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Who Was Vonda Goyena & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile

by · July 10, 2026

Vonda Goyena devoted much of her life to her family. A loving mother with a quick sense of humor, she spent her later years surrounded by her children and supported by her daughter, Angelique “Angel” Goyena, who remained at home to help care for her. Family members remember Vonda as the heart of their household, someone whose warmth and strength shaped generations of relatives.

That life came to a tragic end during the early morning hours of June 30, 2007, when Vonda and Angelique were attacked inside their Norfolk, Virginia, home. Although gravely wounded, Vonda managed to make a desperate 911 call before she died. Her final words identifying her daughter’s boyfriend as the attacker became one of the most significant pieces of evidence in a case that would take more than two years to resolve.

A Devoted Mother and Family Matriarch

By the time she reached her seventies, Vonda Goyena had built a close-knit family whose members remained deeply connected to one another. Her home on Friden Street in Norfolk became the centre of family life, where children and grandchildren gathered and memories were made over many years.

Her daughter Angelique continued living with her as an adult, not because she lacked independence, but because she wanted to help care for her ageing parents. The arrangement reflected the close relationship the two women shared and the importance they placed on family.

Relatives later described Vonda as someone with an infectious sense of humour who could lift the spirits of those around her. Her daughter Yolanda would later say that remembering her mother’s laughter became one of the ways the family found comfort after the tragedy.

To those who knew her best, Vonda represented stability, kindness and unconditional support. She watched her children build their own lives while remaining the person they could always turn to for advice and encouragement.

Looking Forward to Angelique’s Wedding

During 2007, Vonda had every reason to look forward to the months ahead. Angelique had become engaged to David Wayne Hoshaw Jr., and preparations for a September wedding were well underway.

Like the rest of the family, Vonda welcomed the prospect of Angelique beginning a new chapter after years spent caring for her parents. Wedding plans filled conversations around the house, and Angelique enthusiastically shared ideas for the ceremony, flowers and dress.

Although some family members noticed that Hoshaw appeared increasingly distant as the wedding approached, there was little indication of the danger that lay ahead. Unknown to Vonda and Angelique, Hoshaw had already begun another romantic relationship while remaining engaged.

Prosecutors would later argue that Hoshaw wanted to free himself from his engagement without facing the consequences of ending the relationship honestly, leading to the murders that destroyed the family.

The Night of the Attack

In the early hours of June 30, 2007, violence erupted inside the Goyena family home.

Angelique and Vonda were attacked with a knife by someone who appeared to have entered the house without forcing entry. Investigators later concluded that the victims most likely knew their attacker and had no reason to fear letting him inside.

Angelique suffered multiple stab wounds and died at the scene.

Despite suffering life-threatening injuries herself, Vonda remained conscious long enough to reach a telephone and call 911.

The emergency call became one of the most remarkable moments of the investigation.

Vonda’s Final Act of Courage

During the 911 call, Vonda calmly told the dispatcher that she had been attacked.

More importantly, she identified the person responsible.

According to court records, Vonda stated that the attacker was “her daughter’s boyfriend.” She also told the dispatcher that she believed she was dying.

Those statements would become central to the investigation.

Although detectives still had to prove who committed the murders, Vonda’s identification immediately directed investigators toward someone inside Angelique’s personal life rather than an unknown intruder or random offender.

Emergency responders transported Vonda to hospital, but the injuries she suffered during the attack proved fatal. She died a short time later, leaving behind children, grandchildren and a family forever changed by the events of that morning.

Helping Investigators Find the Truth

Initially, the investigation proved exceptionally difficult.

Police found no signs of forced entry, recovered no murder weapon and had very little physical evidence identifying the killer. Angelique’s fiancé, David Hoshaw, appeared to have a strong alibi because he was attending a Boy Scout camping trip approximately 80 miles away.

Even so, detectives never ignored Vonda’s dying statement.

As investigators reconstructed Hoshaw’s movements, they determined it was possible for him to leave the camp during the night, drive to Norfolk, commit the murders and return before anyone realised he had been absent.

Detectives also uncovered evidence that Hoshaw had been conducting a secret affair, had moved on with another woman almost immediately after the murders and had mailed anonymous letters attempting to mislead investigators.

When Hoshaw eventually confessed during a recorded conversation following his 2009 arrest, his admissions confirmed what Vonda had identified during her final moments.

Justice for Vonda

On October 5, 2010, David Wayne Hoshaw Jr. pleaded guilty to capital murder for Vonda Goyena’s death and first-degree murder for the murder of Angelique.

Prosecutors had prepared to seek the death penalty if the case proceeded to trial. Instead, Hoshaw accepted responsibility through guilty pleas and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The convictions ended more than three years of investigation and uncertainty for the Goyena family.

Although no sentence could undo their loss, the guilty plea confirmed what Vonda had told the emergency dispatcher during her final minutes. Her courage in identifying the attacker became one of the earliest and most important pieces of evidence in bringing him to justice.

Remembering Vonda Goyena

For the Goyena family, Vonda is remembered first as a mother and grandmother rather than as a victim of a notorious crime.

Her children continue to speak about her warmth, humour and devotion to her family. They remember the countless ordinary moments that defined her life far more than the violence that ended it.

Her daughter Yolanda has often recalled Vonda’s incredible sense of humour, saying it remains one of the strongest memories she carries with her years after the murders. Family members have chosen to celebrate the love and stability Vonda brought into their lives instead of allowing the circumstances of her death to define her legacy.

Vonda’s final act reflected the same determination that had guided her throughout her life. Even after suffering catastrophic injuries, she focused on helping others by telling emergency operators who had attacked her and Angelique.

Her bravery did not save her own life, but it helped point investigators in the right direction and became part of the evidence that ultimately ensured David Wayne Hoshaw Jr. would spend the rest of his life in prison. Today, Vonda Goyena is remembered not only as a devoted mother who loved her family, but also as a courageous woman whose final words helped secure justice for herself and her daughter.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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