A recent episode of ABC's 20/20 called "She Was Almost Home" focused on the investigation into the 2016 disappearance and murder of 20-year-old Sierah Joughin in Ohio.
The episode looks back on the great lengths of the search for Sierah, who disappeared while riding her bicycle near her home. Investigators found her body buried in a grave days later.
The special provides insight into how investigators traced evidence back to James Worley, who appealed and was eventually convicted of kidnapping and murdering her.
Perhaps one of the most unsettling aspects of the show were photos of Worley's property, including items that he possessed such as restraints, hidden rooms, and a bloody freezer. The episode features interviews with Sierah's mother, her boyfriend, Josh Kolasinski, and law enforcement who investigated the case.
The 20/20 special again points to the impact of Sierah's legacy followed her death by enacting "Sierah's Law," which created the violent offender registry in Ohio, judicial resourceful that plays and provides information to hopefully deter these types of actions.
The episode first aired on July 4 and is available on Hulu. In bringing renewed attention to a case that had a lasting impact in the state and ushered in legislative change.
Execution of James Worley delayed amid legal developments
James Worley - the man found guilty in the 2016 murder of Sierah Joughin - was slated to be executed on May 20, 2025. That execution has been postponed for now.
The Ohio Supreme Court issued a stay to allow for time to review the new legal motions filed by Worley’s defense. Therefore, no new execution date has been set.
Worley remains on death row at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio. He was found guilty of aggravated murder and kidnapping, along with several other charges related to Sierah's abduction and death, in 2018.
The case was one of the more disturbing situations in Ohio history due to the premeditated and planned nature of the crime.
This moratorium on execution has again brought the case into the public eye, especially with new media reporting from outlets such as the ABC. Supporters of Sierah's family continue to push for justice and hope that this legal process doesn't take any longer. Additionally, "Sierah's Law" remains available to law enforcement as a meaningful resource in the hope that the young woman who was killed too early comes alive in some way.
