Update--Christa Worthington Murder
Maggie
interesting detail to me is that Ms. Worthington left an estate of $700,000,
but had been going after the baby's purported father (apparently paternity had
not been established) for child support. He made around $30,000 a year and has
six children (many of whom may be adults by now). The first two stories are
from the Cape Cod Times and the third, from the Boston Globe:
Child was named as sole heir
Details of Worthington's will revealed; estate worth $700,000
By KAREN JEFFREY and ERIC WILLIAMS
TRURO - When Christa Worthington was murdered last weekend, she left her
toddler daughter, Ava, an estate of about $700,000, according to the victim's
will.
Others named in the document filed Monday in Barnstable County Probate Court
included Tim Arnold, a former boyfriend, who found Worthington's body Sunday
afternoon. He would receive money only if Ava and Worthington's father were
also dead.
Arnold was surprised to find out he was named in the will. "I heard about the
will today for the first time," Arnold said last night. "I think it means I was
important to them."
Yesterday, the wait for answers continued. Investigators made no arrests.
Last night state police continued to question people, including Arnold of
Truro. Earlier in the day police spoke with several of the victim's relatives.
Worthington, 46, had been stabbed through the chest as many as 36 hours before
Arnold found her body when he returned a flashlight he had borrowed.
Ava, 21/2, was found unharmed and clinging to her mother.
No suspects named
Speculation has swirled around Arnold and Tony Jackett of Provincetown.
Jackett, a married father of six, is the commonly recognized father of Ava
Worthington.
Truro Police Chief John Thomas said Jackett and Arnold have neither been ruled
in nor out as suspects.
"It's too early in the investigation to come to something like that," Thomas
said yesterday. "We have not completed a list of suspects yet."
Worthington's cousin, Patricia Worthington Bartlett, who lives in Georgia and
spends summers in a house near the murder scene, thought it inconceivable that
either man could be involved in the murder.
"I know Tim and I know Tony and this is not in their range," she said.
Thomas also said investigators have not determined whether Worthington's killer
is male or female.
"They're looking at absolutely everybody at this point," said Truro police Lt.
John Lundborn said.
Last night a reporter was interviewing Arnold when state police came calling to
talk to him again. Arnold was cooperative, and the state police officer was
well-mannered. "Put your coat on Tim," said the detective. "It's raining out
there."
They walked to a waiting car and drove off.
Before police arrived, Arnold said that his relationship with the police had
been reasonable since the body was found. "I haven't had an antagonistic
conversation with the police in the last couple of days," said Arnold. "I
understand that they have to do their job."
Arnold also talked about his physical affliction, that has left him with
limited mobility and strength.
In June, Arnold had surgery to remove a lesion on his brain near his spinal
cord. "It was a brain stem problem," said Arnold. "You end up having
coordination loss. I can't drive a car anymore. I can't run."
Arnold's medical condition has effected his coordination and control of his
limbs.
I sometimes kind of get disoriented when I look around. And I have double
vision."
Major crimes uncommon
Investigators said they have not made any major breaks in the case. "There's
just nothing going on. There's been no development," a Truro officer said last
night.
One relative, William Worthington, Christa's cousin, said the pressure needs to
be kept on forensic investigators so the killer is found. "That's what we all
really need."
Several investigators met with family members and their attorney yesterday
afternoon to discuss the case and concerns about the house, said Truro Police
Lt. John Lundborn. A few Worthington family members were also led onto Christa
Worthington's property to discuss how to secure the house during the course of
the investigation, he said.
In a town that had only 17 cases of breaking and entering last year, the idea
of murder is preposterous, so much so that few people even lock their doors at
night. Depot Road, where Christa Worthington lived and died, is a typical Truro
neighborhood and had not seen an increase in crime during the past weeks,
Thomas said.
"I don't really think it was a case where somebody decided to go down that road
and murder somebody, but you really can't say for sure until you catch the
person," Thomas said.
The will
One day after Christa Worthington's body was found, her father, Christopher
Worthington, began proceedings in Barnstable to probate her will.
The sole beneficiary of Worthington's estateappears to be her her daughter.
