Press release issued by the Anderson County Sheriff's Office February 23, 2026:
***DETECTIVES SOLVE 24-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE***
Detectives make a significant arrest tied to the 24-year-old homicide case of Jennifer Lawson.
55-year-old Andretti Mondez Goss is now facing several charges including murder after Lawson was shot and killed at a party in Belton.
On June 26, 2001, what was intended to be a small, laid back get together escalated into a larger party along Camelot Forest Drive in Belton.
The gathering place was commonly used by members of a close-knit community familiar with one another. During the evening, three unfamiliar men arrived in a dark-colored sedan and got into an argument with an individual at the party. After being asked to leave, the men stopped their vehicle in the driveway and fired at least one shot from inside the car. Detectives say the bullet passed through a trailer wall, struck a man in the shoulder and fatally struck Lawson in the head. The 29-year-old mother was truly an innocent bystander and victim who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The fact that Lawson was an innocent victim only fueled our newly established Cold Case unit to re-open Lawson’s case over the summer. Their exceptional work allowed them to re-interview witnesses, corroborate information from the original case file and identify additional witnesses. These detectives crossed state lines to establish more evidence, allowing them to identify Goss as one of three men who took the life of a 29-year-old mother.
“This case is a testament to the persistence and dedication of our investigators,” Sheriff Chad McBride said. “Our Cold Case Unit is committed to giving a voice to victims who can no longer speak for themselves and to seeking justice, no matter how much time has passed.”
This case remains an active investigation and more arrests are possible.
Goss remains inside the Anderson County Detention Center and was denied bond.
If you have any information, please call the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office or Crimestoppers.