Murder charge dropped in Mitchell truck stop body case

A second-degree murder charge against a Detroit man who disposed of a woman’s body at the I-90 Travel Center in Mitchell has been dropped.

Sixty-year old Anthony Harris was charged with murder in the death of 57-year old Melody Fae Gooch of Detroit. Her body was found at the truck stop on March 11th.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says the autopsy was key. He says it showed that the woman died of an overdose caused by multiple drugs including fentanyl and cocaine. Jackley says it also indicated that the blunt force trauma on the body happened after the woman was dead.

Jackley says any possible charges related to the overdose will be up to Michigan authorities.

After the discovery of the body by authorities, Harris was located in Washington state and extradited to South Dakota. Improper disposal of a body is a misdemeanor charge with a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

April 8, 2024