Delta, Ohio — On the evening of July 19, 2016, Sierra Joggin waved goodbye to her boyfriend and started the nearly eight-mile bicycle ride home. Quiet backroads, long lines of corn, only the soft thrum of tires on packed dirt. Hours later, her family realized Sierra hadn’t returned. Calls went unanswered. A 911 report was filed, and a full-scale search launched.

Soon, in a cornfield off County Road 6, searchers found Sierra’s bicycle abandoned. Nearby: a pair of earbuds, some fuses, men’s sunglasses, and a motorcycle helmet. Ordinary objects, out of place—together, a riddle that would point investigators straight at a name they didn’t yet realize they’d be saying for months.

– The decision that changed everything:
Sierra spent the afternoon with her boyfriend, Josh Kolosinski. She chose to bike home; Josh trailed her briefly on his motorcycle, teasing, then turned back. When Sierra stopped responding, Josh started calling around, worry rising. Agents interviewed him immediately: route, timing, sequence. His alibi held—and a small detail from Josh helped confirm the scene: Sierra had been wearing earbuds when she left, matching those found by her bike.

– Odd debris in the rows of corn:
Next to the bicycle lay items that weren’t hers: men’s sunglasses, a motorcycle helmet, a few small fuses. Someone on a motorcycle was there that night. Was it Josh—or a third person? The FBI joined local deputies, fanning out across homes and farms, clinging to the hope Sierra could be found alive.

– A farm gate opens:
Investigators knocked on the property of James “Jim” Worley. Jim said he’d been riding that night; the bike kept stalling, so he pushed it along the road and even tucked it briefly at a field’s edge. He mentioned spotting “two bicycles” lying in the crops, not on kickstands—strange, because the scene held only the one bike belonging to Sierra. He claimed he saw no one else and needed to get back to care for his ill mother. First impression: blunt and prickly, yet offering up details that matched—along with an inconsistency that raised eyebrows.

– Suspicion builds:
Jim volunteered more: his helmet was missing, some fuses gone, a small screwdriver gone, his glasses gone—exactly the collection recovered near Sierra’s bike. He bristled, then abruptly waved them in: “Search the house, search the property.” The classic “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

– The second visit:
Preliminary lab checks triggered a return to Jim’s farm. His story about his route was foggy: “I ride everywhere… can’t recall.” Asked about the helmet, he denied, then hesitated. Investigators requested DNA and fingerprints—Jim agreed. Simultaneously, a search warrant kicked in.

– Into the barn:
Inside, details made the room feel colder: adult diapers, pads, clutter stacked high. Jim said they were for his mother. Deeper in, CSI saw straw bales arranged like walls, an old mattress tucked inside—a makeshift room, oddly private, in the middle of a barn.

– “There are no secret hatches”:
Jim insisted there was no hidden space. But tarps lifted, disturbed soil lines emerged, ammonia stung the air—and a chest freezer, buried beneath the barn, came into view. A cadaver dog alerted. Jim’s explanation: a “stash” spot. In a missing-person investigation, a buried freezer is a flashing red light.

– Clear bags and a strange story:
Transparent bags held women’s lingerie; some pieces bore suspicious stains. Jim said he “collects” them, for a future private studio, for gifting. The tale was both implausible and evasive—especially when asked directly about blood.

– His browser history:
A forensic look at Jim’s computer revealed searches like “hitchhiker,” “hogtied,” “gag,” and “helpless.” Set alongside the straw-room, the buried freezer, and stained garments, the picture sharpened.

– Cameras don’t lie:
Neighborhood cameras captured a motorcycle and a pickup linked to Jim’s property moving through the right area at the right time. Confronted, Jim shifted: yes, he had driven a truck later that night to “look for his helmet.” The puzzle pieces began to lock: blood traces on the motorcycle’s handlebars, a mark on a helmet, the straw room, the buried freezer, the online searches, and the camera timeline.

– The arrest:
With pressure mounting, Jim was arrested on suspicion of abducting Sierra. Hours later, a search team discovered Sierra’s remains in a shallow grave a few miles from the farm. Her limbs were bound, her mouth obstructed by an oversized gag; garments matched items found on Jim’s property. The cause of death: asphyxiation due to gagging. Forensics were presented with care and respect, without graphic detail.

– A past prologue:
The record from 1990 resurfaced: cyclist Robin Gardner was forced off the road and restrained by a driver named James Worley. She escaped; Worley was convicted (3–10 years; he served roughly two). In 1996, he was a suspect in the disappearance of Claudia Tinsley (no charges). The pattern suggested “preparation” was no accident.

– In court:
In March 2018, James Worley was convicted of felonious assault, kidnapping, abduction, tampering with evidence, aggravated murder, and abuse of a corpse. Sentence: death. He later penned a 105-page manifesto claiming a setup, written in meticulous, unsettling handwriting. Public records list an execution date in May 2025.

– Policy aftershock:
Sierra’s family advocated a violent-offender registry in Ohio. “Sierra’s Law” was signed in December 2018 after more than 13,000 signatures. In a civil action, Sierra’s mother obtained Worley’s property, calling it “a dark piece of land,” and had the farmhouse demolished as part of her healing—and in honor of Sierra.

The “WOW” moment isn’t a chase scene—it’s the terror of the ordinary: a straw-bale room, a discarded mattress, clear plastic bags, a freezer buried under a barn. Each item could pass as junk, but together they formed a plan. When the cadaver dog signaled and the sting of ammonia rose, the promise of “no secret hatches” collapsed instantly.

The deeper twist came from the past: the Robin Gardner case of 1990 reading like a draft for 2016. The search terms on the computer hinted at a mind rehearsing for years. Cameras, indifferent and exact, connected Point A to Point B and drew a straight red line to the farm.

Sierra’s case cut a scar through a small farm town. The fields no longer felt safe. For her family, the verdict brought a measure of justice; for the rest of us, a stark lesson in vigilance and early warning.

– Lessons for communities:
– Don’t discount small signals: misplaced items, route cameras, people who “invite a search” while their stories keep shifting.
– Technology is a second set of eyes: neighborhood CCTV, digital forensics, search-term timelines—each can shorten the life-and-death window.
– Build a response network: volunteers, county deputies, federal partners—every link raises the odds of finding someone in time.

– Responsible storytelling:
– Report truth without turning pain into spectacle; always include hotline and safety resources for victims.
– Emphasize prevention: avoid isolated routes, limit distraction (like loud earbuds) when alone, share travel plans, and check-in habits with loved ones.

– Law and policy:
– “Sierra’s Law” shows how awareness tools can inform residents about violent offenders nearby.
– Keep the debate going: tracking repeat violent offenders, investing in early intervention, and teaching personal safety across schools and communities.

– An open end:
Delta’s night has passed, but the straw room and buried freezer remain etched in collective memory. If there’s one promise to keep, it’s this: don’t ignore the odd detail, don’t hesitate to call police, don’t let another “Sierra” disappear into silence.