The "Baseline Killer" Mark Goudeau Has Been Sentenced to 438 Years

The "Baseline Killer" kept Phoenix area residents gripped with fear in 2005 and 2006. Mark Goudeau, dubbed the "Baseline Killer" because of the proximity of his crimes to Baseline Road, was first apprehended in September of 2006. It wasn't until January of 2007 that Goudeau was officially indicted; the indictment came down with 74 charges ranging from kidnapping to sexual assault to nine charges for murder. Jury selection was completed in July 2007 and the trial began shortly thereafter. The trial centered on the rape and sexual assault of two sisters at a south Phoenix park. One of the two sisters was very visibly pregnant at the time of the brutal attack.

Goudeau was convicted in September of this year and today, December 14, 2007, he was officially sentenced to 438 years in prison despite his claims of innocence. In a televised report by KTVK Channel 3, the judge in the case went so far as to state he feels that Goudeau has split personalities and disregarded his claims. Goudeau is still awaiting trial for the remaining counts, including the nine murder charges. The trial for these is not scheduled to begin until August 2008.

Goudeau is a former construction worker who is also a convicted felon having served 13 years for an aggravated assault conviction. Goudeau was originally charged with rape and kidnapping but pleaded down to the sexual assault charge; Goudeau was released from prison in 2004. Goudeau's crime spree in Phoenix was even featured on America's Most Wanted (AMW). The AMW website now proudly proclaims that Goudeau was captured.

The 2005 crimes that are linked to Goudeau are two sexual assaults and a robbery in August 2005; a murder, two robberies, and three sexual assaults in September 2005; one sexual assault and four robberies in November 2005; a murder and a robbery in December 2005; a double murder on March 15, 2006 as well as an additional murder on March 29, 2006; a sexual assault in May 2006; and a murder in June of 2006. More crimes have been linked to Goudeau including an additional three murder cases.