Body of Missing Smithville Woman Found in DeKalb County Cornfield Identified, One Suspect Arrested

Aug 20, 2024 at 12:59 pm by WGNS News

Above Left: Suspect Joshua Wayne Goff / Above Right: Victim Rebecca Ann Maxfield

WARREN COUNTY, TN - In a tragic development in the search for a missing 29-year-old Smithville woman, Warren County Sheriff’s Investigators, working alongside law enforcement officers from DeKalb County, discovered the body of Rebecca Ann Maxfield inside a vehicle hidden in a cornfield. The discovery was made on August 9, 2024, and authorities later confirmed the body was indeed Ms. Maxfield, who had been reported missing on or about August 4th.

Following the discovery, Warren County Sheriff Jackie D. Matheny, Jr. announced the arrest of Joshua Wayne Goff on charges of Abuse of a Corpse and Tampering with Evidence. The 43-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Monday and booked into the Warren County Jail under a $60,000 bond. As of Tuesday afternoon, Goff remains behind bars, unable to post bond, and is awaiting arraignment before General Sessions Judge Ryan J. Moore.

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The arrest comes as a result of a coordinated investigation involving the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Smithville Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the District Attorney’s offices from both Warren and DeKalb Counties. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Maxfield’s death remains active, with law enforcement officials continuing to gather evidence and seek information.

Sheriff Matheny is urging anyone who may have information related to Ms. Maxfield’s death to come forward. Those with details are encouraged to contact Investigator Calvin Hammond at (931) 473-8032, or via email at chammond@warrencountytn.gov.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

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