COFFEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Doris Worrell was killed on September 20, 2006, inside Jon’s Sports Park, a family-owned business she shared with her husband.

Her case remained for nearly 20 years, with many in the community suspecting foul play from the start.

According to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, Jon Worrell was arrested in Missouri earlier this week. The arrest came just two days after what would have been Doris’s 57th birthday.

Family and friends say the arrest brings a rush of emotions but also a renewed sense of purpose in their fight for justice.

“It’s here. We fought the fight, and we didn’t give up,” said Doris’s sister, LeAnn Tuggle. “This is the day we’ve been waiting on for almost 20 years.”

Lisa Hays, Doris’s former classmate, says while the arrest is a major step, it’s not the end of the road.

“The closure will come when the verdict is read,” Hays said. “The agents always said they wouldn’t make an arrest unless they had enough evidence for a conviction. The conviction we want to see is that Jon Worrell is guilty of murdering his wife.”

For Tuggle, this moment isn’t just about justice it’s about healing, too. She hopes this arrest will lead to family reconciliation after years of distance.

“One day they’ll see what I’m saying now and hopefully, we can be together again. There won’t be any hard feelings. We’ve missed them, we’ve prayed for them, and we want to see them,” she said.

A press conference will be held at the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, May 23, at 10:30 a.m.

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