Offender Record · OFF-2026-021
Judias Buenoano (photo from the Radford University biography)
Judias Anna Buenoano
Also known as Judias Welty, Judias Goodyear, Judy Ann Goodyear, Judias Morris, Judy Morris, Anna Schultz
Sex
Female
Race
White
Height
5'7"
Born
1943
Custody
Deceased
States
FL, NM, TX, CO
Custody
Deceased at Florida State Prison
Custody record at the facility
Executed by electrocution on March 30, 1998, at Florida State Prison, Starke, Florida.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Judias Buenoano was convicted of the first-degree murder of her husband, Air Force Sergeant James Goodyear, in 1971, and the first-degree murder of her son, Michael Goodyear, in 1980, both through arsenic poisoning. She was also convicted of attempted second-degree murder of her boyfriend John Gentry in 1983 via car bombing. Buenoano operated in Florida and Colorado between 1971 and 1983, collecting over $240,000 in insurance money from deaths. She was executed by electrocution on March 30, 1998, at the Florida State Prison.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Sep 16, 1971, Orange County, Florida
First-degree murder (arsenic poisoning)
Orange County Sheriff's Office, Florida · Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County · Docket 1985-00017 · Florida Statute 782.04(1)(a) · Arrested Aug 31, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by electrocution
Buenoano poisoned her husband, Air Force Sergeant James E. Goodyear, with chronic arsenic. He died on September 16, 1971, three months after returning from a tour of duty in Vietnam, initially with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and hallucinations attributed to unknown causes. His body was exhumed in 1984, twelve years after his death, and toxicological analysis revealed elevated arsenic concentrations consistent with chronic arsenic poisoning. Buenoano collected approximately $33,000 in life insurance and $62,642.46 in Veterans Administration benefits.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Buenoano, Judias; IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA: JUDY A. BUENOANO v. STATE (Case 76150); IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA: JUDY A. BUENOANO v. STATE (Case 92522); Judy A. Buenoano v. Harry K. Singletary
Offense date May 13, 1980, Santa Rosa County, Florida
First-degree murder (arsenic poisoning)
Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, Florida · Santa Rosa County Circuit Court · Docket 8400017 · Florida Statute 782.04(1)(a) · Arrested Jan 11, 1984 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without possibility of parole for first 25 years
Buenoano gave arsenic poison to her 19-year-old son Michael Goodyear, a paraplegic wearing heavy metal leg braces, rendering him partially paralyzed. She then took him canoeing on the East River on May 13, 1980, and capsized the canoe, causing him to drown. He was unable to swim or escape due to the weight of his braces. Buenoano collected approximately $20,000 from Michael's military life insurance policies.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Buenoano, Judias; IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA: JUDY A. BUENOANO v. STATE (Case 76150); IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA: JUDY A. BUENOANO v. STATE (Case 92522); Judias V. Buenoano #450
Offense date Jun 25, 1983, Escambia County, Florida
Attempted second-degree murder (car bomb)
Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Florida · Escambia County Circuit Court · Docket 1983-00017 · Florida Statute 784.011 · Arrested Jul 27, 1983 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 12 years imprisonment
On June 25, 1983, Buenoano's boyfriend John Gentry, a Pensacola businessman, survived a car bombing at the Driftwood restaurant parking lot downtown Pensacola. She had claimed to be pregnant to lure him out and announced she was going on a cruise, though she was not actually pregnant. Buenoano had given Gentry capsules containing paraformaldehyde (labeled as vitamins) prior to the bombing. Evidence revealed wire and tape in her bedroom matching bomb remains; dynamite was traced to her through telephone records. She had a $510,000 life insurance policy on Gentry. Gentry suffered serious injuries but survived.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Buenoano, Judias; Judias Buenoano: Florida's Black Widow; IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA: JUDY A. BUENOANO v. STATE (Case 76150)
