Victoria Goodwin Pleads Guilty in Murder-for-Hire Plot Against ‘Ghost Adventures’ Star Aaron Goodwin
Las Vegas, Nevada – April 16, 2025
Victoria Goodwin, 32, estranged wife of Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder on April 12, 2025, in a Las Vegas courtroom, accepting a plea deal to avoid a lengthy trial, per TMZ and People. The agreement, filed April 14, drops a solicitation of murder charge, leaving her facing 2–10 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine, with parole eligibility, per Clark County court records. Her formal plea hearing is set for April 22. The case, which unraveled a chilling plot involving a Florida inmate, has stunned fans, with X posts reflecting shock and support for Aaron: “Can’t believe she planned this—stay strong, dude.”
The Plot Unraveled
Victoria’s arrest on March 6 followed the discovery of text messages with Grant Amato, a Florida prisoner serving life for killing his family, per Daily Mail. Inspired by the 2024 Paramount+ docuseries Ctrl+Alt+Desire, Victoria allegedly offered Amato $11,515—$2,500 upfront—to hire a hitman to kill Aaron while he filmed in California, per Court TV. Messages included, “Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce,” and updates on Aaron’s hotel location, per TMZ. Florida corrections officers seized Amato’s contraband phone, exposing the scheme, per Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Victoria, a former collegiate golfer, initially denied intent, claiming the texts were “fantasy” and she was “lonely” amid marital issues, per News3LV. She told police Aaron wouldn’t accept divorce, per People, but insisted she didn’t recall plotting murder. Despite her denials, the evidence—described as a “clear communication trail” by legal analyst Rosa Oso, per Lawyer Monthly—led to charges of conspiracy and solicitation.
Legal Outcome and Divorce
The plea deal, negotiated by attorney David Brown, spares Victoria a trial that could have extended her sentence, per Courthouse News Service. Prosecutors agreed not to recommend a specific sentence, leaving it to the judge, per Us Weekly. Victoria waived a preliminary hearing on March 25, signaling her intent to resolve the case, per ExtraTV. Held on $100,000 bail since her arrest, she’s remained in custody, per News3LV.
Aaron, 48, filed for divorce on March 12, citing “incompatible views” and seeking equal asset division, per People. An amended filing added claims of assault, false imprisonment, and emotional distress, requesting $10,000 in damages, per The Independent. On Instagram, Aaron thanked fans, saying, “Your support through this emotionally trying time has really helped,” per NY Daily News. X users echo his relief: “Aaron dodged a nightmare—glad he’s safe.”
Public Reaction and Context
The case has gripped Ghost Adventures fans, given Aaron’s teddy-bear persona on the show, which launched its new season April 16 on Discovery+, per ExtraTV. Reddit’s r/GhostAdventures called it “depressing,” with one user joking, “Zak’ll blame a demon,” per Reddit. On X, some question Victoria’s motives: “$11k for a hit? That’s insultingly cheap.” Others note the irony of Aaron’s Haunted Mansion wedding in 2022, per Daily Mail.
The plot’s failure underscores Nevada’s strict conspiracy laws, where even unexecuted plans carry heavy penalties, per Court TV. As Victoria awaits sentencing, Aaron focuses on healing, leaving fans to ponder a real-life horror beyond his paranormal hunts. One X post sums it up: “Truth’s scarier than ghosts.”