ABC 20/20 “She was Almost Home” July 4 2025
20/20 brings viewers a powerful two-hour episode on Friday, July 4, 2025, at 9:01 p.m. EDT, revisiting the haunting case of Sierah Joughin, a 20-year-old woman who vanished while biking home one summer evening in 2016. Titled She was Almost Home, the broadcast, reported by ABC News correspondent John Quiñones, follows the desperate search to find Sierah and the shocking discovery that exposed a predator hiding in plain sight.
After Sierah disappeared near her rural Ohio neighborhood, friends, family, and strangers came together for an urgent search-and-rescue effort. Days passed with no trace of her, deepening the community’s dread. Investigators eventually uncovered critical clues leading to James Worley, a man with a violent criminal past. A search of Worley’s property revealed a barn hiding terrifying evidence of his plans and past crimes, confirming fears that Sierah had fallen victim to a repeat offender.
The episode features exclusive interviews with those closest to Sierah, including her mother, Sheila Vaculik, her aunt, Tara Ice, and her boyfriend at the time, Josh Kolasinski. It also includes powerful conversations with Sierah’s friends, Kelsie Langenderfer and Bailey May, who share memories of her vibrant spirit and the heartbreak of losing her.
She was Almost Home also highlights the voices of those who worked tirelessly to solve the case. Major Matt Smithmyer of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office details the investigation, while FBI Special Agent Devon Lossick and Task Force officer Dan Van Vorhis describe their tense interviews with Worley. In a chilling twist, the program includes an interview with Robin Gardner, who narrowly escaped an abduction attempt by Worley decades earlier, offering critical insight into his pattern of violence.
This in-depth 20/20 episode gives viewers an intimate look at the search for answers, the dark secrets unearthed in a quiet Ohio community, and the determination of loved ones to seek justice for Sierah. 20/20 airs Friday on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.