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
2
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
2
Victims suspected
Active years
1971–1983
Victim profile
Men, Partners or spouses, Family members
Stated motive
Financial gain
Range from home
interstate
Education
high school
Marital history
Married, Separated
Children
3
Died
1998-03-30 · executed
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CO
Trinidad, Colorado
1977 – 1978 · Moved with Bobby Joe Morris in 1977; lived as Judias Morris
FL
Orange, Florida
approx. 1962 – 1972 · Married to Air Force Sergeant James Goodyear; lived in Orlando area
Pensacola, Florida
approx. 1972 – 1977 · Lived with boyfriend Bobby Joe Morris; worked in childcare and healthcare
Pensacola, Florida
approx. 1978 – 1983 · Moved back to Pensacola area; opened beauty salon in Gulf Breeze; legally changed name to Buenoano on May 3, 1978
Pensacola, Florida
Jul 27, 1983 – Jul 27, 1983 · Arrested for attempted murder of John Gentry following car bombing
Santa Rosa, Florida
Jan 11, 1984 – Jun 06, 1984 · County jail; detained after charge of first-degree murder for Michael Goodyear's death
Pembroke Pines, Florida
Jun 06, 1984 – Mar 30, 1998 · Broward Correctional Institution · Florida Department of Corrections death row for women; housed here after life and death sentences
NM
Roswell, New Mexico
1955 – 1957 · Lived with father and stepmother
Albuquerque, New Mexico
1957 – 1959 · Foothills High School (girls reform school); graduated 1959 at age 16
New Mexico
1957 – 1957 · Adult prison, 60-day sentence for assault on family members
Roswell, New Mexico
1960 – 1961 · Nurse's aide
TX
Quanah, Texas
1943 – 1945 · Birth place; lived with parents
Texas
approx. 1945 – 1955 · Raised by grandparents after mother's death
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1983 white unknown unknown – Corvette
approx. 1980 – 1983
Bought white Corvette while living in Gulf Breeze, Pensacola area
Timeline
Apr 04, 1943
Judias Anna Welty born in Quanah, Texas.
1945
Judias' mother died of tuberculosis at age 2; Judias and brother Robert raised by grandparents.
1955
Judias' father remarried; Judias and brother moved to Roswell, New Mexico with father and stepmother.
Jun 1957
At age 14, Judias attacked her father, stepmother, and two stepbrothers; sentenced to 60 days in adult prison in New Mexico.
Jul 1957
After release from prison, Judias chose to attend Foothills High School reform school in Albuquerque rather than return to family.
May 1959
Judias graduated from Foothills High School at age 16.
1960
Judias employed as nursing assistant in Roswell, New Mexico under assumed name Anna Schultz.
Mar 30, 1961
First son Michael Shultz born; name later changed to Michael Goodyear.
Nov 21, 1962
Judias married Air Force Sergeant James E. Goodyear in Orlando, Florida area.
Nov 16, 1966
James Goodyear, Jr. born to Judias and James Goodyear.
1967
Daughter Kimberly born to Judias and James Goodyear.
Sep 16, 1971
Judias' husband James E. Goodyear died in Orange County, Florida from arsenic poisoning three months after returning from Vietnam; Judias collected approximately $33,000 in life insurance and $62,642.46 in Veterans Administration benefits.
1972
Judias moved to Pensacola, Florida and began relationship with boyfriend Bobby Joe Morris.
1973
Judias met Bobby Joe Morris in Pensacola, Florida.
Jul 1977
Judias burned a home and collected insurance policy in Pensacola before moving to Colorado.
Aug 1977
Bobby Joe Morris moved to Trinidad, Colorado; Judias and her children followed.
Jan 23, 1978
Bobby Joe Morris died in Trinidad, Colorado from arsenic poisoning; Judias collected approximately $23,000 in life insurance.
Feb 11, 1978
Body of Bobby Joe Morris exhumed; tissue analysis revealed acute arsenic poisoning.
May 03, 1978
Judias legally changed her and her children's last names from Morris/Goodyear to Buenoano (Spanish equivalent of Goodyear) and moved back to Pensacola area.
1979
Michael Goodyear became paraplegic due to arsenic poisoning; fitted with heavy metal leg braces.
Mar 14, 1980
Body of James E. Goodyear exhumed; tissue analysis revealed elevated arsenic concentrations consistent with chronic poisoning.
May 13, 1980
Michael Goodyear drowned in East River near Pensacola, Florida when canoe capsized; Judias collected approximately $20,000 in military life insurance.
