Latest news with #Goines
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Donald Goines documentary makers offer $5K for tips about Highland Park writer's death
Moviemakers are searching for new information about the death — and life — of Donald Goines, a novel writer who was killed more than a half-century ago, but whose case was never solved. And they are willing to pay up to $5,000 for it. The announcement Wednesday in a downtown Detroit hotel suite, is, by some accounts, a long-overdue plea for help to investigate a cold case. The film company, Detroit Son, is hoping to figure out why the prolific author was killed on Oct. 1, 1974. "We're trying to determine what really happened and who is responsible," Bill Proctor, a longtime broadcaster who was hired as an investigator by the film company, said. "It is a daunting task." Goines and his lover, Shirley Sailor, were raising their two small children in Highland Park when they were "brutally murdered," Proctor said. Over time, he added, police files have gone missing, detectives have retired — or died — and memories have faded. But, Proctor added, other cold cases have been solved and this one can be, too. While the motive for the slayings was unclear and a killer ‒ or killers ‒ was never arrested or prosecuted, some over the years have speculated that the deaths may have been connected to drugs, which Goines was using, and perhaps gambling debts. Another theory is that Goines was killed to prevent whatever he was working on from being published. He drew his stories from real-life experiences and encounters with criminals. Perhaps one — or more — of them didn't want their deeds exposed. Goines and Sailor were shot five times each, according to reports. But one of the most tragic parts of the story is that the two children — Goines' daughters, age 2 and 4 — were left behind in the home, 232 Cortland, where they reportedly spent the night with their parent's dead bodies. The younger of the two children, Donna Sailor — who is now 52 and briefly spoke at the news conference — told the Free Press she didn't remember anything from that night or know much about her parents. And, she added, she hoped future film could help her family get answers — and justice. Goins — who was described by retired Free Press editor Bill McGraw as a "pop-culture star" who was 'largely unknown in white America' — was a bestselling author who wrote about Detroit gangsters, drug addicts and prostitutes. Goines — who grew up in a middle-class Catholic family in the Dequindre-Davison neighborhood in north central Detroit and at 15, Goines dropped out of Pershing High, faked a birth certificate, and joined the U.S. Air Force — got his start writing while in prison. More: Donald Goines becomes a pop-culture star half a century after his violent death He wrote about police brutality, retribution and gangsters, in books set mainly in Detroit. He turned out a total of 16 books in four years. His works, McGraw wrote, are 'filled with flamboyant violence and unromantic sex' and were 'printed on cheap paper and wound up for sale at bus stations and party stores because many bookstores wouldn't carry them.' McGraw added that Goines wrote about 'the arduous life he knew as a pimp, prisoner, con man, armed robber, heroin addict, and ninth-grade dropout,' telling vivid stories and describing 'life at the margins of Black America.' Goines also was a drug user, who, in his own words, said he needed 'a fix to be able to write.' Still, over the last few decades, the novels Goines wrote were significant enough to be studied in university English classes and echoed in rap song lyrics. Rapper Tupac Shakur, for instance, called Goines his "father figure." And in 2004, one of his books, "Never Die Alone," was turned into a film starring another rapper, DMX, and David Arquette, an actor, producer, and retired professional wrestler, who is probably best known for appearing in the slasher franchise, "Scream." So far, the moviemakers said, they have a working title for the documentary, "Get Yours Before You Get Got: The Donald Goines Story," and already have budgeted about $500,000 to make it. They said they hope to film it in Highland Park and Detroit and release it in about a year. Craig Gore, an executive producer and screenwriter, said he hopes that the documentary can cover Goines life, legacy, and the investigation into his death; his status among rappers, like Tupac; and the literary impact of his work, especially among incarcerated readers. "Hopefully, someone will come out of the woodwork," he added. And Robert Bailey, one of the documentary's executive producers, said Goines works —which he read while in prison — inspired him to become an author and wanted "to be able to represent his story in a true manner." Bailey acknowledged that many people who might have known what happened to Goines in the early 70s are "dead and gone," but "it's good to remain hopeful, and that's what we are." But, he added, even if they are unable to solve the homicide case or find justice for the dead, they still intend to produce a documentary, which could allow the family to emotionally address unresolved feelings, and to tell an important story. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Documentary makers seek to solve Donald Goines murder case
