State seeking death penalty in Worthen case
The State of Arkansas is seeking the death penalty for Jory Worthen, according to documents filed with the circuit court of Ouachita County.
Worthen is charged with two counts of capital murder for his alleged involvement in the deaths of 25 year old Alyssa Cannon and her four-year-old son Braydon Ponder.
The documents allege that the “(d)efendant committed each of the capital murders in an especially cruel or depraved manner.”
That and the age of Ponder led the state to seek the penalty in the case, according to court records.
At the time of the murders, Cannon had a restraining order against Worthen, but he was still living with her, according to police records.
Worthen allegedly fled the state in Cannon’s vehicle after the murders; it was later found abandoned in a parking lot in Seattle, Washington. The Western Arkansas United States Marshals Task Force was brought into the investigation to assist with apprehension since Worthen had crossed state lines and was believed to be armed and dangerous.
The investigative efforts by all agencies involved with Worthen led them to a hotel in Burbank, California on Oct. 5, 2020. After being identified by law enforcement, according to a press release from the U.S. Marshals, Worthen ran from law enforcement, but was found and taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.
In October, Worthen arrived back in Camden in the custody of the Camden Police Department, which earlier had sent officers to obtain him from California. Worthen appeared before a judge and was denied bond. He is currently housed in Ouachita County Detention Center. His next court hearing is scheduled for April 4.