The world of paranormal investigation became terrifyingly real for Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin when his wife, Victoria Goodwin, orchestrated a shocking murder-for-hire plot against him. This definitive guide delves into the chilling details, the bizarre connection to a convicted killer, and the profound impact on Aaron and the beloved Discovery Channel series.
For fans of the paranormal, the chilling stories explored on Ghost Adventures often blur the lines between reality and the supernatural. However, for series star Aaron Goodwin, the most terrifying ordeal of his life unfolded not in a haunted location, but in a plot orchestrated by his own wife, Victoria Goodwin. Last March, the paranormal investigator was informed of an alleged murder-for-hire plot against him, a revelation that has since sent shockwaves through the entertainment world and the show’s dedicated fanbase.
A Plot More Haunting Than Any Ghost Story
Victoria Goodwin was ultimately convicted for her involvement in the attempted crime and sentenced to a prison term ranging from 36 to 90 months. The details, which emerged from investigations by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Florida police, revealed a calculated scheme. Victoria was accused of messaging an inmate in a Florida prison, expressing her desire to end her marriage not through divorce, but by arranging her husband’s murder.
In disturbing messages later revealed in court, Victoria Goodwin allegedly wrote, “Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce.” She reportedly discussed payment and methods with the inmate, allegedly offering over $11,000 for the hit, with a reported payment of $2,500 already made to have her husband killed, according to a police report obtained by TMZ.
The Shocking On-Screen Revelation
The 28th season of Ghost Adventures brought an unprecedented moment to television, as the cameras captured the exact instant Aaron Goodwin learned of his wife’s heinous plot. While filming an episode at the abandoned Hollydale Mental Hospital in Downey, California, Aaron received a life-altering phone call.
Host Zak Bagans narrated the tense moments, explaining that Aaron received a notification and sensed something was gravely wrong. Aaron quickly informed his crew, “Dude, hang on a second,” and then “Bro, the police are at my house. I gotta go outside.” The show then paused its footage of Aaron, with Bagans’ voiceover detailing that Aaron received a call from the police informing him of Victoria’s arrest for conspiracy to commit murder by hiring a hitman. This shocking clip was initially released by Entertainment Tonight and later shared on the official Ghost Adventures Instagram.
The emotional weight of this event was evident as Aaron later confessed on Instagram that he would not be watching the episode. He wrote, “This next episode of [Ghost Adventures] is when i got the Facetime call from the cops. They were in my house & told me what she did & she was arrested. I won’t be watching this episode cause i don’t want to relive that night again & what happened before the call. This lockdown is insane & disturbing with what happened during our investigation.”
Victoria Goodwin’s Twisted Scheme and the Connection to Grant Amato
The sinister plot began to unravel after corrections officers at an undisclosed Florida prison confiscated a contraband phone from an inmate, revealing messages detailing the murder-for-hire conspiracy. This inmate was identified as Grant Amato, a man already serving a life sentence for the horrific murders of his own family in 2019.
Victoria’s connection to Amato reportedly stemmed from the 2024 Paramount+ docuseries Ctrl + Alt + Desire, which chronicled Amato’s conviction for murdering his mother, father, and brother. The two began communicating via text and Facebook messages, eventually colluding on the plot to kill Aaron Goodwin. Messages recovered from Amato’s phone showed detailed discussions about payment, methods, and timing for the alleged hit.
The Mastermind: Grant Amato’s Disturbing Past
Grant Amato’s involvement added an even more chilling layer to the story. Convicted in 2019 for the murders of his father Chad, mother Margaret, and brother Cody at their Chuluota home, Amato’s motive was reportedly linked to a dispute over his obsession with a Bulgarian woman he met online. Prosecutors stated he had stolen significant sums of money and guns from his family to support this obsession.
Amato was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The revelation that he was contacted by Victoria and involved in a new murder plot highlights the complex and dangerous world that can exist even within prison walls. Criminal defense attorneys have suggested that Amato might benefit from cooperating in the investigation against Victoria, potentially seeking a modification to his life sentence.
Aaron Goodwin’s Emotional Toll and Legal Action
Aaron Goodwin was reportedly “blindsided and devastated” by the news, believing he was in a “happy marriage,” sources told TMZ. This personal betrayal was compounded by the fact that the plot unfolded while he was away filming for his show.
Aaron filed for divorce from Victoria the week after her crimes became public. During Victoria’s June sentencing hearing, Aaron gave an emotional testimony, stating that discovering “someone I trusted [with my] whole heart and laughed every day with” had “put a hit out to kill me more than once… has led me to fear [for] my life,” as reported by People.
Victoria’s Defense and the Legal Aftermath
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Victoria Goodwin denied having ever wanted her husband killed. She claimed she was merely “daydreaming or fantasizing about being without her husband” and did not recall sending the incriminating messages. She admitted to marital problems but insisted the money discussed in messages was for cell phones, not a murder plot. However, her defense did not prevent her conviction and subsequent prison sentence.
The case continues to be a subject of intense interest, particularly regarding how Grant Amato managed to obtain a cell phone while incarcerated, a clear violation of prison rules. As of now, new episodes of Ghost Adventures continue to air on Discovery Channel and stream on HBO Max, with fans watching to see how Aaron continues to navigate his professional and personal life after such a traumatic event.
