Judge Eric Goodman responds to a motion by Special Public Defender Alzora Jackson, attorney for Nathaniel Burkett, at the Regional Justice Center Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. Burkett is suspected of killing two Las Vegas women. A preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 5.
Published Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013 | 12:30 p.m.
Updated Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013 | 4:35 p.m.
Metro Police officials say investigators don’t know whether Judge Eric Goodman was attacked before he was found unconscious inside a restroom at a Summerlin park earlier this month.
But his father, former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, says a trauma surgeon who treated him at University Medical Center told the family that a pair of head injuries show he likely was assaulted Dec. 15 at South Tower Park, near West Charleston Boulevard and Vista Run Drive.
Eric Goodman, whose mother is Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, was seen leaving his home for a jog about 11 a.m. that day, and someone found him unresponsive in the nearby park more than three hours later. After early media reports called the incident an attack, Officer Bill Cassell said late Saturday that police don’t know what happened during that time because Eric Goodman’s injuries “have prevented him from providing information concerning the incident.”
The family initially thought he might have simply taken a fall. When he was rushed to the hospital, he had a single exposed wound on his head, so doctors shaved the affected area to treat it. Oscar Goodman said his wife “felt that Eric looked funny with half of his head shaved,” so hospital staff cut off the rest and found a second injury indicative of an assault.
“Our main concern, whether it is an assault or not, is the condition of our son,” Oscar Goodman said. “He is recovering well.”
On Monday, Metro issued a statement seeking information about the incident, though the department did not then identify Goodman.
Referring to him only as a victim, police asked for tips from anyone who spotted Eric Goodman at the park that day.
Tipsters are still asked to call the department’s violent crimes section at (702) 828-5634 with information. Those who wish to be anonymous can reach Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or through www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
Eric Goodman, who is about 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs about 220 pounds, was said to be wearing a gray knitted cap and a gray jogging suit on the day of the attack. He has short, blond hair and blue eyes.
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