Sheriff’s office identifies murder victim recovered from Nipomo golf course
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office has released the identity of the murder victim whose body was recovered from a Nipomo golf course earlier this week.
The sheriff's office says Joseph Martin Govey's body was removed from a pond at the Blacklake Golf Course Monday. The Santa Maria man was 53 years old when his family had last heard from him in 2018. A missing person report was filed in Orange County back in August 2019.
A man and woman from Santa Maria have been identified as suspects in Govey's murder.
35-year-old Kimberly Machleit faces murder and conspiracy charges and is being held on a $2 million bail. 37-year-old Donald Anderson faces charges for being an accessory to murder and is being held on a $1 million bail.
According to the sheriff's office, the two knew Govey and his death is not believed to be a random act.
The investigation is ongoing, but sheriff's officials say it appears the victim was murdered and dismembered in Santa Maria before their body was disposed of in Nipomo.
Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 805-681-4171. You can also make an anonymous tip online.
