FULTON COUNTY, OH (WTOL) - It was a bittersweet victory for Sierah Joughin's family. The property where James Worley once lived and where Sierah was killed has been awarded to her estate.
Sierah Joughin's family will receive the property of the man who killed their daughter, as outlined in a recent civil lawsuit settlement.
James Worley was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Sierah and was sentenced to the death penalty.
The two barns, farmhouse and just over three acres of land will be transferred from a trust to Sierah's mom.
Jerry Phillips, the attorney who helped the family, said the conviction and life sentence helped seal the deal.
"This was very important from an emotional standpoint. How would you like to drive by a barn where you believed your daughter was killed on a regular basis? Because you see that barn, it's one thing the property, but that barn was a reminder to them to the mother," Phillips said.
A monetary settlement in the amount of $3.6 million also was reached, though according to the document, it was agreed that the family "will not execute on the judgment unless the Defendants receives a windfall sum of money such as winning the lottery, or receiving book or movie rights or royalties relating to Defendant's life story."
The house and barns should be leveled within the next six months. Sierah's mom does not have any definite future plans for the land.