Less than two months ago, Worthington changed her will from a testamentary
trust that would have taken effect when she died to a living will. A living
will allows a deceased person's family to avoid probate. It also allows a
living person to preserve assets for their heirs.
In the petition filed Monday, and approved that same day, Christopher
Worthington, along with Cape Cod Bank & Trust, were named as executors of
Worthington's estate and trustees of the trust set up for her daughter.
These actions followed the wishes of Christa Worthington, who signed the
original will in October 2000. Her daughter was born in May 1999.
The senior Worthington's actions in Barnstable Family and Probate Court set in
motion the routine legal procedures necessary to make his daughter's estate
accessible for support of her little girl.
The will calls for Christopher Worthington and Cape Cod Bank & Trust to serve
as trustees of the estate.
When Ava reaches the age of 25, the trustees must, on her written request, hand
over 50 percent of whatever is left of the trust fund.
When Ava reaches 35, the rest of the trust fund is to be turned over to her,
according to the will.
Should Ava die prior to age 35, then the trust fund is then supposed to go to
any of her children. If there are no children, then the trust passes on to the
grandfather.
In the event he is dead, the money is then divided up as follows: 20 percent of
the trust or $250,000 is to be turned over to Arnold - former boyfriend of
Christa Worthington. The remainder of the estate is to be given to Barbara
Holloway of London, England. Holloway was named as Ava's guardian in the
original version of the will.
Falmouth attorney Drew Segadelli, who is not connected to the case, said
probating a will one day after someone has died "seems a bit precipitous to me,
but since there is a child involved and the issue of guardianship, that might
be reason enough to begin the proceedings."
Lisa Sherman, Christa Worthington's attorney did not return calls to her
Orleans office.
Custody of Ava
Ava is now in the custody of Amyra and Cliff Chase, a Cohasset couple, who
three months ago agreed to become her legal guardians in case of Worthington's
death, according to court documents.
Monday, however, the couple filed an emergency motion to take custody of Ava.
Until then, Ava was staying with Linda Schlecter and Marty Knapp of Truro,
friends of Christa Worthington who baby-sat the child.
The Chases were awarded temporary custody - another hearing on the issue will
be held in three months - following a hearing in Barnstable Family and Probate
Court.
Court records indicate that Christopher Worthington supported the appointment
of the Chases as guardians for his granddaughter.
Worthington, herself, had named Amyra Chase as a legal guardian for Ava in the
codicil to her will signed Nov. 14, 2001.
In an affidavit filed Monday, Amyra Chase said that she and Worthington had
been friends since adolescence.
Chase stated that she was aware that Worthington wanted her to serve as a
guardian for the child and had confirmed her willingness to do so.
At Monday's hearing the state Department of Social Services, which got involved
because of the on-going criminal investigation, approved handing Ava over to
the Chases.
Although commonly recognized as Ava's father, Truro resident Anthony (Tony)
Jackett has never been legally determined to be the child's father, according
to court records.
"I'm still very worried about the child," said Tim Arnold.
As the police continued to work the case yesterday, some Truro residents are
nervous that the murderer is still on the loose.
"To add to the misery," said a caller to WOMR-FM in Provincetown yesterday
morning. "Whoever is the killer is probably a neighbor of ours."
"I live in Truro alone, and I have lots of friends who do," said another
caller. "Most of us are terrified by this. I haven't had a key in the eight
years that I've lived here and I never even think of locking my door.
Everybody's freaked out.
"I'm praying that it's someone she knew," said the caller. "And that may sound
callous, but it sort of lets the rest of us go back to our lives, if that's
even possible."
Staff writer EMILY C. DOOLEY contributed to this report.
Victim had recently pushed to formalize child support
By K.C. MYERS and EMILY C. DOOLEY
TRURO - Less than an hour after Ava Gloria Worthington was found clutching her
mother's dead body Sunday, police officers contacted her sometimes baby sitter.
"When we got the phone call I was just screaming," said Lisa Schlechter. "God,
the timing - everything since has been blurry."
Yesterday, friends and relatives spoke about Worthington, a former fashion
writer and editor who lived and worked in Paris and interviewed the rich and
famous. And about her desire to have a family, which led her to Truro seven
years ago and ultimately the rigors of single parenthood.
