WAUSEON — Prosecutors have said they will pursue the death penalty against James Worley for the July killing of Sierah Joughin.
The announcement came this morning with the release of a grand jury’s has indictment of Worley on 19 charges.
Indictments filed today charged Worley with two counts of abduction, four counts of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault, two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, possession of criminal tools, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and two counts of possessing weapons under disability. Worley, previously convicted of abduction and cultivating marijuana, is not allowed to own weapons.
Worley, 57, of rural Delta is incarcerated at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio near Stryker.
Ms. Joughin, 20, of Metamora, disappeared July 19 while riding a bike in rural Fulton County. Her remains were found July 22 along Fulton County Road 7. An autopsy report determined she was handcuffed and died of asphyxiation.
Worley was arrested July 22 on an abduction charge and was later charged with aggravated murder. Prosecutors allege Ms. Joughin is the lone victim in the case.
Local, state, and federal investigators spent several days searching Worley's 3-acre property. Investigators found a secret room in his barn, which contained a freezer with blood in it and restraints, according to a search warrant executed by the sheriff's office. No human remains were found on the property.
Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6095, or on Twitter @rdunnblade.
First Published August 16, 2016, 2:02 p.m.
