Maryland Woman Convicted of Killing and Dismembering Boyfriend, Faces up to 61 Years in Prison

Maryland woman convicted of killing and dismembering boyfriend, faces up to 61 years in prison. Family deprived of proper burial.

A Maryland woman has been convicted of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and the unauthorized disposal of a body in the death of her 50-year-old boyfriend, James Volodimir Nalborczyk. The conviction followed an eight-day trial and the verdict was announced this week by a Maryland jury.

Reporting the Missing

Nalborczyk's family first reported him missing on Dec. 21, 2022, stating that they had last seen him on Dec. 7 of the same year, according to the St. Mary's County State's Attorney's office.

Discovery of Homicide

Weeks later, the case evolved into a homicide investigation, and the suspect, 46-year-old Michelina Desiree Goodwin, was identified. She was later questioned by investigators in January 2023, during which she confessed to killing Nalborczyk after a domestic dispute at her home. Goodwin admitted to accidentally shooting and killing him, followed by dismembering his body and disposing of the remains in remote parts of St. Mary's and Charles counties, as stated by the authorities.

Reaction from Authorities

State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling described the crime as "horrifying" and stated that it had "shocked the community and caused unimaginable pain to the victim’s family." The verdict was reached after eight days, during which the victim’s family and the jury heard the graphic circumstances surrounding the victim’s final moments and gruesome post-mortem mutilation. Sterling also mentioned that the defendant’s actions deprived the family of a proper burial for the victim.