In 1976, Goodside was brutally killed at 1631 N. 24th St. in Quincy, Ill. He was living with Rodger and Lani Aldridge at the time of his death and Rodger was tried and acquitted of a murder charge in the death.
Created by jessmm48 on Feb 8, 2012
Last updated: 03/03/12 at 02:31 AM
Tags: Goodside murder Quincy Herald-Whig Aldridge
Rodger Aldridge is found not guilty in the death of Phillip Stanley Goodside after an Adams County jury deliberates for about 10 hours.
Lani Aldridge, former wife of Rodger Aldridge, testifies in Adams County Circuit Court about the events that allegedly led up to the death of Phillip Stanley Goodside.
Rodger Aldridge’s trial on a murder charge begins in Quincy. Adams County State’s Attorney Bob Bier is the prosecutor, and Drew Schnack and John Long are the defense attorneys. Brown County Judge David Slocum presides over the trial.
Divorce granted for Lani Aldridge from Rodger Aldridge. Temporary custody of one minor child is placed with the paternal grandparents.
Rodger Aldridge formally surrenders himself to Adams County Sheriff Robert Nall on the murder charge. He was already in jail serving time on a drug charge. The surrender allows Aldridge to regain his bond.
Lani Aldridge, then 29, was sentenced Nov. 29, 1976, by Judge Richard F. Scholz to four years probation for possession of more than 500 grams of cannabis. She was arrested Sept. 4, 1975.
Rodger Aldridge is sentenced to between one and five years in prison, while Lani Aldridge gets four years probation. Her sentence was later reduced to 30 months, and she was allowed to transfer her probation to her home in Arizona. Click the link to download a PDF of the article.
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While on trial for cannabis possession, Lani Aldridge pleads guilty before Judge Richard Scholz. A manufacturing charge was dropped. Two days later in Havana (on a change of venue from Adams County), Rodger Aldridge is found guilty of possession and manufacturing cannabis counts. Click the link to download a PDF of the article.
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Rodger Aldridge turns himself in after three months on the run, including time in Mexico. His 9-year-old son was with him, and Aldridge told reporters he was innocent when brought to the Adams County Jail. He is eventually charged with murder in the death of Stanley Goodside. Click the link to download a PDF of the article.
http://addins.whig.com/blogs/hartofthematter/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Aldridge_GivesUp_Denies.pdf
A massive crushing head wound or possibly the slashing of the throat were listed as the cause of death on an autopsy report of Phillip Stanley Goodside.
http://addins.whig.com/blogs/hartofthematter/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Goodside_Autopsy.pdf
Information from several people in the Quincy area has matched earlier reports that Rodger Aldridge may be in one of the western states.
A federal warrant for the arrest of Rodger Aldridge was issued by U.S. Magistrate William Giffin in Springfield April 21, 1976, charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution for murder.
A second warrant for the arrest of Rodger Aldridge was issued in Adams County Circuit Court when he failed to appear for arraignment on a September marijuana charge.
Rockford police initiate an intense search for Rodger Aldridge, wanted in the death of Stanley Goodside.
An all-points bulletin went out April 7, 1976, for the arrest of Rodger Aldridge, identified as the prime suspect in the death and mutilation of Goodside.
Click the link to download a PDF of the article.
http://addins.whig.com/blogs/hartofthematter/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/aldridge_head.jpg
Stanley Goodside’s severed head, feet and hands are found in partially buried garbage bags on the rear edge of Calvary Cemetery in a landfill area in Quincy. The landfill is about three blocks from 1631 N. 24th, where Goodside and the Aldridges were living. Adams County Sheriff Rober Nall, who was in charge of the investigation, said Goodside was beat with a baseball bat that was also found in a garbage bag. A pruning saw, two teeth, a thumb, pieces of clothing and towels were also found in that bag. The pruning saw is believed to have been used to dismember the body.
On April 4, 1976, a couple discovered Goodside's torso in a wooded area outside of Sullivan, Ill. Moultrie County Coroner Jerry Points reports that the there were about nine stab wounds to the torso, but none of the vital organs were hit.
Rodger Aldridge, on bond on marijuana charges, disappears. He later tells reporters he was “on vacation” and in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Click the link to download a PDF of the article.
http://addins.whig.com/blogs/hartofthematter/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Aldridge_Search.pdf
The Adams County Sheriff's Department believes foul play may be involved in the disappearance of Phillip Stanley Goodside, 32. Goodside was last seen at 8 p.m. March 19, 1976
http://addins.whig.com/blogs/hartofthematter/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/foul_play.pdf
Adams County Sheriff's Department Detective Lloyd Boden testifies that Lani Aldridge returned from Sullivan, Ill., to find a sleeping bag, three towels, several washcloths and shampoo missing from her home.
Lani Aldridge, pictured as she looks in 2012, leaves Quincy to visit her son, and two days later is the last time Stanley Goodside is seen alive. He fails to show up for a scheduled surgery on his nose, and Lani reports him missing.
A forensic pathologist and Jerry Points, Moultrie County Coroner, estimated the time of death from examining the torso as March 30 to April 1, 1976. However, there were reports of freezer burns on the remains, which means decomposition could have been delayed by placing the body in a freezer and it was reported that he possibly died March 19-22, 1976.
This is the last time Stanley Goodside is seen alive. He fails to show up for a scheduled surgery on his nose, and Lani Aldridge reports him missing.
http://addins.whig.com/blogs/hartofthematter/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/foul_play.pdf
Rodger Aldridge, wife Lani Aldridge and Stanley Goodside are arrested at 1631 N. 24th after authorities say they find 930 pounds of cannibas plants behind their house.
http://addins.whig.com/blogs/hartofthematter/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/three_arrested.pdf
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