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A Southampton County Circuit Court jury came back with a verdict Tuesday, April 8, finding James Herbert Goodwyn Jr. guilty as charged of the first-degree murder of Cynthia Carver, of Newsoms.

The verdict concludes a seven-day trial, which featured closing arguments Monday afternoon, April 7. The jury began deliberations that afternoon, retiring for the evening and resuming at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday before rendering its verdict later in the morning.

The case dated back to February 2019.

Carver, a 34-year-old mother of two, was reported missing by her mother, Ann, on Feb. 22, 2019. Evidence of blood and a knife were found at the home that day. 

The search for her included not only law enforcement, with aid from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but also members of the Newsoms community. 

At one time, Carver was believed to have been abducted, and a reward was even offered for information that led to her being found.

Nearly a month later, Carver’s body was found in southwest Suffolk. She was positively identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office in Norfolk, which announced in mid-May 2019 that evidence of “multiple sharp force injuries” showed Carver had been a victim of murder.

Goodwyn, who according to the Virginia Courts website lived at one time in Courtland, was arrested in Virginia Beach on June 27, 2019.

“James Goodwyn Jr., 39, was identified as a person of interest early on in this case, and as the investigation moved forward, detectives were able to gather enough evidence to support the issuance of an arrest warrant,” said Maj. Camden Cobb in 2019, then a lieutenant with the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office.

The jury trial began March 31, 2025, and concluded April 8.

Southampton Circuit Court Clerk Richard L. “Rick” Francis confirmed April 8 that a sentencing will occur by the judge in about 60 days.