The smiling photo taken moments before tragedy struck
The final moments of a young woman have been revealed before she was abducted and murdered in Ohio.
James Worley, 59, was found guilty of abducting and murdering Sierah Joughin, 20, in 2016.
The 20-year-old had been cycling with her boyfriend Josh Kolasinski just hours before her death on July 19, 2016, The Sun reports. They had been dating for seven years.
A photo released by police shows the 20-year-old smiling on a bike ride with her boyfriend just moments before she was abducted.
Mr Kolasinski was the last person to see her alive at 6.45pm when he kissed her goodbye, before she got on her bike.
She was found dead three days later.
Prosecutors used DNA evidence to show that Worley and Ms Joughin had both been near the rural road where her bicycle was found, inside his barn near Delta, Ohio, and where her body was discovered.
A passerby found a motorbike helmet with Ms Joughin’s blood on it along with Worley’s DNA.
Morley previously spent three years in prison after he was convicted of knocking a woman off her bike with his truck in 1990, pulling her inside the cab and handcuffing her.
He maintained his innocence over Ms Joughin’s death during his trial.
The 59-year-old’s property was raided though and inside they found a makeshift dungeon hidden behind bales of hay. Investigators also found a freezer lined with carpet. Blood was found inside along with women’s underwear, rope, and tape.
But Morley told prosecutors they should look for another man who was seen in the area the night Ms Joughin disappeared. He also claimed that someone placed his motorcycle helmet at the spot where investigators believe the 20-year-old was abducted.
“Her loss is a substantial blow to everyone,” he said.
Ms Joughin’s family walked out of the courtroom midway through Worley’s statement, shortly after he called her “a beautiful girl.”
He continued on, saying: “The family isn’t taking this well. I can understand.”
They later returned to the courtroom for the sentencing and delivered their own statements. Sheila Vaculik said her daughter inspired so many people and would have accomplished great things.
“I could not be more prouder of the person she was,” Ms Vaculik said.
She said Worley showed no remorse and pointed out his criminal past.
Since Ms Joughin’s killing, her family has lobbied state lawmakers to create a public registry that tracks people convicted of violent crimes. The state Senate in April approved a bill to do just that.
Her boyfriend has also organised memorial bike rides in the community to raise money to fund self-defence classes for women.
ABC 13 reports Morley filed an appeal last week. He was sentenced to death in April.
