FOX10 INVESTIGATES: The hidden costs for innocent crime victims

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - When innocent people become victims of violent crime, the impact can be devastating. FOX10 is investigating the high and often hidden costs they face.

It’s happened several times in Mobile including to Cody Goff who was shot at a downtown bar in October. He was not the intended target.

“It’s changed the trajectory of my whole life,” Cody Goff, an innocent crime victim said.

Since that night, Cody’s medical bills have skyrocketed to more than $100,000 and that number continues to go up.

FOX10 discovered a state compensation fund meant to help innocent crime victims like Cody.

“We know these victims are suffering. We know they have immediate needs and we want to get these things done as quickly as possible and eliminate those needs for them,” Everette Johnson, Executive Director of the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission.

FOX10 spoke with Cody about his plans before he was shot.

The 26 year old had been working nonstop for a year and a half to buy a house. He saved up around $17,000.

“It would’ve meant a lot. Life happens and I always say I don’t think I deserved this, but I’m ok that it happened to me because I feel like I’ve handled situations differently than most,” Cody said.

THE NIGHT CODY WAS SHOT

October 20th, 2024, Cody’s life changed.

He had the night off from work. He joined friends and his brother at Hayley’s Bar in downtown Mobile.

“No concerns because it’s a Sunday night. It’s chill and again, I’m going to a place where it should be safe,” Cody said.

Mobile police arrested Michael Sullivan.

They say he tried to shoot a man he believed was having an affair with his estranged wife. Investigators say when he saw them together at the bar, he got agitated and fired.

Police say Sullivan missed. Instead, the bullet hit Cody.

“It went into my stomach, landing next to my spine. Right leg immediately gave out because it hit a major vein,” Cody said.

Cody was rushed to the hospital where he had two surgeries. He was placed on a ventilator and needed a feeding tube.

“I didn’t die that day so you have to do something,” Cody said.

Today, he can walk with the help of a cane, but he still has painful reminders of that night.

“I still have the bullet. It’s sitting right next to my spine. It’s going to be there,” Cody said.

He also kept his hospital bag with the clothes he was wearing when he was shot.

“It’s a reminder that it could’ve been worse,” Cody said.

Cody still battles daily pain preventing him from working. He’s struggling emotionally and financially.

One hospital bill alone totaled more than $60,000. Cody didn’t have insurance at the time.

His family raised $21,000 through GoFundMe, but that barely scratched the surface.

HELPING INNOCENT CRIME VICTIMS

The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office referred Cody to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission.

He applied and got a confirmation letter in November. The maximum payout is $15,000.

“I’m in limbo. I don’t know what to do. Again, I’m eating through savings. I’m having to make decisions. I’m running out of money,” Cody said.

FOX10 went to Montgomery to find out what can be done to speed up the crime victims compensation process and increase the amount of aid someone can get.

Everette Johnson with the compensation commission said he’s been working to change a perception problem.

“That you could apply, but you weren’t going to get paid,” Johnson said.

The compensation fund includes money from court fines and fees, a federal grant, and the state legislature.

The money helps cover medical expenses, counseling and lost wages, but the $15,000 cap often falls short.

“Do you think that’s enough?,” Cameron Taylor with FOX10 asked.

“No. It’s not enough. I mean there’s no dollar amount that you can place on helping a victim or the family of a victim in bringing their life back whole again,” Johnson responded.

To qualify:

• You have to be an innocent victim
• Prove your identity as a resident of Alabama
• Report the crime within 72 hours of the incident
• File a claim within one year of when it happened

All things Cody says he did.

“Do you find it acceptable for someone to wait months just for an answer?,” Taylor asked.

“Absolutely not and we’re working to find more efficient ways to process these claims,” Johnson said.

Johnson says his goal is to get a claim turned around in 90 days or less. He told FOX10 delays or denials often come from missing documentation or losing touch with applicants.

Johnson says they’re now averaging 120 applications per month— up from around 70 to 100.

From October of 2023 to September of 2024, the commission processed 3,427 claims and paid out $3,365,843, according to the commission’s latest annual report.

Mobile County was third in claims filed behind Montgomery and Jefferson counties.

“I think that says that we’re facing an unfortunate violence issue within these three counties,” Johnson said.

Johnson says he supports restoring the previous payout cap of $20,000 that was in place before 2020. He told FOX10 the payouts were reduced to help more victims.

Any changes would have to come from the state legislature. FOX10 reached out several times to two state lawmakers who represent Cody, Adline Clark and Vivian Figures.

They were either unavailable for an interview or did not respond to our questions.

As for Cody, he hopes to enjoy life again doing what he loves, capturing moments.

“If I had a goal, I would love to be able to just walk downtown and take pictures,” Cody said.

GETTING RESULTS

After questions from FOX10, Cody said he got a letter in the mail this week stating his application was approved and nearly $1,400 of his medical bills had been paid.

Cody hopes more is on the way since that amount is less than 10% of the $15,000 cap.

As for the person accused of shooting Cody, Michael Sullivan is still in jail, and the case is pending.

FOX10 reached out to his attorneys, but they did not respond.