Police Think They've Found Body of Missing Biker

Suspect with chilling record arrested
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 23, 2016 9:48 AM CDT
Updated Jul 23, 2016 1:17 PM CDT
Suspect in Ohio Kidnap Has Chilling Record
Sierah Joughin was last seen riding her bike Tuesday.   (Fulton County Sheriff's Office)

Police have made an arrest in the disappearance of Ohio woman Sierah Joughin—and they believe they've found the body of the missing 20-year-old, who was last seen riding her bike on Tuesday evening. Fulton County Sheriff Roy Miller says James Dean Worley, 57, was arrested early Friday, People reports. He has been charged with abduction and the sheriff believes more charges will follow. On Saturday, Miller announced that remains believed to be Joughin's were found Friday night in rural northwest Ohio, the AP reports. No further details on the body were given. The Toledo Blade reports that Worley has a chilling criminal record: In 1990, he pleaded guilty to kidnapping another female cyclist, who managed to escape after Worley drove his truck into her bike, causing her to fall into a ditch, and then hit her on the head and dragged her into his vehicle.

According to court records seen by the Blade, Worley handcuffed the 1990 victim but she managed to break free and was rescued by a passing motorcyclist. Worley served three years in prison for the abduction and was released on parole in 1993. Joughin's bike was found in a cornfield earlier this week—along with what police say were signs of a struggle. Worley has a rural property a few miles from Metamora, where Joughin was last seen, and investigators spent Friday searching it. Earth-moving equipment was seen at the site and divers were seen searching a pond on the property. WTVG reports that investigators say Worley isn't talking. (More Ohio stories.)

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