They also told about Worthington's quest in the last several months to get
financial support for Ava, from the toddler's father Tony Jackett of
Provincetown, a father of six who has been married for almost 30 years.
As police try to piece together the mystery surrounding the murder, Schlechter
recalled what may have one Worthington's last conversations.
On Friday the two spoke about baby-sitting her 21/2-year-old daughter the
following day.
Worthington mentioned maybe taking the child to Jackett's home. So it was no
surprise that Worthington did not call Saturday.
The next day, Schlechter called Worthington. "I couldn't reach her," she said.
Then Monday night, Worthington's family members decided the Ava should spend
the night at Schlechter's house.
"She asked for her mother a couple of times," Schlechter said.
A psychologist had told Schlechter not to hide details but to be gentle. "We
were just saying 'Your mother was taken to the hospital in an ambulance," the
baby-sitter said. "We were just keeping it real and not saying much.
"Oh God, it wasn't easy."
"A brave little girl"
It was one more day before Ava Worthington was told the fate of her mother.
"Ava learned today that her mother is dead. before she thought (her mother) was
sleeping, It was a very tough afternoon, a close family friend said Tuesday.
"She's a very brave little girl."
Schlechter has been baby-sitting Ava Worthington several times a week for the
past 18 months. It gave Christa Worthington time away from home to work on
freelance writing and take care of errands. "Christa was a wonderful mother,"
Schlechter said.
On Tuesday, Ava Worthington left Schlechter's house when Amyra and Cliff Chase
arrived in Truro. Three months ago the Cohasset couple had agreed to become her
legal guardians, and they were awarded temporary custody Tuesday evening.
Schlechter has promised to visit.
While friends and family members reminisce and deal with their grief, police
are trying to piece together the events of the weekend
"She was very intelligent, very sweet, very loving and really cared about her
family," cousin Patricia Worthington Bartlett said from her home in Georgia
last night. "This news has been absolutely devastating."
Despite the fact that the father was a married man, Ava's birth was considered
a "gift from the gods," said Melik Kaylan, a freelance journalist, founder of
Spy Magazine and a longtime friend of Worthington's.
He said Christa Worthington gave up a glamorous career in writing in Paris for
Women's Wear Daily, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar to settle down in her family's
homestead on Depot Road in Truro.
"She had hoped to meet a mate," Kaylan said. "However, she was having a hard
time with that."
Surprise pregnancy
Worthington tried to have a child as a single mother. She gave that up, when
doctors told her should could not get pregnant, Kaylan said.
So it was somewhat of a shock when, at the age of 43, she became pregnant as
the result of a brief affair with Jackett, 50, the shellfish constable in Truro
and Provincetown. He has been married for about 30 years. He and his wife,
Susan, have raised their six children in Provincetown.
Worthington was an active and dedicated mom.
"She used to run the baby back and forth on Depot Road," said resident
Elizabeth Groom.
Against the advice of friends, Worthington became focused on establishing
Jackett's paternity, which would connect him to Ava legally and financially.
Jackett earned about $30,000 in 2000 for working as shellfish constable in two
towns, according to Truro and Provincetown Town Reports.
Kaylan said her friends warned her it was a waste of energy.
"It seemed like a destructive path on her part," Kaylan said.
For a while, they had an agreement, arranged out of court, over child support.
But recently, Kaylan said, she started again on a campaign to prove that
Jackett was the father. Jackett's attorney, Chris Snow, said his client never
contested the fact that he was Ava's father.
Kaylan said no one understood why she was doing this. "She didn't need the
money," he said.
Jackett did not return calls yesterday.
However, his father, Anthony Jackett, a lifelong resident of Provincetown and a
retired fisherman, described an unusually amiable relationship among Christa,
Susan, Tony and Ava.
At first, Jackett and Worthington kept the child a secret from his family for
two years, the elder Jackett said.
For the first 18 months of Ava's life Jackett "didn't want anything to do with
her," Bartlett said.
Jackett told his wife about the baby last spring, because Worthington was
asking for child support, his father said.
