Daily Herald Exclusive
A wanted murder suspect with ties to the Tyrone and Port Matilda area is scheduled to be featured this Saturday on the FOX Television program “America’s Most Wanted.”
Sylva N.C. Police Chief John Jamison told The Daily Herald yesterday that 35-year-old John Raymond “Woody” Woodring will be profiled on this weekend’s program. Woodring is wanted in connection with the Sept. 18 shooting death of his wife, 48-year-old Bonnie Woodring, after breaking into a woman’s shelter where she was staying with her 13-year-old son. An “AMW” producer confirmed to The Herald the case is scheduled to be featured on this Saturday’s program.
Woodring has been on the loose and allegedly stole a vehicle, which led authorities to issue a nationwide alert for him and a blue Honda Civic. The Asheville Citizen-Times reported a possible sighting last week of Woodring and the vehicle in the midwest.
Chief Jamison told The Daily Herald the vehicle was recovered Monday night behind a Greyhound Bus terminal in Knoxville, TN.
The Associated Press reported the alleged getaway car was parked at the bus station for four or five days before the security officer called police Monday night to check its history and discovered it was connected to what has become a national manhunt for Woodring.
The car was next to a passenger boarding area, but authorities did not know if Woodring fled on a bus, according to the AP report.
“The Greyhound people are looking at his name and some other names, as well, in their computer system to see if one will match up," said Knoxville Police spokesman Darrell DeBusk in the AP report. Debusk added, “but nothing at this point that we are aware of.”
AP said Knoxville police impounded the car but did not examine its contents, according to DeBusk. That will be done back in North Carolina, where the car was shipped yesterday. Woodring had no known connection to Knoxville, authorities said.
According to the AP, investigators with the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson County (N.C.) Sheriff's Office remained in Knoxville Tuesday to try to pick up Woodring's trail.
“They are just trying to find any leads or anything else here in town. He could still be around this area,” DeBusk said.
The Daily Herald’s research discovered Woodring was listed as a part of the senior class of 1989 in that year’s Tyrone Area High School Yearbook. A check of Pennsylvania court records showed Woodring had a couple of minor brushes with the law in Blair County in the 1990s. One of those documents listed Woodring with a Port Matilda address.
Tyrone Police Chief Joseph Beachem was informed of the case last week because of the possibility Woodring might flee to this area where he still has family.
The “America’s Most Wanted” web site posted information about Woodring last week and its current home page features a photo of him and a link to a detailed story.
The web site said Bonnie Woodring took out a Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVO) Woodring just days before her murder. AMW reported when she went home with their 13-year-old son to pick up their things, Woodring allegedly assaulted her again and she had to be taken to the hospital.
“AMW” reported a warrant was issued for Woodring's arrest and Bonnie entered a domestic violence protection center. According to “AMW”, Woodring legally changed his name to Woody Woodring. He has several tattoos on his body. On his upper arm he has one of the television cartoon character–Woody Woodpecker.
“AMW” reported authorities told them that Woodring enjoys the outdoors and outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and boating. He loves talking on his cell phone and hanging out at bars while drinking Bud Light beer. He also likes photography and even has his own photography web site.
“AMW” noted that besides those hobbies, Woodring also likes writing and published a book called “The Convict Speaks.” In it, he writes about conversations that he had with inmates. “AMW” reports Woodring claims that he got the idea of writing the book while he was in prison for assault.
Bonnie Woodring was laid to rest in Houston, TX on Monday, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. The newspaper reported services were held under police guard and family members decided to have Woodring’s headstone bear her maiden name of Wilson.
To date, the “AMW” web site claims 907 fugitives have been apprehended as a result of its efforts. The program hosted by victim advocate John Walsh has aired on the FOX network since 1987 except for a brief cancellation in the 1990s that led to viewers and law enforcement officials demanding the show be returned to the air.
The program has a toll-free hotline to report tips that are relayed to authorities. The show’s tipline number is 1-800-CRIME-TV. Locally, this Saturday’s program is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. EDT on FOX 8, WWCP.
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On the net: www.amw.com, www.citizen-times.com
