LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) -
An East Texas man has plead guilty to the murder of his wife, an off duty police officer.
Harry Goodan was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday afternoon. He's accused of shooting his wife, Longview police officer Jamie Ellyn Goodan. Officer Goodan was found shot to death in her apartment in December 2010.
Ellyn's father, Jim Price, told us in December 2010 that the family forgave Harry Goodan, and that the Harry he knew would never intentionally hurt his daughter.
"No, no, no, no. I would never see Harry as intentionally doing this at all, but when you're in a married situation and their marriage was failing. He realized that he didn't want to lose his wife or his family," Price said."When you get in that situation and you're arguing with your loved one nothing brings out your temper or anger better than in a battle with someone you love. I think it escalated to a point to where that's what happened. I know that he would never come out and do anything intentional to his wife he because he's lost his whole world."
No one could be more devastated by officer Jamie Ellyn Goodan's death than her close friend and neighbor Elfriede Hall.
"Since we've become friends , we visited frequently. I think every woman needs a lady friend to talk to. I probably more or less was her grandmother," Hall said.
The two had a friendship forged through years, with Goodan often caring for Hall when she was ill.
"I would call Ellyn and she would be here in no time, and she would sit with me for hours. She was so thoughtful and she cared for people," she said.
Neighbors said the Goodans were going through marital troubles. The day of the shooting, Hall knew something was wrong.
"I couldn't believe it. Then I saw all the police officers in the back of Ellyn's apartment. I said, 'is it Ellyn?' He said, 'Yes.' I asked, 'how bad is it?' He said, 'She's gone,'" Hall said.
Goodan will be eligible for parole after 10 years. He will also get credit for time served.
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Harry Goodan
Jaimie Ellyn Goodan
