A Maryland woman has been handed a 61-year prison sentence for the murder and dismemberment of her boyfriend, according to prosecutors. Michelina Desiree Goodwin, 46, was found guilty of second-degree murder, unauthorized disposal of a body, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony by a St. Mary’s County jury in March, following an eight-day trial. The charges were related to the death of 50-year-old James Volodimir Nalborczyk. The presiding judge imposed the maximum sentence possible, as stated by State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling.
Sterling described the crime as particularly gruesome, noting that Goodwin shot Nalborczyk in the back before dismembering him and scattering his remains across St. Mary’s County and a neighboring county. The victim’s family reported him missing to the Maryland State Police on December 21, 2022, after he had not been seen or heard from for 10 days. The police investigation subsequently revealed foul play in his disappearance.
Police discovered body parts in various locations across St. Mary’s County and nearby Charles County. Goodwin was subsequently arrested and charged with murder. A 42-year-old man, Larry Murphy, was also arrested in mid-January 2023 on charges of murder and accessory after the fact.
Court documents reveal that Goodwin initially told Nalborczyk’s family that she last saw him in early December 2022, when she was planning to end their relationship before he left for Virginia in a company vehicle. However, she later admitted to police that she had shot Nalborczyk in the back during an argument. Goodwin reportedly enlisted Murphy’s assistance to dismember Nalborczyk’s body and dispose of the parts. Murphy, however, denied his involvement. He was later indicted for accessory after the fact and sentenced to one year in jail after a jury found him guilty of the charge last year.
Sterling expressed hope that the sentencing would bring some measure of peace, justice, healing, and closure to the victim’s family after the horrifying homicide of their loved one. Nalborczyk, who had worked for several years as an HVAC technician, was remembered in his obituary as a hardworking individual who was always willing to help others. He was a familiar face at the St. Mary’s farmer’s market and will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him.