Benton man pleads guilty to murder, sentenced to 29 years

A Benton man, Raheem Goodwin, pleaded guilty to the 2023 murder of 62-year-old Edwin Weeks and was sentenced to 29 years in prison. Originally pleading not guilty, Goodwin made the change during a court hearing at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta, following a plea agreement with state prosecutors.

An autopsy revealed that Weeks died from multiple stab wounds inflicted by sharp objects. Goodwin's girlfriend testified that he confessed to her that he had stabbed and beaten Weeks on November 28, 2023, the day Weeks' body was discovered. Following the incident, Goodwin quickly became a suspect and was later arrested after a police chase that concluded in a crash and standoff on U.S. Route 2 in Canaan.

During the standoff, Goodwin was observed throwing a blood-stained knife from his vehicle and igniting a fire inside it. Police managed to recover the knife and other evidence he discarded during the pursuit. Despite attempts from Goodwin's lawyers to suppress this evidence, stating the police conducted an improper search, investigations revealed the police had a valid search warrant for the mobile home where Goodwin was staying.

Statements from Goodwin's girlfriend indicated that he had a troubled relationship with Weeks and was allegedly motivated by a belief that Weeks was a sex offender; however, Weeks’ name did not appear in the Maine public sex offender registry. Reports suggested that Goodwin had a history of drug use, which contributed to his paranoia and erratic behavior, including prior assaults against Weeks.

In addition to the murder charge, Goodwin pleaded guilty to charges of eluding an officer and violating his probation. His actions and the circumstances surrounding the case highlight the complex issues of mental health and substance abuse in violent crimes.