WAUSEON — During an abbreviated day of testimony Thursday, jurors heard about James D. Worley’s financial transactions from three accounts in his name or his control, as well as injuries documented after his arrest.
Worley is charged with kidnapping and killing Sierah Joughin, 20, who disappeared while riding her bike July 19, 2016. Her body was found in a cornfield on County Road 7 on July 22.
Special Agent Heather Karl, of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, was on scene photographing items found at the Worley residence and testified about items from his wallet—including several bank cards and receipts from the Country Corral truck stop and restaurant in Delta in the early morning hours of July 20 and 21 for amounts $10 or smaller.
DAY 1: Initial interviews with Worley played on first day of murder trial | DAY 2: BCI agent testifies during 2nd day of Worley murder trial I DAY 3: Testimony focuses on pornography searches
Kent Roth, of Farmer’s and Merchant State Bank, walked jurors through three checking accounts—one business account and two personal accounts in the names of Worley and his mother, Florence Sheperd.
Mr. Roth said there were five Country Corral purchases from July 19-21. He also discussed purchases made from the account in Ms. Sheperd’s name to places such as Wicked Temptations, from which prosecutors have previously said Worley bought women’s lingerie and other items.
The mother’s account, for which Worley had power of attorney, had regular deposits only from her Social Security allotment—$1,527.30.
Worley, 58, of rural Delta, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder — both with death-penalty specifications — as well as four counts of kidnapping, two counts each of murder, abduction, felonious assault, and having weapons while under disability, and one count each of possessing criminal tools, gross abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence.
BCI Special Agent John Saraya testified Thursday about injuries he photographed on Worley’s body after he was arrested July 22. Jurors saw photographs of scrapes, cuts, and other marks on Worley’s neck, hand, and arms.
Investigators found a handgun, rifle, and shotgun on the Worley property, Agent Karl also testified Thursday. Because he had previous felony convictions, Worley was not allowed to have a gun under Ohio law.
The trial resumes at 9 a.m. Friday in Fulton County Common Pleas Court.
Contact Lauren Lindstrom at llindstrom@theblade.com, 419-724-6154, or on Twitter @lelindstrom.
First Published March 16, 2018, 12:04 a.m.
