Fire Recruit's Body Found In Liberty Reservoir
WESTMINSTER, Md. (WJZ) -- The search for a missing Baltimore City fire recruit has ended in heartbreak. His body was discovered in a local reservoir Sunday morning. Now investigators are hoping an autopsy can help figure out how he died.
Derek Valcourt has more.
Accident, suicide, even murder. Police are looking into every possibility as the victim's family deals with the devastating news.
The body of Baltimore City fire recruit Rodney Goggins Jr. was pulled from the Liberty Reservoir three weeks after he disappeared. A boater made the discovery around 9 a.m. Sunday and called 911.
"He's always been a very bright, intelligent young man and that's what we want to remember about him," said Tonya Robinson, Goggins' godmother.
Richardson spoke on behalf of the distraught family, who spent weeks organizing a search for the missing 20-year-old after his abandoned car was discovered on the side of Liberty Road where it crosses the reservoir.
His mother Tracey said Goggins asked her to babysit his 7-month-old daughter while he went out on May 29. He hadn't been heard from since.
"To talk to your child one minute and the next minute not even know where he is. As a parent---I have a son myself---it's just hard to put into words the pain that Tracey and Rodney have been going through," Robinson said.
It was a shock to his family and to the city fire department, where Goggins was considered a standout recruit just two months into the five-month process of becoming a full-fledged firefighter.
"No doubt in my mind he would have been very successful," said Lloyd Carter, city fire department.
Goggins' griefstricken family is now focused on caring for his young daughter Ryan while they wait for investigators to figure out what happened.
"Although the outcome wasn't what we had prayed for and hoped for, we're just thankful that Rodney is home and that we can put him to rest and move forward," Robinson said.
Family members are planning a funeral. The fire department plans to honor him as they would any active duty firefighter.
Carroll County detectives in charge of the case will be observing the autopsy as they try to figure out the cause of death.
Family members have set up a benefit account for Rodney Goggins Jr. at Wachovia Banks in order to help support his infant daughter. They're asking for donations in lieu of flowers.
