GBI, Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Office provide updates on arrest of Jon Worrell in 19-Year Old Cold Case Death of Doris Worrell in Coffee County
DOUGLAS, Ga. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) have released the following statements regarding the arrest of Jon Worrell.
Worrell is booked in the Coffee County Jail having waived extradition in Missouri.
GBI statement:
The GBI has arrested and charged Jon Worrell, age 58, of Douglas, Georgia, with Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Aggravated Battery related to the death of his wife, Doris Worrell, almost 20 years ago. Jon, a current resident of Maryville, Missouri, was taken into custody at his home without incident. The GBI and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Division of Drug and Crime Control, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Operation Relentless Pursuit, Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryville Department of Public Safety. Jon is currently booked at the Coffee County Jail after having waived extradition in Missouri.
On September 20, 2006, the GBI regional investigative office in Douglas, Georgia, was requested by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a death investigation at Jon’s Sports Park in Douglas, Georgia. Doris Worrell, 39 years old at the time, was found shot and killed inside their local business. Many initially believed that Jon was a grieving husband, and his wife a victim of a robbery gone wrong. There were initial reports of a person who had been banned by Jon from Jon’s Sports Park who may have killed Doris in retaliation. But as the investigation continued, information was provided that implicated Jon in Doris’s death.
Investigators learned that Jon and Doris were having marital issues, which included Jon’s relationship with their live-in nanny, Paola Yarberry. Jon was also concerned that a divorce from Doris would result in him losing his children. Jon then began looking for someone to kill Doris.
After Doris’s death, Paola was deported to Venezuela due to an immigration issue. Jon first moved to Fernandina, Florida, and then to Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica, Paola joined Jon, where they lived together as a couple and raised Jon and Doris’s children. During that time, Glidden Rodriguez and Brandon Cage were arrested for conspiracy to commit the murder of Doris. As the investigation continued, it was determined that there was not enough evidence to convict either person, and the charges were dropped. Glidden has since died from medical issues.
In recent years, investigators learned that Jon and Paola had ended their romantic relationship and that Jon had moved back to the U.S. After another in-depth review of the case, it was decided that investigators would travel to Costa Rica, where Paola eventually cooperated. Based on the facts gathered in the early years of the investigation, additional information either learned, confirmed, or corroborated in recent years, along with Paola’s cooperation, investigators were able to obtain arrest warrants for Jon for Doris’ death.
“This investigation should also give hope to the families of victims in other cold cases that the answers they seek are still being sought,” said SAC 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. It should bring pride and confidence in the communities we serve, knowing that law enforcement has not forgotten and will continue to investigate these cases, no matter how long it takes.”
“I want to be clear. This case has never been forgotten,” said Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole. “While the road has been long and often frustrating, we never gave up. Justice delayed is still justice. Today we honor Doris and her loved ones with this long awaited breakthrough.”
This successful investigation is another example of the importance of cooperation and collaboration between local law enforcement, prosecutors, and the GBI. These partnerships are important for the communities they serve and produce positive investigative results.
This investigation is still active and ongoing.
Anyone with 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. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.”
CCSO Press Release:
After nearly two decades, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), in partnership with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and multiple Missouri law enforcement agencies, has arrested Jon Worrell, 58, of Douglas, Georgia, for the 2006 murder of his wife, Doris Worrell. Jon Worrell, now residing in Maryville, Missouri, was taken into custody without incident on May 20, 2025, and has since been extradited to Coffee County. He faces charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Aggravated Battery.
On September 20, 2006, Doris Worrell, 39, was found shot and killed inside the couple’s business, Jon’s Sports Park, in Douglas, Georgia. While early reports suggested a robbery gone wrong, the case remained open as suspicions and evidence slowly began to point toward Jon Worrell. Investigators later uncovered that Jon had been in a relationship with the family’s live-in nanny, Paola Yarberry, and feared losing custody of his children if divorced. Evidence showed that Jon had conspired to have Doris killed and recruited individuals for the crime. Although previous suspects were arrested, charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
“Relief, gratitude, and sorrow—that’s what I feel today,” said Sheriff Fred Cole. “This case was never forgotten. Our team, along with the GBI, has worked tirelessly to uncover the truth, and today we honor Doris and her loved ones with this long-overdue justice.” Sheriff Cole also praised his predecessor, Sheriff Doyle Wooten, for his foundational commitment to the case. The arrest follows a renewed investigative push, which included travel to Costa Rica where Paola Yarberry ultimately cooperated, enabling agents to corroborate past evidence and secure the arrest warrants.
“This is a message to those involved in any unsolved crimes—we are coming,” added Sheriff Cole. “This case proves justice has no expiration date, and our pursuit will not end until the truth comes to light.” Sheriff Cole extended his gratitude to Missouri partners, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Nodaway and Buchanan County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Maryville Police Department, for their critical support in apprehending Worrell. The investigation remains active, and the case will be forwarded to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.”
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