CBS News
12-03-2025
- CBS News
Documentary aims to unlock the unsolved killing of Detroit urban fiction writer Donald Goines
Who killed Donald Goines? Producers of a documentary on the life of the prisoner-turned urban fiction writer of novels about the violence, drugs and prostitution that he surrounded himself with in Detroit are hoping the answer hasn't been lost to time — or the streets. It's been more than 50 years since Goines and his common-law wife, Shirley Sailor, were found shot to death on Oct. 21, 1974, in their flat in Highland Park, a small enclave of Detroit. Each had been shot five times. Their two young children were home at the time of the killings. No arrests were made and rumors swelled. Some speculated the killings had something to do with 37-year-old Goines' heroin addiction. Others nodded to the theory that the fictional subjects of his novels appeared a bit too much like the real-life hustlers, pimps, drug dealers and stickup men who prowled the city's streets. "There have been at least a half-dozen, quite possibly a dozen, elements of speculation as to how Mr. Goines and the mother of his children were murdered," said Bill Proctor, a private investigator hired to find the killer or killers. "But no one has come forward with enough information to charge the persons responsible." Proctor said a $5,000 reward being offered by the producers of the documentary might help "shake the trees" and find "someone who might still be alive or have an understanding" of the facts of the case. Goines wrote 16 books over a short span of several years. His raw, stark and undiluted writings are filled with the urban street life imagery of the late 1960s and early 1970s. "Dopefiend," was published in 1971. Fifteen more including "Street Players," "Daddy Cool" and "Kenyatta's Last Hit," would follow over the next three years. The titles and the content resonated with many Black readers, especially in Detroit where Goines' books often held prominence on living room coffee tables and bookshelves. "When I read his books, I can visualize — I can picture what he's writing about," said his daughter, Donna Sailor. "He was so descriptive about what he wrote. That's kind of like how it was back then." Donna Sailor was 2 when her parents were killed. She doesn't remember anything about the shooting or her parents. "We would see friends of the family that knew my dad and my mom," Sailor, 52, told The Associated Press Thursday. "They would say she was a sweetheart, and she was funny and had a great smile." Less information about Goines was volunteered, though, she added. "No one ever went into great detail about him. They would say he was a nice guy," said Sailor. The urban lit genre dates back at least to 1967, and the release of the memoir "Pimp," written by Robert Maupin, who also was in jail when he began writing under the name Iceberg Slim. Maupin built a large word-of-mouth following and one of his readers was Goines. Generations later, hip-hop stars like Tupac Shakur were also inspired by the books and have referenced Goines and Iceberg Slim in their recordings. Shakur even once declared: "Machiavelli was my tutor, Donald Goines my father figure." Goines' parents owned a clothes-cleaning and other businesses in Detroit and were part of the city's Black middle class. He enlisted in the Air Force and spent time in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. It was there Goines became addicted to heroin, according to various reports on his life. After his time in the military, Goines returned to Detroit in the mid-1950s. He drifted into the city's criminal underbelly, finding himself jailed for various crimes. Holloway House published Goines' novels from 1971 to 2008, according to current publisher Kensington. Under Kensington, Goines books have sold about 500,000 copies in print, alone. He consistently is one of Kensington's top reordered authors and his books have been "selling at a stronger pace" since it launched a reissue program in 2020, according to the company. Robert (Tape) Bailey and Craig Gore are the driving forces behind the documentary which is expected to be released by the end of the year. Both read Goines' books while incarcerated, separately. Bailey, 49, was born in Detroit and now lives in Los Angeles. He spent time in federal prison as a young man for possession with intent to deliver drugs in Ohio. Goines wrote in detail about things he had witnessed, Bailey said. Gore, 51, of Los Angeles, stumbled onto Goines while serving time for burglary and theft. He says that through the $5,000 reward, they hope to bring more accuracy to the documentary. "We might find nothing. We might solve the murder," he said.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- The Independent
