Topline: Accused killer fled the country with the nanny after his wife’s murder—now she’s helping police
Published: May 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
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Jon Worrell, left, (via Coffee County Jail), and Doris Worrell (via GBI)
DOUGLAS, GA — A murder case in a South Georgia town that has gone unsolved for nearly two decades has finally resulted in an arrest—and the key to unlocking the mystery may have come from someone close to the victim’s children—their former nanny.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced Friday that Jon Worrell, 58, has been arrested and charged in the 2006 murder of his wife, Doris Worrell.
He faces charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Aggravated Battery.
Doris was found shot and killed on September 20, 2006, inside Jon’s Sports Park, the family-owned business in Douglas, Georgia. At the time, many believed she was the victim of a robbery gone wrong.
Jon Worrell had even reportedly identified a former patron he had banned from the business as a possible suspect. But beneath the surface, investigators were quietly piecing together a darker picture—one that eventually turned the lens back on Jon himself.
“As the investigation continued, information was provided that implicated Jon in Doris’s death,” investigators wrote in a news release.
That picture became clearer thanks in large part to a figure who had all but disappeared from public view: Paola Yarberry, the Worrells’ live-in nanny at the time of Doris’s death.
Investigators say Jon and Doris were experiencing serious marital problems in 2006, exacerbated by Jon’s romantic relationship with Paola. Fearing a divorce might cost him custody of his children, Jon allegedly began seeking someone to kill Doris. After her death, Paola was deported to Venezuela due to an immigration issue. But the pair reunited soon after in Costa Rica, where they lived together as a couple and raised Jon’s children.
Years later, after the couple had separated and Jon had returned to the U.S., investigators traveled to Costa Rica and obtained cooperation from Paola. Along with evidence compiled over years of investigative work, authorities finally had what they needed to move forward with charges.
“This investigation should also give hope to the families of victims in other cold cases,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Seacrist. “It should produce fear and sleepless nights for the offenders in other cold cases because law enforcement will not stop looking for you.”
The case has had many turns over the years. Two men, Glidden Rodriguez and Brandon Cage, were previously arrested for conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Doris’s death, though charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence. Rodriguez has since died from medical complications.
After his arrest, Jon Worrell waived extradition from Maryville, Missouri, where he had most recently been living, and is now in custody at the Coffee County Jail.
Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole said, “I want to be clear. This case has never been forgotten. While the road has been long and often frustrating, we never gave up. Justice delayed is still justice.”
Paola Yarberry has not been charged in connection with the murder. Her cooperation appears to have played a significant role in reviving the case and securing the long-awaited arrest.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the GBI regional investigative office in Douglas at (912) 389-4103 or the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 384-4227. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Published: May 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
Jon Worrell, left, (via Coffee County Jail), and Doris Worrell (via GBI)
DOUGLAS, GA — A murder case in a South Georgia town that has gone unsolved for nearly two decades has finally resulted in an arrest—and the key to unlocking the mystery may have come from someone close to the victim’s children—their former nanny.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced Friday that Jon Worrell, 58, has been arrested and charged in the 2006 murder of his wife, Doris Worrell.
He faces charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Aggravated Battery.
Doris was found shot and killed on September 20, 2006, inside Jon’s Sports Park, the family-owned business in Douglas, Georgia. At the time, many believed she was the victim of a robbery gone wrong.
Jon Worrell had even reportedly identified a former patron he had banned from the business as a possible suspect. But beneath the surface, investigators were quietly piecing together a darker picture—one that eventually turned the lens back on Jon himself.
“As the investigation continued, information was provided that implicated Jon in Doris’s death,” investigators wrote in a news release.
That picture became clearer thanks in large part to a figure who had all but disappeared from public view: Paola Yarberry, the Worrells’ live-in nanny at the time of Doris’s death.
Investigators say Jon and Doris were experiencing serious marital problems in 2006, exacerbated by Jon’s romantic relationship with Paola. Fearing a divorce might cost him custody of his children, Jon allegedly began seeking someone to kill Doris. After her death, Paola was deported to Venezuela due to an immigration issue. But the pair reunited soon after in Costa Rica, where they lived together as a couple and raised Jon’s children.
