Editor’s note: Ms. Joughin’s official time of death of 9 p.m. on July 22 is when she was officially declared deceased by medical professionals.
ARCHBOLD — An autopsy report shows that 20-year-old Sierah Joughin died of asphyxiation from a large plastic gag that was found in her mouth.
The report, which The Blade reviewed early today, also shows that Ms. Joughin died over a period of minutes. Ms. Joughin disappeared on July 19 while riding a bike in rural Fulton County.
Her body, which was found intact, was located in a shallow grave in a hog-tied position. Her wrists were in handcuffs behind her back and her wrists were bound with rope to her ankles. Her ankles were taped together.
Ms. Joughin’s bicycle was found later the night she disappeared in a cornfield, surrounded by trampled corn and evidence of a struggle. Her remains were found in the grave a few miles away July 22, the same day James D. Worley was arrested and charged with her abduction.
Worley, 57, remains in custody at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio near Stryker, where he is being held without bond. He was later charged with aggravated murder in connection with her death.
The autopsy report provides a time of death as 9 p.m. on July 22, when she was officially declared dead by medical professionals. Fulton County officials found Ms. Jouhgin’s remains about 6 p.m. that same day. There was no evidence of sexual assault.
Fulton County Coroner Dr. Rick Yoder allowed a Blade reporter to review the autopsy report at his office early today. A copy was not provided. He declined to comment on the report.
The autopsy was done through the Lucas County Coroner’s office.
Local, state, and federal law enforcement searched Worley’s three-acre property for several days following Ms. Joughin’s disappearance.
According to search warrants executed by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, investigators found several pairs of women’s undergarments, recording devices, zip ties, and rope. Also discovered in his barn was a secret room, hidden by hay bales, which contained a freezer with blood in it and restraints.
Jill Del Greco, public information officer for the Ohio attorney general's office, said last week that authorities found no human remains on Worley’s property and agents had left the scene but continue investigating.
Worley will be court again Aug. 18 for a preliminary hearing on the aggravated murder charge. He has declined to comment.
Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6095, or on Twitter @rdunnblade.
First Published August 10, 2016, 12:46 p.m.
