Man charged with wife’s murder 19 years after fleeing country with nanny

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Initially, investigators suspected that Doris Worrell was murdered during a failed robbery when her husband discovered her fatally shot at their South Georgia business in 2006. However, suspicion later shifted towards Worrell’s husband, who fled to Costa Rica with the couple’s live-in nanny.

Almost 19 years later, Jon Worrell was arrested on Thursday on murder charges in rural Coffee County. The sheriff mentioned that authorities had not given up on the cold case, and a significant breakthrough occurred in April when investigators located the nanny in Costa Rica, who was willing to provide information following the end of her relationship with Worrell.

Jon Worrell, who was taken into custody in 2025, faces charges related to the 2006 murder of his wife, Doris.

Sheriff Fred Cole emphasized during a news conference that the case had never been forgotten, and despite the challenges faced along the way, justice was finally being served. Doris Worrell, a former teacher and interior designer, had decided to stay at home to raise her three children with her husband, who jointly operated Jon’s Sports Park in Douglas.

Upon discovering his wife’s body in 2006, Worrell had contacted the authorities, leading many to believe that he was a grieving husband and his wife was a victim of a robbery gone awry. As more evidence was gathered, theories regarding Doris Worrell’s murder evolved, with investigators eventually learning about Worrell’s affair with the nanny at the time of his wife’s death.

Worrell had fled to Costa Rica, where he resided with the nanny and the couple’s children for several years before returning to the U.S. and subsequently being arrested.

Doris Worrell’s sister expressed gratitude to the investigators for their perseverance, reflecting on her sister’s kindness and the tragic circumstances that led to her death. Jon Worrell, who appeared in court without legal representation, was denied bond. The investigation continues to determine the perpetrator of Doris Worrell’s murder, with one of the previously charged individuals having passed away and the other recently released from prison in an unrelated case. The nanny, on the other hand, has not been charged and is not considered a suspect by authorities.