"It was only in the past year she decided she needed child support," Bartlett
said.
Last January, Worthington sold a bungalow she owned at 80 Depot Road. It was
the home her grandparents, John and Ada Elizabeth Worthington, lived in for
many years. "Christa had mixed feelings about selling it ," Bartlett said.
One on hand she was sorry to deprive Ava of the family history but on the other
she had a child to support on her savings, inheritance and freelance writer's
salary. "She was concerned about (money) but I don't think she was worried
about it."
Susan Jackett responded to the news with amazing compassion, her father-in-law
said. Being welcomed into the Jackett family was something Worthington
cherished because "You can't have too many parents," Bartlett said.
Susan Jackett forgave her husband, and became attached to the child, the elder
Jackett said. The Jacketts regularly baby-sat and spent time with Ava.
"Susan is one hell of a woman," he said. "Not only strong, but compassionate
and understanding," Jackett's father said. "They want to adopt Ava."
Police have not named any suspects in the murder. They have questioned Jackett,
however, and another former boyfriend, Tim Arnold, who discovered her body.
Tony Jackett's father said it's inconceivable that his son would kill someone,
much less leave the baby in the home to be traumatized like that.
"I could never do that," Ava's father said Tuesday. "It's absurd to even
contemplate that this even happened at all."
Being a single mother over 40 was a big step and though Worthington was a
devoted and caring mother, she sometimes directed questions about motherhood to
Bartlett's children, who were near her age.
The 46-year-old would often pop over to Bartlett's cottage at the end of Depot
Road to chat with her cousins about Ava and ask for advice.
Custody fight between couple, slain woman's ex-lover
By Ellen Barry and John Ellement, Globe Staff, 1/10/2002
RURO - As investigators puzzle over who murdered fashion writer Christa
Worthington last weekend, an ex-lover is preparing to take legal action for
custody of Worthington's 21/2-year-old daughter, according to his attorney.
Tony Jackett, who says he's the father of the child, will petition Barnstable
Probate Court for custody today, said his lawyer, Christopher Snow.
But that move will be challenged by Clifford and Amyra Chase, childhood friends
of Worthington's who were granted temporary custody of the toddler, Ava, on
Tuesday.
''I know what Christa wanted,'' said Clifford Chase in a telephone interview
yesterday. ''She made us guardians for a reason. She wanted us to bring up her
child. She certainly didn't want [Jackett]. He didn't help in any way. There's
no doubt about it.''
Since a former boyfriend found Worthington's body on Sunday afternoon - in her
nightgown, with Ava by her side - Worthington's personal relationships and the
unorthodox manner in which she bore and raised her curly-haired daughter have
become a matter of public inquiry.
Jackett, a local shellfish constable who is married with children, has publicly
recounted his clandestine affair with Worthington, as well as her insistence a
year later that he acknowledge fathering Ava.
Now, Snow said, his client is going to pursue his right to custody - even
though the Chases say Worthington wanted them to have guardianship over her
daughter.
Authorities yesterday remained tight-lipped about the murder investigation,
keeping autopsy results sealed.
Police have said the intruder, who apparently kicked in the door of
Worthington's secluded house, likely was someone she knew. Police with trained
dogs spent much of Sunday in the woods outside her gray-shingled home searching
for evidence.
''At this point, details are not going to be released. We don't want to hamper
the police efforts to conduct an investigation,'' said Barnstable prosecutor
Michael Trudeau.
Five years ago, Worthington, then 42, wrote of her decision to bear and raise a
child alone, using humor to poignantly recount her search for a sperm donor.
When she became pregnant by Jackett, he has recalled, he was ''dumbfounded''
and wanted to keep it secret to protect his marriage.
But after he told his family, Jackett said, they embraced Ava as well as her
mother.
''Once [Ava's paternity] was disclosed, the family adjusted remarkably well,''
said Snow, who represented Jackett during the paternity process. ''I can't
myself imagine a wife who has been more understanding of what to many would be
unacceptable.''
That public acknowledgment, ''in terms of the mother having alleged it and him
having conceded it,'' proves that Jackett is Ava's father, Snow said.
