U.S. Open Referee, 70, Arrested In NYC For Alleged Murder Of Her Husband, 80
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A U.S. Open referee was arrested Tuesday for allegedly murdering her husband in Los Angeles.
The LAPD said that Alan Frederick Goodman, 80, was found dead at his Woodland Hills home on April 17.
According to CBSLosAngeles.com, investigators initially believed he had fallen down stairs.
WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reports
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Following an investigation, the L.A. County District Attorney filed a murder arrest warrant for his 70-year-old wife, Lois, who called paramedics on the day of her husband's death. At the time the warrant was issued, Lois Goodman was officiating U.S. Open qualifying tennis matches.
Officials now believe Goodman "bludgeoned her husband to death with a coffee mug," CBS 2's Jessica Schneider reported.
"The story of him falling down the stairs, although it may have occurred, it didn't fit the evidence at scene," said the LAPD's Dave Storaker.
People who live next to the couple's apartment in California said police knocked on their doors the night of Alan Goodman's death.
"They asked about arguing, fighting," Karen Clave said.
Members of the LAPD, working with NYPD officers, made the arrest Tuesday outside the Sheraton Hotel on 7th Avenue in Midtown just before 8 a.m. Lois Goodman was led out of a police precinct in the afternoon wearing her referee gear.
"We located Lois Goodman as she was exiting her hotel to proceed to the U.S. Open where she is reffing that match or different matches there," Det. Dave Peteque of the LAPD told CBS 2.
Goodman, who calls herself "Lolo," stood with a stunned expression before a Manhattan judge on Tuesday night, straining to hear the murder charge against her. Detectives in Los Angeles said they have a motive for the murder, but they aren't releasing the details.
Goodman has waived extradition and will head back to Los Angeles for arraignment on murder charges. That process, however, will take several days.
Back in California, neighbors displayed stunned sadness when told of the accusations.
"I can't believe it I'm shocked," neighbor Julie Stein said.
The U.S. Tennis Association said Goodman worked the U.S. Open tournament for many years. Over her decades officiating, Goodman has shared the court with some of the world's top players. She's called faults on everyone from Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe, to Andre Agassi to Pete Sampras.
In a 1994 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Goodman called tennis her favorite sport, saying "I'm out there rubbing shoulders with the best players. There's no real way to describe it."
If convicted of these charges, she could face life in prison.
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