COVINGTON, Tenn. — The Covington Police Department (CPD) apprehended a suspect in connection with a homicide case in April 2022.
According to Covington Police, on April 9, 2022, at around 7 a.m., officers responded to a death scene in the 1300 block of South College Street in Covington, where they found a victim dead on the scene. The woman was later identified as Betty Goheen, 36, from Munford.
During the time of the incident, Spanyada Adams, 41, of Covington, was determined to be alone with Goheen at the time of her death, police said. The information Adams gave to investigators indicted the death was due to a possible overdose. The victim was transported to the Regional Forensic Center for an autopsy, Covington police said.
During the forensic examination and the collection of evidence from the scene, the initial information was not consistent with an overdose, according to Covington police. CPD detectives began interviewing witnesses, family members and working closely with the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office investigators to determine the cause and manner of Goheen's death.
On Aug. 2, 2023, the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Goheen’s death was ruled as a homicide, CPD said.
CPD detectives brought Adams in for questioning, and after a meticulous investigation, Nov. 6, 2023, detectives presented the case to the action of the Tipton County Grand Jury, according to police. Adams was arrested on a bench warrant on Nov. 9 for second degree murder. He was transported to the Tipton County Jail, and he is slated to appear in the Tipton County Circuit Court on Nov. 13, 2023.
Adams remains in custody with a $250,000 bond, police said.
“The Covington Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this challenging time.” said Chief Donna Turner. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to ensuring justice is served, and our dedicated detectives have tirelessly worked towards bringing closure to this heartbreaking case. This is an example of why each death case is investigated as a homicide until it is determined otherwise by the evidence.”
If you have additional information on this case, Covington police asks you to call the Criminal Investigations Division at 901-475-1261. Tips can also be sent through the Covington Police Department Facebook messenger or the City of Covington website.
