Missing Person

Paula Worcester

Paula Anne Worcester, 41, of Morris was reported missing in July 2014 after reportedly last being seen on June 18. NamUs lists Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department as the investigating agency and the case as open and unresolved, while also carrying an unexplained notation that partial remains were recovered.

Incident date: June 18, 2014
Location: Morris, Jefferson County
Independent sources: 2

The record

Paula Anne Worcester, 41, of Morris was last seen on June 18, 2014, according to WBRC. Her sister reported her missing on July 5, the station reported 2. The NamUs date and location fields provided for this case are blank 1.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s NamUs database lists Worcester’s case, MP26090, as open and unresolved. Its record also includes the notation “Partial remains Recovered,” but the supplied entry does not explain what was recovered, when it was found or whether it was identified 1.

NamUs says Worcester was last seen with her husband. According to the database, he told his daughters that she had gone to her sister’s home, while Worcester’s sister filed a missing-person report after he told her Worcester was sick 1.

WBRC, citing police, identified Worcester’s husband as Joseph Poe and said he was the last known person to see her. The station reported that Poe told investigators he had dropped Worcester off at her sister’s home 2. No supplied source says Poe was charged in connection with Worcester’s disappearance.

On July 8, 2014, Poe was arrested in Blount County after leaving a traffic stop and leading authorities on a chase, according to WBRC 2. NamUs separately states that the person it labels “the suspect” later was involved in a high-speed pursuit 1.

During a family search in August 2014, relatives found paperwork bearing Worcester’s name in woods off New Castle Road in Jefferson County, WBRC reported. A relative also said they may have found Worcester’s cellphone, but the supplied sources do not document whether investigators confirmed that possibility or connected the items to her disappearance 2.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department is listed by NamUs as the primary investigating agency 1. The NamUs record remains open and unresolved 1.

Timeline

June 18, 2014Reported
WBRC reported that Paula Worcester was last seen on this date.
July 5, 2014Reported
Worcester’s sister reported her missing, according to WBRC.
July 8, 2014Reported
Joseph Poe was arrested in Blount County after authorities said he left a traffic stop and led them on a chase, WBRC reported.
August 6, 2014Reported
WBRC reported that relatives searching near New Castle Road found paperwork bearing Worcester’s name and possibly her cellphone.
UnknownConfirmed
NamUs lists case MP26090 as open and unresolved and includes the notation “Partial remains Recovered.”

Documented claims

Paula Worcester was 41 at the time of the incident.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.wbrc.com/story/26214895/family-members-find-clue-in-search-for-missing-morris-woman/
Worcester was from Morris, Alabama.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Worcester was last seen on June 18, 2014, and her sister reported her missing on July 5, 2014; the supplied NamUs record leaves its date field blank.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
NamUs case MP26090 is open and unresolved.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
The NamUs record includes the notation “Partial remains Recovered” but provides no explanation in the supplied text.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
NamUs states that Worcester was last seen with her husband.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.wbrc.com/story/26214895/family-members-find-clue-in-search-for-missing-morris-woman/
NamUs says Worcester’s husband told his daughters she had gone to her sister’s home, while Worcester’s sister filed a missing-person report after he told her Worcester was sick.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
Police identified Worcester’s husband as Joseph Poe and said he was the last person known to have seen her.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/26090
Poe told investigators he last saw Worcester after dropping her off at her sister’s home.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Poe was arrested in Blount County on July 8, 2014, after authorities said he left a traffic stop and led them on a chase.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/26090
Relatives found paperwork bearing Worcester’s name in a wooded area off New Castle Road in Jefferson County during an August 2014 search.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
A relative said searchers may also have found Worcester’s cellphone, but the supplied sources do not establish whether it was confirmed as hers.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department is the primary investigating agency.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.

Sources

NamUs Missing Person Case MP26090 — Paula Worcester — U.S. Department of Justice NamUsOpen
Family members find clue in search for missing Morris woman — WBRCOpen