Years later, after the couple had separated and Jon had returned to the U.S., investigators traveled to Costa Rica and obtained cooperation from Paola. Along with evidence compiled over years of investigative work, authorities finally had what they needed to move forward with charges.
“This investigation should also give hope to the families of victims in other cold cases,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Seacrist. “It should produce fear and sleepless nights for the offenders in other cold cases because law enforcement will not stop looking for you.”
The case has had many turns over the years. Two men, Glidden Rodriguez and Brandon Cage, were previously arrested for conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Doris’s death, though charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence. Rodriguez has since died from medical complications.
After his arrest, Jon Worrell waived extradition from Maryville, Missouri, where he had most recently been living, and is now in custody at the Coffee County Jail.
Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole said, “I want to be clear. This case has never been forgotten. While the road has been long and often frustrating, we never gave up. Justice delayed is still justice.”
Paola Yarberry has not been charged in connection with the murder. Her cooperation appears to have played a significant role in reviving the case and securing the long-awaited arrest.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the GBI regional investigative office in Douglas at (912) 389-4103 or the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 384-4227. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Nanny Turned Mistress Turned Witness Helps Crack 19-Year Cold Case
Accused killer fled the country with the nanny after his wife’s murder—now she’s helping police
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 28, 2025 7:00 am ET
Jon Worrell, left, (via Coffee County Jail), and Doris Worrell (via GBI)
DOUGLAS, GA — A murder case in a South Georgia town that has gone unsolved for nearly two decades has finally resulted in an arrest—and the key to unlocking the mystery may have come from someone close to the victim’s children—their former nanny.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced Friday that Jon Worrell, 58, has been arrested and charged in the 2006 murder of his wife, Doris Worrell.
He faces charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Aggravated Battery.
Doris was found shot and killed on September 20, 2006, inside Jon’s Sports Park, the family-owned business in Douglas, Georgia. At the time, many believed she was the victim of a robbery gone wrong.
Jon Worrell had even reportedly identified a former patron he had banned from the business as a possible suspect. But beneath the surface, investigators were quietly piecing together a darker picture—one that eventually turned the lens back on Jon himself.
“As the investigation continued, information was provided that implicated Jon in Doris’s death,” investigators wrote in a news release.
That picture became clearer thanks in large part to a figure who had all but disappeared from public view: Paola Yarberry, the Worrells’ live-in nanny at the time of Doris’s death.
Investigators say Jon and Doris were experiencing serious marital problems in 2006, exacerbated by Jon’s romantic relationship with Paola. Fearing a divorce might cost him custody of his children, Jon allegedly began seeking someone to kill Doris. After her death, Paola was deported to Venezuela due to an immigration issue. But the pair reunited soon after in Costa Rica, where they lived together as a couple and raised Jon’s children.
Years later, after the couple had separated and Jon had returned to the U.S., investigators traveled to Costa Rica and obtained cooperation from Paola. Along with evidence compiled over years of investigative work, authorities finally had what they needed to move forward with charges.
“This investigation should also give hope to the families of victims in other cold cases,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Seacrist. “It should produce fear and sleepless nights for the offenders in other cold cases because law enforcement will not stop looking for you.”
The case has had many turns over the years. Two men, Glidden Rodriguez and Brandon Cage, were previously arrested for conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Doris’s death, though charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence. Rodriguez has since died from medical complications.
After his arrest, Jon Worrell waived extradition from Maryville, Missouri, where he had most recently been living, and is now in custody at the Coffee County Jail.
Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole said, “I want to be clear. This case has never been forgotten. While the road has been long and often frustrating, we never gave up. Justice delayed is still justice.”
Paola Yarberry has not been charged in connection with the murder. Her cooperation appears to have played a significant role in reviving the case and securing the long-awaited arrest.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the GBI regional investigative office in Douglas at (912) 389-4103 or the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 384-4227. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
