if that is indeed true you should have an email from godaddy that says subject "domain transfer confirmation";
Your transfer request is complete Congratulations! We've completed the transfer request for the following domain names:
domainnamehere.com
If these domains are not currently hosted, update your domain nameservers to our parked servers to prevent possible charges from your prior registrar and enable your domain's new features.
Log in to update your nameservers!
If you didn't get this email, you didn't have the domain in your account.
Also, it would of been in your account for 1-2 days max. If you paid $17, that means it would of hit your account 6 days after purchase, which would be the 5th. The domain was removed on the 6th as you said and the update on whois confirms.
You should already have a refund back to your original method of payment.