Spanyada Adams indicted in 2022 murder of Betty Goheen

A Covington man was indicted this week for killing a woman in Covington in 2022.

Betty Goheen, of Munford, was found dead at a home on South College Street on April 9, 2022. Spanyada Adams, the man who was reportedly alone with her at the time of her death, told police she overdosed on drugs.

Police said that explanation was inconsistent with the evidence collected at the scene and the results of the autopsy performed. Her death was ruled a homicide in August 2023, one year and four months after she died.

Ms. Goheen’s cause of death has not been released. She is survived by her three sons, Mark Cononico, Sean Lee, and Joshua Goheen; parents, Mark Goheen and Audrey Quirk (Edward); sister Ashley Quirk; and three brothers, Kevin Quirk (Gemma), Tim Goheen, and Paul Goheen.

“The Covington Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this challenging time,” said police chief Donna Turner. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to ensuring justice is served and our dedicated detectives have tirelessly worked towards bringing closure to this heartbreaking case. This is an example of why each death case is investigated as a homicide until it is determined otherwise by the evidence.”

Adams was convicted of vehicular homicide, which occurred while he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and his license was suspended, in Shelby County in 2011.

Since 2002 in Tipton County, he has been charged multiple times with aggravated assault and domestic assault as well as aggravated rape DUI, violation of an order of protection, vandalism, interference with emergency calls, false imprisonment, kidnapping, drug charges, and being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon. He is currently on probation for an aggravated assault conviction earlier this year.

Adams was indicted by the Tipton County Grand Jury on Monday, Nov. 6, his 41st birthday, and was arrested on a bench warrant Thursday. He remains in custody on a $250,000 bond and will be arraigned on Monday.