In the summer of 2014, concern grew for the well-being of 41-year-old Paula Anne Worcester. She had last been seen in Morris, Alabama, on June 18, 2014. It was her sister who officially reported her missing on July 4, 2014, after being unable to get in touch with her. When inquiries were made, Paula's husband, Joseph Poe III, offered conflicting accounts of her whereabouts. He told their daughters that Paula had gone to her sister's house.
However, he had also told Paula's sister that she was sick. Another version of his story involved an argument between the couple, after which he claimed to have dropped her off at a location in Bessemer. These inconsistencies raised suspicions among those who knew Paula, and an official investigation into her disappearance began.
As weeks turned into months, and then years, there was no sign of Paula. Investigators followed up on various tips, but none led to her location. At the time of her disappearance, Paula was described as a white female with hazel eyes and blond or strawberry hair. She had distinctive tattoos on her right ankle of stars, whirls, and a butterfly, and had plates in her ankle from a previous injury. She was believed to have been wearing khaki capris and a white t-shirt when she was last seen. The lack of any communication from Paula was out of character, and her family feared the worst as the search continued with no resolution.
The case took a significant turn in July 2016, approximately two years after Paula was last seen. Joseph Poe III was arrested by the Tarrant Police Department on an unrelated matter on July 15, 2016. The following day, he informed the police that he needed to speak with a detective about his wife's 2014 disappearance. During this interview, Poe confessed to killing Paula by shooting her. He then led authorities to a remote, wooded area off of Gurley Road in Trafford, where her skeletal remains were discovered. Following his confession and the discovery of Paula's body, Joseph Poe III was charged with capital murder in connection with her death. The investigation that began with a missing person report ended with a tragic admission of violence, finally bringing a painful answer to her loved ones about what had happened to Paula Worcester.Last Seen: Jun 18, 2014
