Marion father arrested in infant son’s April 2021 death, ruled a homicide

Samuel Goodwin, 22, will be formally charged Tuesday

Feb. 7, 2022 3:14 pm, Updated: Feb. 7, 2022 3:41 pm

Samuel Goodwin, 22, was arrested Monday in connection with first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death in an incident that happened in April 2021.

MARION — Marion police Monday arrested the father of an infant who died last April of multiple head injuries that an autopsy determined was a homicide.

Samuel Goodwin, 22, was arrested in connection with first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. He will have an initial appearance and be formally charged Tuesday in Linn County District Court.

The investigation started after a medical call about 9:40 a.m. April 4 at 430 Ninth St. in Marion. Police and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an infant who was not responsive and not breathing.

Attempts to save the baby were unsuccessful, police said. An autopsy concluded the cause of death was multiple head injuries, and the manner of death was homicide.

During the investigation, police said Goodwin admitted he was the only adult who cared for his son during the overnight hours of April 3 through April 4. Goodwin told police the baby wouldn’t stop crying and wouldn’t take a bottle.

Goodwin told police he became “flustered and irritated” with the baby. After interviews with Goodwin, police said he also acknowledged he was responsible for the baby’s death.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said criminal complaints will lay out probable cause in more detail. The case had remained under investigation until “very recently,” he said. The complaint will be available after Goodwin is formally charged Tuesday.

The Marion Police Department along with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Office of the Medical Examiner, and the Linn County Attorney’s Office worked together on this investigation.

Goodwin remains in the Linn County Jail without bail pending his initial appearance Tuesday.