Woman, Vanessa Harvey Released Without Bail For Attacking a Man With a Metal Pole, Commits Fatal Murder

 

A woman attacked a man with a metal pole, missed a court date, and was released from jail without bail due to a 'moderate risk' assessment. Tragically, days later, she took the life of a mother of eight. She now faces a possible four-year prison sentence.

Vanessa Harvey, aged 49, admitted to voluntary manslaughter earlier this year in the case of 42-year-old Machina Goodjoint's death. Harvey assaulted Goodjoint and a man with a metal object near Owens Avenue and H Street in the Historic Westside on November 8, 2021. Fortunately, the man survived the assault.

Two weeks prior, on October 22, 2021, Harvey had attacked her first victim with a metal pole, according to the police.

A Las Vegas Metro police officer's body camera captured the moment he rushed to aid Goodjoint, who had a severe head wound by the sidewalk. Goodjoint's injuries were so serious that the officer initially thought she had been shot in the face. Another officer helped the man nearby.

Goodjoint's aunt, Rozlyn Byron, who raised her like a daughter, shared, 'I knew my baby didn't have a chance, period.' Byron and Goodjoint's cousin, Chivelli Green, were not just family by blood but were also part of the Westside community.

Minutes after finding Goodjoint and the second victim on the ground, officers discovered Harvey nearby with a metal object. The officer realized the metal piece was now a murder weapon. Harvey refused to identify herself and was taken into custody.

Two weeks before Goodjoint's death, Harvey had been arrested for assaulting a man with a pole. The police found the metal object in the backseat of her car, parked near the scene of Goodjoint's fatal beating.

Harvey had skipped her probable cause hearing on a battery charge and had a bail set at $5,000. Her pretrial risk assessment, which guides judges in bail decisions, categorized her as a 'moderate risk.' She had no history of failing to appear in court over the past two years.

During a court hearing several days later, Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Diana Sullivan released Harvey without requiring bail, citing the assessment and Harvey's statement that the attack might have been in self-defence.

As part of her release conditions, Harvey was required to check in weekly, either by phone or in person.

Harvey had previously faced charges for assaulting a 7-year-old child in Las Vegas Municipal Court, having missed a court date in October 2020 and later pleading no contest. She was initially sentenced to 150 days in city jail, but records show she was released after serving two months.

Harvey accepted a plea deal, leading to a four to ten-year prison sentence. She admitted guilt for her involvement in the attack on Goodjoint and the other man. She may become eligible for parole in November 2025.

[SOURCE]