Celeb NJ Trainer Found Dead After Child Molestation Accusation: Cops

WYCKOFF, NJ — A Bergen County trainer whose celebrity clients included "Real Housewives of New Jersey" died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after accusations of child molestation surfaced, according to Florida police.

Lance Darren Goodall, Jr., the Teaneck-born owner of a Wyckoff gym, was found dead Friday in his home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.

Accusations against Goodall stemmed from video and photos found on a 14-year-old's phone by the teen's dad, police said.

Goodall owned Venom Fitness, where the teen was a student, in Osprey, Florida, according to officials. Venom Fitness also had a now-shuttered location in Wyckoff.

Officials said they had probable cause to charge Goodall with three counts of sexual battery by a person in a position of custodial authority.

When Manatee County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrived at his home Friday evening, they discovered him dead, officials said.

Goodall opened Venom Fitness in Wyckoff five years before opening a second location in Osprey, according to OceanDrive.com.

The Wyckoff location closed permanently due to the pandemic, according to the outlet.

Goodall had been featured on Bravo TV programming as a trainer for "Real Housewives of New Jersey" personalities including Danielle Staub, Lauren Manzo, and Ashlee Malleo.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by calling 988. Its website offers services including a live chat.