Peoria man found guilty of killing his girlfriend, setting fire to house in 2021

A Peoria resident has been found guilty of a heinous crime involving murder and arson, as he was convicted on Wednesday for the tragic killing of his girlfriend and the subsequent attempt to conceal the crime.

Tahir J. Goodman, aged 29, has been determined to be guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated arson in connection with the heartbreaking events that transpired on December 1, 2021. The victim in this horrifying incident was J’Naysia Hobbs, a 24-year-old woman, as reported by the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office.

During the trial, Goodman testified that he had been in a relationship with Hobbs for just 45 days at the time of the incident. He claimed that he was overwhelmed with anger and perceived disrespect, leading him to commit the unthinkable act of strangling Hobbs to death. Subsequently, he resorted to setting fire to the residence located at 1021 East Virginia Ave. with the deceased victim still in her bed. This horrifying act resulted in Hobbs being burnt beyond recognition, necessitating the use of dental records for her identification, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.

The jury, in a remarkably swift decision, took only 90 minutes to find Goodman guilty of the serious felony charges leveled against him. His sentencing has been scheduled for November 16, where he will potentially face severe consequences for his actions. Specifically, Goodman could be sentenced to a prison term ranging from 20 to 60 years for the murder conviction and an additional six to 30 years for the arson charge. Importantly, these sentences must be served consecutively, ensuring that justice is served in this tragic case.