Inset: Anthony Worley (Bay County Jail). Background: The Lagoon Motel in Panama City, Florida, where Worley assaulted his girlfriend (Google Maps).
What began as a leisurely trip to Florida quickly turned into a nightmare for a Georgia woman when her boyfriend, Anthony Wayne Worley, violently attacked her following an innocent compliment about her appearance. This shocking event unfolded at the Lagoon Motel in Panama City, leaving the victim with severe injuries, including a broken nose and eye socket.
Worley, aged 62, faced justice as he was convicted of aggravated battery, domestic battery by strangulation, and false imprisonment. The Bay County State Attorney’s Office confirmed the conviction in a recent press release.
The harrowing incident took place on October 12, 2024. According to prosecutors, the tranquility of the motel was shattered by the victim’s desperate cries for help. A concerned guest witnessed the scene unfold, observing Worley restraining the woman by her arm and neck as she pleaded for freedom, shouting “help me” and “I’m trying to leave.”
As the situation escalated, the victim attempted to flee the motel room, only to be forcibly pulled back inside by Worley. However, the quick thinking and bravery of a good Samaritan enabled her to escape. The Good Samaritan intervened, allowing the woman to seek refuge in his room and preventing Worley from pursuing her further. She remained safely in his room until law enforcement arrived on the scene.
Emergency responders swiftly transported the victim to a hospital, where she underwent urgent surgery to address the damage inflicted on her face. The recovery process began with the repair of her eye socket and nose.
In court, the victim recounted the events leading up to the violence. She revealed that she and Worley had been in a relationship for approximately six months and were considering relocating to the area. During a drinking session, an innocuous compliment from a stranger about her looks ignited Worley’s ire. The situation quickly escalated into a heated argument, with the victim expressing her desire to return to Georgia. This infuriated Worley, who resorted to violence by punching her multiple times, smothering her with a pillow, and brandishing a loaded firearm.
“I got one bullet for you and one bullet for me,” he told her.
Jurors convicted Worley in January after about an hour of deliberating. Prosecutor Jackson White credited the motel guest who intervened to help the victim.
“But for the brave actions of the Good Samaritan responding to her screams for help, there is no way to know what would have happened if the defendant had gotten her back into that room,” White said in a statement. “Because of his help, we do know the man who beat and threatened to shoot the victim is now facing prison time.”
Worley is slated to be sentenced on Feb. 18.