Group is producing documentary on life and death of Detroit urban fiction legend Donald Goines
Who killed Donald Goines? Producers of a documentary on the life of the prisoner-turned urban fiction writer of novels about the violence, drugs and prostitution that he surrounded himself with in Detroit are hoping the answer hasn't been lost to time — or the streets. It's been more than 50 years since Goines and his common-law wife, Shirley Sailor, were found shot to death on Oct. 21, 1974, in their flat in Highland Park, a small enclave of Detroit. Each had been shot five times. Their two young children were home at the time of the killings. No arrests were made and rumors swelled. Some speculated the killings had something to do with 37-year-old Goines' heroin addiction. Others nodded to the theory that the fictional subjects of his novels appeared a bit too much like the real-life hustlers, pimps, drug dealers and stickup men who prowled the city's streets. 'There have been at least a half-dozen, quite possibly a dozen, elements of speculation as to how Mr. Goines and the mother of his children were murdered,' said Bill Proctor, a private investigator hired to find the killer or killers. 'But no one has come forward with enough information to charge the persons responsible.' Shaking 'the trees' Proctor said a $5,000 reward being offered by the producers of the documentary might help 'shake the trees' and find 'someone who might still be alive or have an understanding' of the facts of the case. Goines wrote 16 books over a short span of several years. His raw, stark and undiluted writings are filled with the urban street life imagery of the late 1960s and early 1970s. 'Dopefiend,' was published in 1971. Fifteen more including 'Street Players,' 'Daddy Cool' and 'Kenyatta's Last Hit,' would follow over the next three years. The titles and the content resonated with many Black readers, especially in Detroit where Goines' books often held prominence on living room coffee tables and bookshelves. 'When I read his books, I can visualize — I can picture what he's writing about,' said his daughter, Donna Sailor. 'He was so descriptive about what he wrote. That's kind of like how it was back then.' Donna Sailor was 2 when her parents were killed. She doesn't remember anything about the shooting or her parents. 'We would see friends of the family that knew my dad and my mom,' Sailor, 52, told The Associated Press Thursday. 'They would say she was a sweetheart, and she was funny and had a great smile.' Less information about Goines was volunteered, though, she added. 'No one ever went into great detail about him. They would say he was a nice guy,' said Sailor. Iceberg Slim to Goines The urban lit genre dates back at least to 1967, and the release of the memoir 'Pimp,' written by Robert Maupin, who also was in jail when he began writing under the name Iceberg Slim. Maupin built a large word-of-mouth following and one of his readers was Goines. Generations later, hip-hop stars like Tupac Shakur were also inspired by the books and have referenced Goines and Iceberg Slim in their recordings. Shakur even once declared: 'Machiavelli was my tutor, Donald Goines my father figure.' Goines' parents owned a clothes-cleaning and other businesses in Detroit and were part of the city's Black middle class. He enlisted in the Air Force and spent time in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. It was there Goines became addicted to heroin, according to various reports on his life. After his time in the military, Goines returned to Detroit in the mid-1950s. He drifted into the city's criminal underbelly, finding himself jailed for various crimes. Holloway House published Goines' novels from 1971 to 2008, according to current publisher Kensington. Under Kensington, Goines books have sold about 500,000 copies in print, alone. He consistently is one of Kensington's top reordered authors and his books have been 'selling at a stronger pace' since it launched a reissue program in 2020, according to the company. Telling his story Robert (Tape) Bailey and Craig Gore are the driving forces behind the documentary which is expected to be released by the end of the year. Both read Goines' books while incarcerated, separately. Bailey, 49, was born in Detroit and now lives in Los Angeles. He spent time in federal prison as a young man for possession with intent to deliver drugs in Ohio. Goines wrote in detail about things he had witnessed, Bailey said. Gore, 51, of Los Angeles, stumbled onto Goines while serving time for burglary and theft. He says that through the $5,000 reward, they hope to bring more accuracy to the documentary. 'We might find nothing. We might solve the murder,' he said.