Jackett, his wife, and their children say they want Ava to grow up in their
home, where she and Worthington were guests in the last year.
''I think it would have made her mother very happy,'' said Susan Jackett, 55.
''This child is a gift. I told Christa one time, `She is a gift.'''
But Clifford Chase said Jackett's move goes against Worthington's wishes.
Worthington had admired the way he and his wife raised their own children,
Chase said, and asked them to become Ava's guardians about three months ago.
And he noted that Jackett was not in court on Tuesday, when the court granted
custody to the Chases for 90 days.
But the Chases face an uphill fight.
Child-custody experts say the rights of a surviving parent can supersede the
expressed, written wishes of a deceased parent, even if the couple weren't
married.
If Jackett can prove he is Ava's father, the Chases would have to convince a
judge he is incapable of raising the toddler, said Peter Zupkofska, a Boston
attorney.
Fern Frolin, an attorney who practices family law, said the rights of
biological parents are so strong that even the suspicion of criminal activity
cannot cancel them. Police have not identified any suspects in Worthington's
murder.
''Remember that O. J. [Simpson] has his kids,'' Frolin said.
Meanwhile, Chase said, Ava seems in good spirits and shows no sign of the hours
she spent beside her murdered mother.
''She's doing well,'' he said. ''The police don't think she saw what happened.
But nobody really knows.''
This story ran on page B1 of the Boston Globe on 1/10/2002.
Maggie
"There are no stupid questions. There are, however, many inquisitive idiots."
-- Unknown
SuRobrtson
have any evidence to speak of but that $700K left to little Ava sure sounds
like a motive to me. On another point, why would Arnold go to the back door to
return a flashlight? Why not just leave it on the front porch? You know how
the experts say the perp often likes returning to the scene of the crime.
Maybe he was concerned about Ava because 36 hours had passed and still no word
about what happened. Wanted to check up on Ava so he goes to the house under
the pretense of returning a flashlight and "discovers" the body.
Camasal
Worthington's secluded house, likely was someone she knew."
What do you make of the fact that the kitchen door was "kicked in" and the
police maintaining it was someone she knew? If the person was someone
Christa knew having the door kicked in would mean she didn't want the person
in and so wouldn't open the door. So why wasn't she on the phone dialing
911 at that point?
Or do you think the person was kicking the door in while Christa was asleep
and she came into the kitchen and the person was in the house and murdered
her - but that to me would not necessarily indicate she knew the person.
Also wouldn't she have called 911 or something if she were awakened by
someone breaking into her house?
Camasal
"Maggie" <maggi...@aol.comSPAMBLOC> wrote in message
news:20020110093245...@mb-dh.aol.com...
Maggie
>"Police have said the intruder, who apparently kicked in the door of
>Worthington's secluded house, likely was someone she knew."
>
>What do you make of the fact that the kitchen door was "kicked in" and the
>police maintaining it was someone she knew? If the person was someone
>Christa knew having the door kicked in would mean she didn't want the person
>in and so wouldn't open the door. So why wasn't she on the phone dialing
>911 at that point?
>
>Or do you think the person was kicking the door in while Christa was asleep
>and she came into the kitchen and the person was in the house and murdered
>her - but that to me would not necessarily indicate she knew the person.
>Also wouldn't she have called 911 or something if she were awakened by
>someone breaking into her house?
***The kitchen door kicking in could be staging--to make it look like an
intruder did it. But it sounds to me like Worthington couldn't have been
expecting company if she was accosted while in her bathrobe. I wouldn't be
surprised if there was no 911 in a little place like Turro--the last murder
before this one was in 1968. Maybe she was asleep, heard a noise, grabbed her
bathrobe and went down to investigate.
As for the "someone she knew," local police departments have an unfortunate
habit of saying this every time a woman is murdered. I think the intention is
to prevent public panic and odds are, they're right--most victims know their
murderers.
>
>"Maggie" <maggi...@aol.comSPAMBLOC> wrote in message
>news:20020110093245...@mb-dh.aol.com...