Jun 25, 1983
Judias' boyfriend John Gentry's car bombed at Driftwood restaurant parking lot in downtown Pensacola; Gentry seriously injured but survived.
Jul 27, 1983
Judias Buenoano arrested and charged with attempted murder of John Gentry.
Jan 11, 1984
Judias arrested again and charged with first-degree murder in drowning death of Michael Goodyear.
Mar 22, 1984
Trial begins for murder of Michael Goodyear in Santa Rosa County.
Mar 31, 1984
Jury returns verdict of guilty of first-degree murder of Michael Goodyear; Judias also found guilty of grand theft for insurance collection.
Jun 06, 1984
Judias sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole for first 25 years for Michael Goodyear's murder.
Aug 31, 1984
Judias indicted for first-degree murder of James E. Goodyear for 1971 arsenic poisoning.
Oct 16, 1984
Trial begins for attempted murder of John Gentry in Escambia County.
Oct 18, 1984
Jury finds Judias guilty of attempted first-degree murder of John Gentry; sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
Oct 22, 1985
Trial begins for first-degree murder of James Goodyear in Orange County.
Nov 01, 1985
Jury finds Judias guilty of first-degree murder of James Goodyear; jury recommends death sentence by vote of 10-2.
Nov 26, 1985
Judge sentences Judias to death by electrocution for first-degree murder of James Goodyear.
Mar 30, 1998
Judias Buenoano executed by electrocution at Florida State Prison in Starke, Florida; first woman executed in Florida since 1848.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Court record · U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida ·
The Black Widow“In 1998, convicted murderer Judias Buenoano—dubbed, the Black Widow—was executed in the electric chair.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Judy Buenoano“Judias Buenoano was a convicted murderer who was executed in Florida on March 30, 1998, for the 1971 poisoning of her husband James Goodyear.”
News report · Capital Punishment UK ·
Judias (Judi) Buenoano – Florida's Black Widow“She was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for the first 25 years on June 6, 1984, for Michael's murder.”
Court record · Clark County Prosecutor's Office ·
Judias V. Buenoano #450“On May 13th, 1980 Judi took Michael and his younger brother James canoeing on the East River. James and Judi were able to get out from under the upturned canoe but Michael, weighed down by the heavy braces didn't stand a chance and drowned.”
Offender registry · DeathPenaltyUSA ·
Judias Anna Buenoano - DeathPenaltyUSA“Buenoano, known as the Black Widow, was executed in Florida's electric chair following her 1985 conviction for poisoning her husband, Air Force sergeant James Goodyear in 1971.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Judy Buenoano“Judias Anna Lou Judy Buenoano was an American serial killer who was executed in Florida for the 1971 murder of her first husband James Goodyear.”
Law enforcement release · Florida Sheriffs Association ·
Judias Buenoano: Florida's Black Widow“She was charged and convicted of Michael's death and sentenced to life in prison in 1984.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Buenoano, Judias“James Goodyear, her husband, dies in Orange County, Florida (arsenic poisoning). Judias receives life insurance.”
News report · CBS News ·
Florida Executes 'Black Widow'“Until she tried to kill him in 1983 by bombing his car, authorities did not suspect Buenoano in the poisoning deaths of Goodyear, boyfriend Bobby Joe Morris, and the drowning of her son, Michael.”
Court record · Florida Supreme Court ·
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA: JUDY A. BUENOANO v. STATE (Case 92522)“By the time of her 1985 murder trial in Orlando for the 1971 arsenic poisoning of her husband, James Goodyear, Buenoano already had been convicted in Santa Rosa County for the first degree murder of her paralyzed son, Michael.”
Court record · Justia Federal Appellate Courts ·
Judy A. Buenoano v. Harry K. Singletary“Judy A. Buenoano was indicted in August 1984 for the 1971 murder of her husband, James E. Goodyear. She was convicted of first degree murder in November 1985 and subsequently sentenced to death.”
Court record · Florida Supreme Court ·
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA: JUDY A. BUENOANO v. STATE (Case 76150)“On August 31, 1984, Judias Buenoano was indicted for first degree murder for the September 16, 1971 death by suspected arsenic poisoning of her husband, Sergeant James E. Goodyear.”
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