James Dean Worley was born on April 8, 1959, in Tacoma, Washington. He was the son of Florence and James Julius Worley. His father served as a United States Army officer. When James was five years old, his parents divorced due to his father’s problems with alcoholism and abuse. After the divorce, James's mother remarried. The family then moved back to the Midwest.

James attended Evergreen High School and graduated in 1978 from a school located in Metamora, Ohio. After finishing school, he held various jobs. He worked on a farm in Delta, Ohio, and also spent time as a grounds crew member at county fairs in the Toledo area. During his time in high school, he did not perform well academically. He graduated with a grade point average of only 1.59. Worley attributed his poor grades to using and selling marijuana starting at the age of 14.

In July 2016, Sierah Joughin was riding her bicycle home from a friend's house. Around 6:45 PM, she split off from her boyfriend, who was on a motorcycle. When she didn't come home later that evening, her boyfriend grew worried and contacted her family. They reported her missing to the police. That night, authorities found Sierah's bicycle in a cornfield, which showed signs of a struggle.

While searching for Sierah, police gathered clues. They discovered items near her bicycle, including a pair of men's sunglasses, and a screwdriver. A bloody motorcycle helmet was also found by a passing driver. Sierah's boyfriend was quickly cleared as a suspect, but a local man named James Worley, who lived nearby, raised suspicion. Worley told authorities that his motorcycle had broken down in the area, and he claimed to have found two bicycles in the cornfield.

Investigators looked into Worley’s background. He had a previous conviction for attempted kidnapping. Police discovered he owned a vehicle that matched a witness's description of a fast-moving van seen in the area around the time of Sierah's disappearance. This led them to obtain a search warrant for Worley's property.

When police searched Worley’s barn, they uncovered several items, including women's underwear, restraints, and a freezer stained with blood. Worley's motorcycle also had blood on it, and investigators found items linked to Sierah, including duct tape and an inflatable mattress. Facial recognition software indicated that Worley had been near the crime scene for several hours during the time Sierah was missing. He had previously stated that he “learned” from past abductions and hinted at future crimes.

On July 22, 2016, Worley was arrested for the abduction of Sierah. That same day, Sierah's remains were found in a shallow grave in a field just a few miles from Worley's home. Her body was discovered hogtied, with a gag in her mouth. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation, with no signs of sexual assault.

Worley was indicted on multiple charges, including aggravated murder and kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Behind the scenes, the prosecution built a case against him, highlighting his web search history for violent content prior to the crime. A trial began in March 2018, where various witnesses testified about the evidence against Worley.

On March 28, 2018, a jury found him guilty on multiple counts, including aggravated murder. During the sentencing phase, the jury recommended the death penalty, citing the brutality of the crime. Worley was sentenced to death and received additional time for other charges related to the case. He was placed on death row, with an execution date set for 2025.

The case of Sierah Joughin led to significant community reactions, including a push for legislation that would track violent offenders. As a result, "Sierah's Law" was created, allowing for a registry of violent criminals in Ohio, which took effect in March 2019.