Fairfield Glade, TN: A former Chattanooga police officer has been arrested and charged in connection with the strangulation death of a woman in a Chattanooga neighborhood, according to authorities. Lawrence Foster Goodine, 43, was taken into custody in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee, about 90 miles north of Chattanooga. Goodine, who had previously served in the Chattanooga Police Department, faces charges of murder, kidnapping, and tampering with evidence. The victim, identified as Kara Akins, 48, was found dead in the Southside Gardens neighborhood of the city.
A medical examiner’s autopsy report revealed that Akins died as a result of manual strangulation and a blunt-force head injury. The report also indicated that she had a broken bone and multiple injuries to her neck. Sgt. Victor Miller confirmed the death was classified as a homicide.
According to an affidavit, Goodine claimed that he and Akins had dinner and bought cigarettes at a gas station on the night of November 29. He alleged that Akins went missing and that he drove around until he found her. Goodine further stated that they went home together, had sexual intercourse, and fell asleep. When he woke up, he found Akins unconscious and attempted to revive her by splashing water on her face before contacting the police.
According to toxicology reports, Akins had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.254, more than three times the Tennessee legal limit. No other drugs were found in her system.
Goodine was previously fired from the Chattanooga Police Department in 2007 following an internal affairs investigation that resulted in charges of theft, improper search, improper procedure, untruthfulness, and submitting a false report. Although he was cleared of theft and extortion charges in 2008, the then-police chief refused to reinstate him. Goodine filed a lawsuit against the city of Chattanooga but lost the case. His termination was later affirmed in 2010 and again by the Tennessee Court of Appeals in the following year.
Goodine is currently being held without bail at the Hamilton County Jail. Hamilton County General Sessions Court is scheduled to hear his case on Friday.