Michael S Goucher

21-year-old U.S. Army veteran, ambushed by two assailants and stabbed over 45 times on the side of a
snowy road in Price Township, Pennsylvania.


Michael S. Goucher, known as "Mike on a Bike," 21, of Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg, passed away
on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Born April 29, 1987, in East Stroudsburg, he was the son of Scott Goucher of Stroudsburg, and Mary
Anne (Planchock) Goucher of Moosic and the nephew of William and Mary Searfoss of East Stroudsburg.
He was a 2006 graduate of East Stroudsburg High School and a veteran of the United States Army. At
the time of his death he was employed by the East Stroudsburg School District. Mike was very active
with the East Stroudsburg Crime Watch as a captain and was the assistant organist at Zion United
Church of Christ, Stroudsburg. Mike brought something special to the lives of everyone he touched.
We were blessed with the presence of him in our lives and will remember his love for each of us. He
will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
In addition to his parents and uncle and aunt, he is survived by two sisters, Ashley Goucher of
Henryville and Amber Rettig and her fiance, Dave Keiper, of Henryville; his mother Mary Anne's
fiance, Frank Dutton, of Moosic; a niece, Paige Keiper; cousins, Jennifer and George Searfoss; and
many other aunts, uncles and cousins.

Goucher joined the Army in 2006, after graduating high school. He was stationed in Alaska for two
years, where he worked as a convoy driver and mechanic. While on leave from the military, he
volunteered with the East Stroubdburg Crimewatch. After completing his service, he worked as a
custodian at Stroudburg High School, and wanted to become a police officer. In November 2008 Goucher
began attending Zion United Church of Christ, where he joined the music program.

Goucher was last seen on February 3, 2009. He was reported missing on February 6. Goucher's
roommates later told police that Goucher left around midnight on February 3, saying that he was
going to visit a friend.

During the investigation, police learned that Goucher was supposed to meet with Freemore on the
night he disappeared. Freemore initially told police police that he and Goucher met in a chatroom
and agreed to have sex.Freemore later admitted that he and Goucher met earlier, in January, and had
a sexual encounter. He said they met again around 12:30 a.m. on February 4th, and he got in to
Goucher' car.According to court documents, Freemore said he changed his mind at the last minute. He
refused Goucher's advances and got out of the car.

Freemore then said that Goucher followed him out of the car, and he then stabbed Goucher in the
neck. He said he then forced Gocher into a wooded area, where he stabbed Goucher several more times,
and covered his body with snow. He said he went through Goucher's pants, took his car keys and drove
off in Goucher's car.

Freemore drove Goucher's car up Show Hill Road and into a private driveway. He said he threw away
his pants and shirt in the woods and walked home.

During the ride with police, Goucher changed his story, saying that he and Seagraves planned to rob
and kill Goucher.According to the criminal complaint, Freemore said he and Seagraves were
“tripping on drugs” when they came up with the plan for Goucher's murder, which was to “meet
him, scare him and kill him.”Freemore said that he had stabbed Goucher in the neck and stomach,
and that Seagraves stabbed Goucher in the neck.
According to the criminal complaint, on the following day, police spoke to two anonymous individuals
who said that Seagraves had admitted helping Freemore kill Goucher, and had changed his MySpace name
to ThrOwtStabba. When asked why, Seagraves replied “because I did it.” When questioned about
what he did and to whom, Seagraves said, “I can't tell you or I'll go to jail for the rest of my
life,” and added, “dude they are never going to find the body we left no evidence.”

Goucher's body was found on February 11, 2009, at around 1 p.m., in an area along Snowhill Road,
near where his car had been found
A hearing in the case was scheduled for March 5, 2009, but was discontinued because the judge was in
talks to hold the hearing at the county courthouse, with more space and security personnel, as many
people from the community, as well as the families of the victim and suspects, are expected to
attend.