Police seek info in the 37-year-old murder case

MINERVA | New York State Police are seeking information on a 37-year-old cold case murder of a World War II veteran in Minerva. Samuel Goldman, 67, was found dead at his home on Northwoods Club Road on March 31, 1983. An autopsy determined Goldman was killed by four gunshot wounds, twice in the front and twice in the back. Still seeking information This is the second time New York State Police have asked for public assistance in the case in the past four years, sending out a bulletin seeking information in 2018 as part of its "Cold Case Tuesday" news releases. Troop B cold cases featured by NYSP include the 2012 disappearance of Tupper Lake resident Colin Gillis; the 2007 arson and double homicide in Lyon Mountain of Luciana and Frank Davey, III; the 2000 disappearance of Harriet T. Olson in Bloomingdale; The 1997 homicide of Peru resident Walter C. Fedorwich; and the 1984 homicide of Dawn Andrea (Prentiss) "Magic" Svocak in Plattsburgh. Lived alone Goldman, who served in the Navy during World War II and was a former Glens Falls resident who worked in the maintenance department of General Electric, was described in 1983 as a bachelor who loved alone in Minerva. Goldman frequented the former Mountain View Hotel and Bar as a patron, and when employees noticed he had not been at the bar since leaving March 29, 1983, they went to check in on him two days later, finding Goldman deceased. The employees then notified State Police at the Westport barracks. Investigation Police believe Goldman was shot with his revolver, having legally owned a Smith & Wesson .22 caliber magnum revolver, which was missing from the residence and believed to be the murder weapon. The revolver is believed to have been stolen during the homicide and has never been recovered. The investigation also revealed a middle-aged male was observed walking east on State Route 28N in the vicinity of Northwoods Club Road during the afternoon of March 29. The male was described as being white, approximately six-feet tall, wearing a brown/tan colored coat, and a red and black hat. The male was also observed at Murdie's Store on State Route 28N on March 30 at approximately 6:50 a.m. Additionally, on the afternoon of April 2, a tan-colored trench coat was located on the Olmstedville Road, approximately 0.6 miles east of the hamlet of Olmstedville. The coat appeared to be similar to the one that witnesses described being worn by the described male. Police did have a suspect at one point during their investigation who was being held at the Essex County Jail in Elizabethtown on felony charges unrelated to the murder. However, due to a Court of Appeals decision, police were unable to interview he suspects while he was charged with other felony crimes. Investigators said there was no previous connection between Goldman and the suspect, and no further information on if the suspect was eventually questioned by police was not provided. Anyone with information about Goldman, the stolen revolver, or the described male is encouraged to contact Investigator Jeremy Viele of the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 518-897-2041.

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Police seek info in the 37-year-old murder case

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