Murder of Christa Worthington

Christa Worthington (December 23, 1956 – January 6, 2002) was a United States fashion writer who worked for Women's Wear Daily, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, and The New York Times. She was also a co-author of several books on fashion.^[1]

Worthington was stabbed to death at her home in Truro, Massachusetts (on Cape Cod). Her body was found on January 6, 2002, with her two-year-old daughter, Ava, clinging to it. The child was unharmed.

On April 15, 2005, a local garbage collector, Christopher McCowen, was arrested and charged with her rape and murder.^[2] McCowen had lived on Cape Cod since about 1998 and had been a garbage collector whose regular route included Worthington's home. McCowen was charged on the basis of genetic fingerprinting and incriminating statements he made during a police interview.

On November 16, 2006, he was found guilty in Barnstable Superior Court of first-degree murder, aggravated rape, and aggravated armed burglary. He was sentenced to life without parole.^[2]

In January 2008, a hearing was held to determine whether racism was a factor in the jury's decision to convict McCowen. Three jury members testified separately that fellow jurors made racist remarks during deliberations.^[3] In December 2010, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied an appeal for a new trial.^[4][5][6]

See also

• List of homicides in Massachusetts