A Maryland judge has sentenced a woman to 61 years in prison for murdering and dismembering her boyfriend, prosecutors report.
After an eight-day trial, a St. Mary’s County jury in March found 46-year-old Michelina Desiree Goodwin guilty of second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and unauthorized disposal of a body in the death of James Volodimir Nalborczyk, 50. State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling stated that the judge handed down the maximum possible sentence.
“The defendant’s heinous act of shooting the victim in the back pales in comparison to the gruesome details following the murder. After killing the victim, the defendant dismembered him and scattered his remains throughout our county and a neighboring county,” Sterling said in a statement.
Nalborczyk’s family reported him missing to the Maryland State Police on Dec. 21, 2022. Police determined that he hadn’t been seen or heard from in 10 days. Further investigation revealed foul play was involved in his disappearance.
Troopers found body parts scattered across St. Mary’s County and nearby Charles County. Police arrested Goodwin for murder. Larry Murphy, 42, was also arrested in mid-January 2023 for murder and accessory after the fact.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Southern Maryland News, Goodwin told Nalborczyk’s family that she last saw him in early December 2022 when she was planning on breaking up with him before he took off for Virginia in a company vehicle. Later, she told police that during an argument, she pointed a gun at him, and it went off, hitting him in the back and killing him.
She then reportedly enlisted Murphy’s help to dismember Nalborczyk’s body and dispose of the parts. Murphy denied his involvement. He was eventually indicted for accessory after the fact and sentenced to one year in jail after a jury found him guilty last year, records show.
“My hope is that with the outcome of today’s sentencing hearing, the victim’s family can finally find peace, justice, healing, and closure after the horrifying homicide of their beloved family member,” Sterling said.
Nalborczyk’s obituary noted that he worked for several years as an HVAC technician.
“The last few years Jimmy has worked odd jobs helping everyone around him and is remembered by many working at the St. Mary’s farmer’s market. He never stopped working and trying to help others. Jimmy will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him,” the obituary said.
