Before the executioner pulled the switch, she asked for a chocolate ice cream.
It was a simple request. Ordinary, even…Yet there was nothing ordinary about the woman making it.
By the time she took her final walk down the cold hallway of Florida State Prison on March 30, 1998, Judy Buenoano had left a trail of death stretching across nearly two decades. Husbands, lovers, and even her own son had fallen victim to her schemes. To investigators, she was one of the most cold-blooded serial killers Florida had ever produced.
To the public, she became known as the Black Widow.
But long before the headlines, long before the courtroom drama and the electric chair, Judy Buenoano was simply a young girl growing up in the South.
A Dangerous Beginning
Born in 1943 as Audrey Marie Faye Garrett, Judy’s early years gave little indication of the darkness that would eventually emerge. Friends and family later described her as intelligent, outgoing, and capable of charming those around her. Yet stories also surfaced of a violent temper.
One often-repeated account described an incident in which Judy reportedly threw hot grease on family members during an argument. Whether it was a glimpse into her future or simply an isolated act of youthful rage, nobody could have imagined where her life would eventually lead.
In time, she married a young Air Force veteran named James Goodyear. To neighbors, they appeared to be an ordinary military family raising children and building a life together. But appearances can be deceiving.
The First Death
In 1971, James Goodyear suddenly became ill. Doctors believed he was suffering from a mysterious illness. His health deteriorated rapidly. Soon afterward, he died.
His death was ruled natural. No investigation followed. No suspicions were raised. Judy collected life insurance money and moved on with her life. Years later, investigators would discover that James Goodyear had likely been poisoned with arsenic.
The first victim had slipped away unnoticed, but he would not be the last.
A Boyfriend
As a single mom living with her children in the Florida Panhandle, Judi met a country boy – Boddy Joe Morris. After they had been dating for a while, Bobby Joe began feeling ill. His health began failing also, and, after two trips to the emergency room, he passed away. Judi collected his life insurance money and moved on.
A Mother’s Betrayal
If the death of a husband is shocking, the death of a child is almost unimaginable.
In 1980, Judy’s son, Michael Goodyear, was twenty years old. Following a mysterious illness (maybe due to arsenic), Michael was left partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. His mother became his caretaker. She also became the beneficiary of his life insurance.
On a warm day in May, Judy and her three children – Michael, James, and Kimberly – launched a canoe onto the waters near East Point, Florida. Only Judy, James and Kimberly returned.
She told authorities that the canoe had suddenly overturned. Michael, unable to swim because of his physical limitations, drowned. The death was ruled accidental. Again, insurance money followed. Again, Judy moved on.
The Man Who Wouldn’t Die
For Judy, romance became a profitable business.
In 1980, she met Vietnam veteran and war hero John Gentry. He was the picture of health…until he moved into Judi’s house. He got sick, but wouldn’t give in.
Plan B: When Gentry cranked up his car one night in 1983, the dynamite blew the car apart and sent shrapnel through Gentry’s body. But she couldn’t kill him. Investigators initially believed they were dealing with an attempted murder directed at him.
What they eventually discovered was far more complicated. Evidence began pointing toward the woman who stood to benefit most from his death. Judy Buenoano.
The Investigation Unravels Everything
The bombing investigation opened doors that had remained closed for years. Detectives began reexamining old deaths. Insurance policies surfaced. Medical records were reviewed. Bodies were exhumed. Laboratory tests revealed arsenic…in deadly levels.
Suddenly, what had once appeared to be unrelated tragedies began forming a horrifying pattern. A husband. A son. A boyfriend. Another boyfriend.
Insurance policies connected them all. What investigators uncovered was not a series of unfortunate accidents. It was a carefully orchestrated campaign driven by greed.
Judgment Day
The trial captivated Florida. Jurors listened to testimony detailing poisonings, insurance schemes, and calculated deception. The evidence was overwhelming. Judy Buenoano was convicted and sentenced to death. Years of appeals followed, but the outcome never changed.
On March 30, 1998, prison officials escorted the 54-year-old woman from her death-row cell. The “chair” was nicknamed “Old Sparky.”
Witnesses described her as calm.
The hallway was sterile and brightly lit. The smell of disinfectant lingered in the air. Metal doors clanged shut behind her as she took the final steps toward the execution chamber.
For decades, she had controlled the fate of others. Now she could not even control her own.
At 7:13 p.m., the switch was thrown. The Black Widow was gone.
A Legacy of Betrayal
Murder stories often involve rage, jealousy, or revenge. The Judy Buenoano case is different. What makes it so unsettling is the betrayal. A husband trusted his wife. A son trusted his mother. Men trusted the woman they loved. Again and again, those closest to Judy Buenoano became her victims.
It is a reminder that evil does not always arrive with a raised voice or a threatening appearance. Sometimes it arrives with a smile. Sometimes it sits across the dinner table. Sometimes it pours you a cup of coffee.
And sometimes, in the quiet corners of the South, it waits patiently for the insurance check to arrive.
Sweet Tea Murders LIVE: Sweet Tea and Arsenic
Join former homicide detective and police historian Michael Earl Simmons for an unforgettable evening exploring one of Florida’s most notorious female serial killers.
Sweet Tea and Arsenic examines the chilling crimes of Judy Buenoano—the woman known as Florida’s Black Widow. Through photographs, original research, courtroom testimony, and storytelling, you’ll follow the twisted path from seemingly ordinary housewife to convicted murderer and death-row inmate.
The previous Sweet Tea Murders LIVE event sold out, and tickets for this presentation are moving quickly. If you enjoy Southern history, true crime, and compelling storytelling, reserve your seat before they disappear.
Because sometimes the sweetest tea hides the deadliest poison.
