On the evening of October 15, 1989, 68-year-old Acie Clifford Worthy and his wife, Carolyn returned to their McCalla, Alabama, home after church and were ambushed in their driveway by one or more assailants who shot and killed them. The killers dragged the couple’s bodies into the house and set the residence on fire; firefighters found the bodies inside the burned home shortly after midnight on October 16. Investigators describe the Worthys as prominent and well-off; Acie was a World War II veteran and an officer at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post who was known to carry large sums of money.

Authorities believe the primary motive was the murders themselves and that robbery was secondary — some cash and jewelry were taken while other expensive items were left behind. Ballistic evidence linked the Worthy killings to a January 1989 double homicide in Graceville, Florida, of Robert and Katherine McRae: both scenes involved an uncommon 9mm Israeli T.Z.Z. cartridge. Four months before the McCalla attack, someone in camouflage reportedly was seen watching the Worthy home with a scope, suggesting planning.

No suspects have been publicly identified or charged; the case remains a cold case. If anyone knew the Worthys, saw suspicious activity near their home in 1989, or has information about the 9mm cartridges, please come forward.