being held without bail at Orange County Jail in Santa Ana. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

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Times staff writer Jeff Gottlieb contributed to this report.