Joy Risker’s unexpected disappearance in September 2003, and her husband’s explanation for it, left loved ones befuddled and startled.
Finally, the cops were called in because they suspected there was more to it, and they discovered a cold-blooded murder plot.
‘Murder Decoded: Twisted Scripture,’ a documentary on Investigation Discovery, examines the horrific death of Joy Risker and how the authorities brought the killer to justice.
So, how about we find out more about his case?
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How Did ‘Joy Risker’ Killed?
Joy Lynn Risker was born in the state of Michigan in the summer of 1978. She had a close relationship with her mother and was involved in local religious activities.
When Joy was 16 years old, she met Sean Barclay Goff. He was her youth pastor at the time.
She began a polygamous relationship with Sean three years later, and the two lived in San Diego, California.
Their two children, Sean’s wife, Sheila, and a kid she had with him all lived with them.
Joy’s friends abruptly ceased hearing from her in September 2003. Concerned, they contacted Sean, who informed them that Joy had abandoned him and moved to Europe.
On October 5, 2003, a friend reported Joy missing because she wasn’t convinced. A passerby in Maricopa County, Arizona, came found a pile of rocks under a tree a few months later.
Human remains were discovered beneath the rocks, which were eventually identified as Joy’s.
On January 10, 2004, the rotting body of the 25-year-old was discovered. Joy had been stabbed at least 12 times in the chest and had suffered substantial blunt force damage to the face, according to an autopsy.
Because her teeth had been removed and her fingertips had been severed, it was evident that the killer did not want the body to be identified.
However, a DNA test proved that the remains were Joy’s.
Who Was Responsible for the Death of Joy Risker?
Despite the fact that their relationship was atypical, it seemed to work for them, and Joy’s mother was fine with it.
Sean, a former evangelical minister, claimed Joy had abandoned him on September 19, 2003, and gone to Europe with an old partner.
Joy’s loved ones were concerned, as it was unusual for her to abandon her children. While things between her and Sean weren’t great, and she was considering leaving him, the suddenness of what transpired concerned them.
Joy’s pals also received some emails that seemed out of the ordinary. The police began their investigation shortly after and discovered that Joy’s phone had ceased operating approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 19.
They also discovered she lacked a passport, making it hard for her to go outside of the nation.
Sean then told the cops that Sheila and the kids had gone away for the weekend and that he and Joy had supper together on September 19 before getting into an argument.
She later got into a car with a man, according to Sean.
With further evidence mounting, Sean confessed to the police that he had murdered Joy. Sean, on the other hand, refused to discuss what had occurred or the location of Joy’s body.
The remains were discovered in January 2004 and identified eight months later. Blood spatter was discovered in Joy’s bedroom and bathroom inside the residence, leading officials to believe she was murdered there.
Sean had purchased a chisel, a hand saw, a sledgehammer, a shovel, a butcher knife, and other items approximately a week before Joy vanished, according to the detectives.
He said they were for a home repair project, but Sheila pointed out that he didn’t have any hobbies like that.
Then, a friend of Sean’s testified that the two talked about a potential movie or book scenario involving a character committing the perfect murder.
Finally, Sean discussed getting rid of Joy a few weeks before she vanished, according to the same source.
Sheila also testified that Joy called the kids at 8:30 p.m. on September 19 and spoke with them on the phone. Sean informed her two days later that he had broken up with Joy and that she had departed.
Joy cut herself in the bedroom, he said, and he instructed Sheila to clean it up. Sean is suspected of murdering Joy that night after supper, stuffing her body into a container, and driving five hours to the desert to bury her.
Furthermore, he was the one who sent the emails from Joy’s account.
What Happened to Sean Barclay Goff?
Sean admitted to killing Joy at his 2006 trial but claimed self-defense. Sean claims he showed Joy a photograph of her allegedly assaulting one of their children.
He intended to put an end to their relationship and keep the kids. Then he said that the fight became physical, and Joy attacked him with a knife.
During the scuffle, he hit her in the face and stabbed her with the knife.
Sean then assumed the police wouldn’t think it was self-defense, which led to the cover-up. Unfortunately, Sean’s story did not convince the jury, and he was found guilty of murder.
Sean was sentenced to 26 years to life in jail in September 2006, when he was 38 years old.
He is still detained at the Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, California, according to prison records. In December 2024, Sean will be eligible for parole.