Two jailed in Texas charged in Vicksburg native’s killing

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 8, 2009

A couple described by Harrison County investigators as “basically homeless” were arrested in Austin, Texas, Thursday for the killing on Sunday of Vicksburg native Thomas “Tommy” Corbin outside Gulfport.

David Lee Obermiller, 21, and Bethany Nichole Goodenough, 20, were being held this morning by authorities in Austin, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department Maj. Ron Pullen said. They await extradition from Texas.

Pullen said the two are charged with capital murder in the death of Corbin, an electrician found dead at midmorning Sunday in a room at the Crystal Inn hotel near Interstate 10.

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Both have criminal histories.

“They have roots in Oregon and Arizona,” Pullen said, adding Obermiller is wanted for assault in California and Goodenough is wanted for grand larceny in New Jersey.

“They just move from place to place to place,” Pullen said.

Corbin, 51, of Vancleave, had relatives in Vicksburg.

Harrison County authorities said he had checked in at the hotel on Canal Road at 2:40 p.m. Saturday and a housekeeper found him dead at 11:40 a.m. Sunday.

After an autopsy Sunday, the death was ruled a homicide from an assault, said Harrison County Coroner Gary T. Hargrove.

A pickup reported stolen in the process of the investigation has not been found, Pullen said. Published reports said it is a gray 2004 Ford F-150 with a Jackson County tag, No. JJ2 928.

Eyewitness accounts and interviews led to the pair’s arrest, Pullen said. Video surveillance of the couple at the hotel helped identify the couple, authorities have said.

Corbin was reared in the Culkin community of Warren County and attended Culkin Elementary and Warren Central High School. He is survived by two children, Thomas Corbin Jr. of the Jackson area and Brandi Corbin of Vicksburg.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com