Goodwin was last seen at DJ’s Bar, located in the 6400 block of Martin Street in Rome, New York, on June 8, 1990. He disappeared along with a 16-year-old coworker, Mark Seelman. At the time of his disappearance, Goodwin was living a transient lifestyle. He had been staying with his girlfriend and her mother in Utica, New York, for several weeks. However, just prior to his disappearance, the couple had a disagreement, and Goodwin was planning to move out. He never retrieved his belongings nor made contact with his girlfriend again. She was pregnant with his child at the time and later gave birth to their son. The circumstances surrounding the disappearances of both Goodwin and Seelman remain unclear.