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Associated Press
Group is producing documentary on life and death of Detroit urban fiction legend Donald Goines
DETROIT (AP) — Who killed Donald Goines? Producers of a documentary on the life of the prisoner-turned urban fiction writer of novels about the violence, drugs and prostitution that he surrounded himself with in Detroit are hoping the answer hasn't been lost to time — or the streets. It's been more than 50 years since Goines and his common-law wife, Shirley Sailor, were found shot to death on Oct. 21, 1974 in their flat in Highland Park, a small enclave of Detroit. Each had been shot five times. Their two young children were home at the time of the killings. Goines was 37. No arrests were made and rumors swelled. Some speculated the killings had something to do with Goines' heroin addiction. Others nodded to the theory that the fictional subjects of his novels appeared a bit too much like the real-life hustlers, pimps, drug dealers and stickup men who prowled the city's streets. 'There have been at least a half-dozen, quite possibly a dozen, elements of speculation as to how Mr. Goines and the mother of his children were murdered,' said Bill Proctor, a private investigator hired to find the killer or killers. 'But no one has come forward with enough information to charge the persons responsible.' Shaking 'The Trees' Proctor said a $5,000 reward being offered by the producers of the documentary might help 'shake the trees' and find 'someone who might still be alive or have an understanding' of the facts of the case. Goines wrote 16 books over a span of several short years. His raw, stark and undiluted writings are filled with the urban street life imagery of the late 1960s and early 1970s. 'Dopefiend,' was published in 1971. Fifteen more including 'Street Players,' 'Daddy Cool' and 'Kenyatta's Last Hit,' would follow over the next three years. The titles and the content resonated with many Black readers, especially in Detroit where Goines' books often held prominence on living room coffee tables and bookshelves. 'When I read his books, I can visualize — I can picture what he's writing about,' said his daughter, Donna Sailor. 'He was so descriptive about what he wrote. That's kind of like how it was back then.' Donna Sailor was 2 when her parents were killed. She doesn't remember anything about the shooting or her parents. 'We would see friends of the family that knew my dad and my mom,' Sailor, 52, told The Associated Press Thursday. 'They would say she was a sweetheart, and she was funny and had a great smile.' Less information about Goines was volunteered, though, she added. 'No one ever went into great detail about him. They would say he was a nice guy,' said Sailor. Iceberg Slim to Goines The urban lit genre dates back at least to 1967, and the release of the memoir 'Pimp,' written by Robert Maupin, who also was in jail when he began writing under the name Iceberg Slim. Maupin built a large word-of-mouth following and one of his readers was Goines. Generations later, hip-hop stars like Tupac Shakur were also inspired by the books and have referenced Goines and Iceberg Slim in their recordings. Shakur even once declared: 'Machiavelli was my tutor, Donald Goines my father figure.' Goines' parents owned a clothes-cleaning and other businesses in Detroit and were part of the city's Black middle class. He enlisted in the Air Force and spent time in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. It was there Goines became addicted to heroin, according to various reports on his life. After his time in the military, Goines returned to Detroit in the mid-1950s. He drifted into the city's criminal underbelly, finding himself jailed for various crimes. Holloway House published Goines' novels from 1971 to 2008, according to current publisher Kensington. Under Kensington, Goines books have sold about 500,000 copies in print, alone. He consistently is one of Kensington's top reordered authors and his books have been 'selling at a stronger pace' since it launched a reissue program in 2020, according to the company. Telling His Story Robert (Tape) Bailey and Craig Gore are the driving forces behind the documentary which is expected to be released by the end of the year. Both read Goines' books while incarcerated, separately. Bailey, 49, was born in Detroit and now lives in Los Angeles. He spent time in federal prison as young man for possession with intent to deliver drugs in Ohio. Goines wrote in detail about things he had witnessed firsthand, Bailey said. Gore, 51, of Los Angeles, stumbled onto Goines while serving time for burglary and theft. He says that through the $5,000 reward, they hope to bring more accuracy to the documentary. 'We might find nothing. We might solve the murder,' he said.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Million-dollar sexual assault lawsuit filed against Arlington church and pastor
The woman who accused an Arlington pastor of sexual assault last June has filed a lawsuit against the pastor and the church, according to court documents. The woman is seeking over $1 million in damages from Koinonia Christian Church and its pastor Ronnie Goines, according to the suit filed Feb. 28 in Tarrant County. In the suit, the accuser details how Goines allegedly groomed her after she began attending the church in August 2022. After she asked a question at the church's Bible study, Goines invited the woman to see him privately, according to the lawsuit. During that meeting, Goines told the woman that she 'needed to learn how to trust again' and that it was 'essential for her to be part of a community and receive counseling,' the suit states. Beginning in January 2023, Goines repeatedly tried to contact the accuser, calling her multiple times and texting her, she said. In March of that year, the woman alleges that Goines sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions at his home, according to the lawsuit. 🚨 More top stories from our newsroom: → Rapper, child dead in shooting at Forest Hill car wash → North Texas assesses storm damage after tornado watch → These parents are trying to save their kids' school [Get our breaking news alerts.] Goines turned himself in to Tarrant County authorities in July 2024, the Star-Telegram previously reported. He was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The criminal charges are still pending, with the next hearing scheduled for May, according to court records. Officials with Koinonia Christian Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit Wednesday. Goines returned to the church in October to continue preaching and is listed as the lead pastor on the church's website.
