Beyond the Headlines: How one daughter’s podcast revives hope in an East Texas mother’s 35-year-old cold case

GRAND SALINE, Texas (KETK)– Thirty-five years ago, in a small town in East Texas, a beloved mother disappeared, breaking her 12-year-old daughter’s heart. Now, in 2025, that daughter has started a podcast to help solve the case that has haunted her for decades.

KETK News had the opportunity on Monday afternoon to talk to Jaime Goode, who hasn’t heard from her mother, 37-year-old Judy Marie Foster, since one night in September 1990.

During the interview, KETK News went beyond the headlines and heard Goode’s story from the last words she shared with her mother, to her podcast generating new leads and the steps she’s taking to keep her mother’s memory alive.

Who is Judy Foster?

Goode explained that her mother, at only 5 feet 1 inch tall, was filled with fire: “She was a beautiful soul inside and out. She would walk into a room, and she could light it up.”

Courtesy of Jaime Goode

A lover of country music, dancing and Wranglers, Foster gave her heart and soul to everyone who was around her.

1990: Foster’s disappearance

On Sept. 8, 1990, in Grand Saline, Foster was driving around with her 12-year-old daughter, Goode, wanting to talk to her about some things, including her impending divorce. They both ended up at the popular hangout spot, bear grounds, which is a parking lot at the old Piggly Wiggly Shopping Center.

Later that night, Foster dropped Goode off, went to an EZ Mart and returned to the bear grounds. Goode had no idea that would be the last time she’d see her mom.

“She said, I’m going to run up to the store to get cigarettes, and I’ll be right back,” Goode explained. “That was the last thing I ever heard my mom say. She went to the store to get cigarettes and somehow ended up back at the bear grounds.”

Foster’s car was found just two days later at the bear grounds.

2025: Podcast generating new leads

In 2025, Goode started her podcast, Judy’s Daughter, after years of feeling unsupported by law enforcement and realizing it would be up to her to solve her mom’s case.

“Over the last 35 years, I’ve let the Grand Saline Police Department and Van Zandt County run this investigation, and they’ve come up with nothing. So over the last several years, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that it’s going to take me to have to do something.”

Courtesy of Jaime Goode

She explained that just “talking and putting things out there” has caused people to come forward, generating more leads in the last two months than authorities have had since 1990.

“We’re at almost 140,000 views just in the last 28 days, it’s madness,” Goode said. “People are talking, they’re listening. They’re realizing that those men in that small town are not the people they thought they were.  The podcast is my way of telling my mother’s story and maybe finding out where she’s at.”

People can listen to Goodes’ podcast, “Judy’s Daughter: The Jamie Goode Story” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout and Amazon Music.

Keeping Foster’s memory alive:

To celebrate Foster’s birthday and honor her life, Goode will be hosting a motorcycle ride in Grand Saline on Oct. 19.

Details:

• Start time: 2 p.m.
• Meet-up location: Means Home Center at 1912 West Frank Street
• End at: The beargrounds
• Wear the color blue, Foster’s favorite color

“This ride is not just a journey on two wheels; it’s a celebration of Judy’s life, love and the memories we cherish,” Goode said. “All riders are welcome, and we encourage you to bring your stories and memories to share as we pay tribute to a remarkable woman. Let’s make this a day of love, remembrance, and camaraderie.”

Next steps

Despite continuing to post podcasts and honor her mother in many ways, Goode still needs the public’s help.

“I know there are people who have not come forward and they have more information, but they’re scared for themselves or for their family,” Goode said. “But I also want them to think about how scared my mom was. I want them to think about how scared I was as a child to not have my mom come home. Put yourself in my shoes. Whoever you are, if you have information, do the right thing and come forward.”

If anyone has any information about Foster’s case, no matter how small, they can contact Goode at jamiegoodpodcast@gmail.com or the Grand Saline Police Department at 903-962-3145.

This story is the third edition of Beyond the Headlines, where KETK News covers unsolved cases in East Texas. The other two are below:

• Beyond the Headlines: Who was the East Texas mom of 3 that was murdered in 2006?
• Beyond the Headlines: Who was the East Texas brother that was murdered nearly 40 years ago?

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