MINOT – Jurors saw a series of graphic photographs on the big screen in front of them during afternoon testimony Wednesday at the Ward County Courthouse..
On trial for the murder of Wade Goodale, 42, Minot, on February 24, 2022, is Mathew Anderson, 34, Minot. Regina Goodale is charged with Accomplice to Murder. Both are AA felonies punishable by up to life in prison without parole.
Witness Mikali Talbott, working investigations for Minot Police at the time of Wade Goodale’s murder, testified as to photographs she took of various aspects of the crime. Included were graphic pictures of the deceased victim, showing injury to his left cheekbone and a wound to his abdomen which Talbott said “appeared to be a gunshot wound.”
“It appeared to have been a close contact wound. It’s blackened around the wound,” responded Talbott when asked to describe the close-up photograph to the court.
Also shown to the jury were two wounds to the back of Wade Goodale’s head.
“The back part of his head had been split open and there was a second laceration behind his ear, potentially caused by blunt force trauma,” stated Talbott.
Talbott testified that she photographed a 9-millimeter shell casing on the passenger floorboard of the vehicle in which Wade Goodale was killed. Jurors were also shown photographs of Anderson’s hands taken at the police station following the early morning incident. His right hand showed several injuries and spots of dried blood.
Talbott said she processed Anderson’s Dodge Ram pickup for additional evidence later that morning.
“I found what I believed to be blood on the inside of the driver’s door,” said Talbott while looking at a photograph being shown to the jury.
Additional photographs showed various blood spots throughout the vehicle and also the discovery of a 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol wedged behind the back seat.
“There was a bullet in the chamber and spots of blood on the gun,” said Talbott.
The State’s case continued with the calling to the stand of Kenton Kossen. Kossen was working as a Property and Evidence Officer at the time of the murder. Among the work he did was photograph possible blood stains on the jeans worn by Anderson at the time of the crime and personally taking them for further analysis to the State Crime Lab in Bismarck.
Other testimony Wednesday included video of the crime scene during the early morning of February 24, 2023. According to an affidavit filed with the court, Wade Goodale was lured to a home in southeast Minot where his vehicle was blocked in a driveway by Anderson prior to a beating and murder.
How long the State will take to present its case is not clear, but the witness list is lengthy. Testimony Wednesday included witness Whitney Racine who previously pled guilty to Accomplice to Murder for her role in arranging for Wade Goodale to come to the murder scene. She was sentenced to 18 months in the State Penitentiary with the stipulation that she cooperate with the State in providing testimony in the current case.
The defense will present their case upon the conclusion of the State’s efforts. The trial is expected to last until next week.
