The Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office is working an open investigation where one female has died and another male is in stable condition at the Nacogdoches County Memorial Hospital. Nacogdoches Fire, along with Swift Shady Grove and Central Heights Fire Departments responded to a house fire in Carrizo Creek Subdivision.
The Nacogdoches Fire Department arrived on scene first and was able to pull two people out of the burning house. The fire department observed that a female pulled from the house had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to her chest area. The Sheriff Office was notified and went to the scene to conduct an investigation.
Margi Lyn Goff 61 years of age was pronounced deceased at the scene by justice of the peace Kerry Don Williamson Precinct 1. Investigators observed that Goff had a close contact wound with burn marks from the weapon that appear to be self-inflicted to her chest area. A weapon was later located that was near where Goff was found inside the living room of the residence. Investigators also found other marks on Goff body where she had recently attempted to harm herself.
The victim has been identified as Hal David Parris 65 years of age. Parris is bedridden and has been in this condition for several years. The sheriff office has gained information that Goff has been depressed recently and has mentioned committing suicide to her husband.
Sheriff Investigators have established that there was no type of forced entry into the residence and it is believed that Goff and Parris were the only ones at the residence when this occurred. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise at this time. Sheriff Jason Bridges stated that the Sheriff Office is treating this case as an open homicide investigation, but we believe at this time this was an apparent attempted murder- suicide crime. All evidence and facts that we have gathered at this time are leading us to believe that Goff intentionally set the house on fire before shooting herself in the living room.
Dispatch received the call shortly before 8:00am after a neighbor who was driving by observed smoke coming from the residence. A quick response by our fire departments was able to help save the life of Mr. Parris who was removed from his bed in the master bedroom.
An autopsy had been ordered by the Justice of the peace and will be performed in Tyler, Texas in the morning. The Sheriff Office is being assisted in the case by the Texas Rangers and the City of Nacogdoches Fire Marshall’s Office. Evidence has also been collected by the fire marshals that will be sent off for analysis to determine what was used to set the fire.