>> Several articles on Christa Worthington's murder this morning. The most
>> interesting detail to me is that Ms. Worthington left an estate of
>$700,000,
>> but had been going after the baby's purported father (apparently paternity
>had
>> not been established) for child support. He made around $30,000 a year
>and has
>> six children (many of whom may be adults by now). The first two stories
>are
>> from the Cape Cod Times and the third, from the Boston Globe:
>>
Maggie
d~
My hunches run along the lines of Arnold or Mrs Jackett.
Arnold due to the "return the flashlight at the back door" excuse as
outlined above, former lover, and 'discovered' the body. But it just
seems too easy a solution.
Mrs Jackett, coz there's just something fishy about finding out about
an affair w/offspring and then so swiftly accepting the woman and her
child in your house. ALSO, her comments about the child being a gift
and precious and so on.... She seems awful fixated on that kid.
Transference of anger about the affair could lead to murder of the
mistress, especially if she thought they (mr. & mrs) would end up with
such a precious gift (child) under their own roof. along with the
fabulous cash prizes ($750K) that surely must accompany said gift
(kid).
d~
Patty
> Details of Worthington's will revealed; estate worth $700,000
> By KAREN JEFFREY and ERIC WILLIAMS
>
> Worthington's cousin, Patricia Worthington Bartlett, who lives in Georgia and
> spends summers in a house near the murder scene, thought it inconceivable that
> either man could be involved in the murder.
>
> "I know Tim and I know Tony and this is not in their range," she said.
>
>
> Victim had recently pushed to formalize child support
> By K.C. MYERS and EMILY C. DOOLEY
Cape Cod Times
>
> TRURO - Less than an hour after Ava Gloria Worthington was found clutching her
> mother's dead body Sunday, police officers contacted her sometimes baby sitter.
> "She was very intelligent, very sweet, very loving and really cared about her
> family," cousin Patricia Worthington Bartlett said from her home in Georgia
> last night. "This news has been absolutely devastating."
======================
And her aunt by marriage only died a few weeks before the murder.
Margaret Worthington, 92
Honored activist was longtime Truro summer resident
Provincetown Banner Staff
Margaret Worthington, 92, formerly of Kent and Hartford, Conn. and a
70-year summer resident of Truro, died on Dec. 27.
Mrs. Worthington was born in Jacksonville, Fla. She graduated from The
Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Penn., and attended Vassar College.
She married William Worthington in 1931. Their marriage lasted until
his death in 1990 and was an example of the strength and beauty of
love to many who knew them. Bill and Margaret lived in Kent from 1931
until 1967, while he was on the faculty of the Kent School. Margaret
was active in the League of Women Voters and brought Eleanor Roosevelt
to speak at Kent. She later took Alan Paton to meet Mrs. Roosevelt at
Hyde Park. At the suggestion of Dr. Parker Dooley, she and Bill
accepted foster children in their home after their own children had
grown.
In 1963 Margaret completed her undergraduate work at the University of
Hartford, receiving a B.A. Summa cum Laude, then earned a master of
social work degree at the University of Connecticut in Hartford.
Margaret joined the Connecticut State Welfare Dept.'s Division of
Protective Services as a case worker in 1965, rising to supervisor
before she resigned in 1972.
After the Worthingtons moved to Hartford in 1967, Margaret worked as a
hospice volunteer in public housing communities there, and she joined
her spouse as a prison visitor for the Connecticut Prison Association.
Some of the inmates the Worthingtons worked with in the prison became
visitors in Truro and Hartford in later years. Margaret founded Women
in Crisis (now Families in Crisis), a nonprofit organization to
provide advice and support to women and families whose men had entered
prison for the first time. She received a National Activist Award in
1977 from President Jimmy Carter for this work.
She was also a founding trustee of the Truro Conservation Trust in
1981.
Surviving are her sister, Harriet Gibbs Gardiner of Jacksonville,
Fla.; a daughter, Patricia Worthington Bartlett of St. Simons Island,
Ga. and Truro; and a son, William Cheney Worthington of Truro; as well
as seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and numerous nephews
and nieces.
At Margaret's request there are no plans for a service. Memorial
donations may be sent to Families in Crisis or to the Truro
Conservation Trust.