Murder, Insanity and Love
Darren Goforth
This past August 28th, Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Goforth was shot to death as he filled his automobile with gasoline.
Gorforth was allegedly shot by Shannon Miles who has both a criminal record and a history of mental instability.
It was an act of cold-blooded cop-killing as Gorforth was randomly chosen and in uniform at the time of the shooting.
If Shannon was indeed the shooter, justice may be tempered by his mental instability if it is successfully raised as a mitigating circumstance.
Still, Darren Goforth was apparently singled out based on the visual evidence of his role in society as a police officer.
It’s a senseless and compelling tragedy.
Married with Children
Darren Goforth was married with two children.
News agencies have begun to report that when shot he was accompanied by his alleged mistress who has indicated that the relationship was ongoing for 15 months.
ABC13 quoted Goforth’s friend Robert Palin as saying, “I’m shocked by the question and by the allegation. As his good friend, I adamantly believe that’s a lie, I will do everything in my power to keep his image from being tainted.”
The implication of Palin’s statement is that Goforth’s “image” is damaged by the revelation.
Is it?
Life is Complicated
And, it’s usually much more so than it looks from the outside or on a Facebook page.
Should Darren Goforth’s death be clouded by the standard of a marriage vow?
Davies Morgan, writing in 1826, traced western marriage vows to an origin in mediaeval England:
“I (name) take thee (name) to my wedded husband/wife, to have and to holde from this day forwarde, for better, for wurse, for richer, for poorer, in sickenes, and in health, to love and to cherishe, til death us departe: according to Goddes holy ordeinaunce: And therto I plight thee my trouth.”
(1549 Prayer Book)
If as reported, Darren Goforth was married but also involved outside of that relationship we are not in a position to render judgement on his actions or his circumstances.
If vows are essentially aspirational, Goforth’s image in life or death cannot be damaged by his relationships if we assume he was doing his best.
And, why shouldn’t we?
Perhaps we should be glad that at the moment of his leaving so suddenly he was comforted by one who cherished him regardless of the inherent complication.