The man who in 1990 used a hammer to bludgeon to death his 69-year-old great-aunt in south Modesto because she was going to evict him from her property will not be released from state prison any time soon.
The State Board of Parole Hearings denied the release of Arthur Lane Yeary, now 64, during a May 19 hearing held at San Quentin Prison.
Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Margot Roen argued that Yeary’s disturbing and complete lack of insight into the connection between his drug use and the murder. Yeary has repeatedly blamed a methamphetamine binge of several days as why he killed Joy Bell Goad. Yeary has yet to participate in a proper substance abuse treatment program, which the Board has mandated if he hopes being released in the future.
Yeary also has failed to take responsibility, said Roen, for his use of drugs behind bars, blaming a cellmate whom he claimed provided the drugs to him.
Forensic psychologists stated that Yeary’s continued drug use would likely lead to an increase in violence. Roen maintained that Yeary still poses a public danger if released and asked for a denial of parole. The board agreed, citing his lack of self-control and continual criminal behavior behind bars.
Yeary told the board that he isn’t evil or a criminal like his fellow inmates, which prompted Commissioner Muniz to say, “You are exactly where society thinks you should be.”
Yeary fled the state and wasn’t arrested until a 1996 episode of the TV show “America’s Most Wanted” profiled the case and someone in Mississippi recognized him and called authorities.
At his 1997 trial in Modesto, prosecutors and detectives testified that Goad had allowed the homeless and perpetually unemployed relative to live in a camper shell in her backyard on Dallas Street in south Modesto. Yeary began living off the elderly woman’s fixed income while refusing to get a job or apply for food stamps. A friend of Goad’s testified that after two months, Goad intended to order Yeary to leave her property.
Apparently Yeary caught wind of her plans and became enraged, attacking her inside her home by striking her in the head with a roofer’s hammer 13 times. He then wrapped her body in a blanket and buried it in the backyard, covering up the shallow grave with trash and debris in an effort to conceal it.
Goad’s son reported his mom missing on Dec. 2, 1990, which prompted a search of the home by Sheriff’s detectives. Evidence of bloodshed was discovered but there was no sign of the victim.
Yeary continued to live in the camper shell for almost a year until he fled when he observed family members clearing out the backyard. Another grand-nephew of the woman dug into the backyard and found her shoe and Goad’s purse and wallet.
Detectives excavate the ground and recovered the body from a shallow grave and a warrant was issued for Yeary’s arrest.
Yeary denied killing Goad but was found guilty and sentenced on August 26, 1997 to 25 years to life in state prison.
At his first hearing in 2013, Yeary stipulated that he was unsuitable for parole. At his second hearing in 2016, Yeary was denied parole for a period of seven years. Marchy will be scheduled for another parole hearing in three years although he may request a date in advance if he can show a change in circumstances.
