COURTLAND, Va. — Court documents related to the case of Cynthia Carver, a mother who disappeared from Southampton County and whom detectives found murdered, said she had the DNA of her accused killer under her fingernail.
Investigators arrested James Goodwyn, Jr., 39, of Virginia Beach for the killing. He's charged with First Degree Murder.
Court paperwork stated that Goodwyn contacted Carver through Facebook Messenger in February, the month in which she disappeared. When detectives confronted Goodwyn about it on March 6, they said he lied about his contact with Carver. Investigators took a DNA sample from Goodwyn. They planned to use it to compare to items found at Carver's home in Newsoms.
Detectives said his DNA was on the underside of Carver's right fingernail. They made the match after they found her body in Suffolk in March.
Carver was last was seen alive on February 21, when she dropped her children off at a babysitter's house. Documents said that when deputies went to Carver’s home, they found blood on clothes, sheets, the floor, and in the driveway. Footprints also were at the crime scene.
Court documents said investigators compared the footprints to Goodwyn's Nike shoes. An analysis by the Norfolk Forensic Laboratory said the footwear impressions are similar to the design, physical size, and shape of Goodwyn's shoes.
The paperwork also stated that Carver's children overheard Carver refer to Goodwyn as "Little James." Goodwyn acknowledged that he goes by the nickname of "Baby James."
Cynthia Carver’s mother, Ann Carver said that she’s just glad investigators have Goodwyn in custody.
"I'm glad he's behind bars. I appreciate all of the media and law enforcement, I'm thankful for all of the help and support,” said Ann Carver.
Ann Carver said that she just wants answers from the man accused of killing her daughter.
"I hope he confesses. I just want to know why he did it, and I just want to know why,” said Ann Carver.
Another family member of Cynthia Carver, Mabel Christian said the investigation was stressful on the family.
"You know, you're coming and going, and you don't know where he is, or what he's going to do. It's hard to believe someone could do something so vicious,” said Christian.
Goodwyn was arraigned in court on Tuesday, and he has a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 29.
He has a separate preliminary hearing set for July 26 in Virginia Beach for charges not related to the Carver case. He faces charges in the Beach for Felony Hit and Run, Driving Under the Influence, Open Container While Driving, and Following Too Close.