Do you know who killed Frances McNeill Worthington in 1996? In the quiet South Knoxville neighborhood, the start of 1996 was shattered by a brutal crime that left a family and community in shock. On New Year's Day, 76-year-old Frances Worthington was found murdered in her home on Price Avenue. A widow who lived a quiet life, she didn't drive and rarely left her house. When her son, Mike, was unable to reach her by phone that morning, he went to check on her and made the horrific discovery.
The scene that greeted investigators was one of violence
and disarray. It appeared to be a random burglary that had turned horrifically violent. Items were strewn about the house, with flour and sugar thrown around as if the intruder was searching for hidden valuables. In the hallway, bloodstains marked the walls and carpet where Frances Worthington's body was found. The investigation revealed she had been bludgeoned, and the killer had disrespectfully scattered coins and miniature chocolates around her body.
Days after the murder, a suspect was taken into custody. Eighteen-year-old Ricky Wayne Womack Jr., who was known to local law enforcement for burglaries in the area, was arrested and charged with the homicide. During questioning, Womack admitted to being inside the house and participating in the break-in. However, his lawyers argued that police had confused him and that there was no physical evidence, such as fingerprints or blood, linking him directly to the killing.
In August of 1996, a grand jury returned a 'no true bill' against Womack, which meant they did not find enough evidence to indict him for the murder, and the charges were ultimately dismissed. No one else has ever been charged in connection with the murder of Frances Worthington. The case grew cold, leaving a lasting wound in the community and for a family who, despite the lack of justice, has publicly expressed forgiveness towards the unknown killer. Ricky Wayne Womack Jr. has reportedly been in and out of jail on unrelated charges in the years following the dismissal of the murder charge.
