Anthony Wayne Worley, a 62-year-old Georgia man, was convicted in Bay County, Florida, for a brutal attack on his girlfriend during a trip to Panama City on October 12, 2024. Triggered by a compliment she received while they drank at Lagoon Motel, he punched her repeatedly—fracturing her nose and eye socket—strangled her, smothered her with a pillow, and threatened her with a loaded gun, saying he had “one bullet for you and one bullet for me.”
Incident Breakdown
The violence escalated after she announced she was leaving for Georgia amid their argument. She tried to flee the room screaming “help me” and “I’m trying to leave,” but Worley grabbed her arm and neck to pull her back. A motel guest intervened, shielding her in his room until police arrived; paramedics rushed her for emergency surgery.
Charges and Conviction
Jurors deliberated just an hour in January 2026 before finding him guilty of:
- Aggravated battery (felony for serious injury via weapon or great force).
- Domestic battery by strangulation (felony under Florida Statute 784.041, as they cohabited).
- False imprisonment (felony for unlawfully confining her against her will).
Prosecutor Jackson White praised the good Samaritan’s role, noting it likely prevented worse.
Sentencing Outlook
Worley faces sentencing on February 18, 2026—mere days away. Florida guidelines suggest 5–30 years per felony count, potentially running consecutively given the gun threat and injuries; priors could enhance penalties. Victims’ rights under Florida’s domestic violence laws (Ch. 741) emphasize protection, including no-contact orders post-conviction.
This case underscores Florida’s strict stance on intimate partner violence, where even first-time felonies carry mandatory minimums if strangulation or weapons are involved.
