Richmond man to serve 30 years in mother’s death

David Ray Worsham, a shy man who never passed fifth grade, was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for killing his 83-year-old mother.

Richmond Circuit Judge Bradley B. Cavedo sentenced Worsham, 56, to 40 years in prison, with 10 years suspended. Cavedo found him guilty in May of the first-degree murder of Virginia Worsham.

Witnesses called yesterday by public defenders Katherine Poindexter and Jonathan Roth testified that Worsham loved his mother, but that the two had a long-standing disagreement over his crack cocaine habit.

Worsham told police he killed his mother about two hours after she criticized his drug use on Oct. 3, 2008.

"If he was not on those drugs, he wouldn't have done it," said Worsham's sister, Hazel Ford, whose tearful testimony prompted the defendant to bow his head and cry.

Prosecutor Elizabeth A. Hobbs argued that Worsham was aware of what he was doing when he strangled his mother from behind as she sat in a recliner in their home on Campbell Avenue in Fulton Hill.

"The community is not safe from this man," Hobbs said.

Authorities believe David Worsham strangled her with a cord from some blinds. As he did so, he told her he loved her and vowed to kill himself next, authorities said.

He told police he killed her about 4:30 p.m. and then left to buy cocaine. He said he returned home and smoked crack until as late as 5 a.m.

About 9:30 that morning, Worsham arrived at a city lockup in downtown Richmond and confessed to a sheriff's deputy.

When authorities asked him why he had killed his mother, he replied: "I smoke crack. That's why."

Charles Caperhart, a friend of the Worsham family, testified that Worsham loved his mother and moved in with her after her husband died. "She found security in having him there," Caperhart said.

Defense attorneys said that since Worsham's arrest, he has been attending church services and substance-abuse meetings in jail. He says he wants to teach others how to cope with their addictions.

"I'm sorry," Worsham told the court.

Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or .