DENY PAROLE FOR 3x ATTEMPTED MURDERER FRED AUSTON WORTMAN III
The Issue
DENY PAROLE FOR 3x ATTEMPTED MURDERER FRED AUSTON WORTMAN III
Tell the Tennessee Board of Parole: Keep Fred Wortman in Prison
Our Request
We respectfully ask the Tennessee Board of Parole to deny parole for Fred Auston Wortman III at his upcoming September 9th 2026 parole hearing.
Fred Wortman was convicted after making three separate attempts to murder his estranged wife, Staci, the mother of his three young children. His crimes were deliberate, calculated, and repeated. More than a decade later, the trauma inflicted on our family remains, and we believe the reasons the Tennessee Board of Parole denied parole in 2019 remain just as compelling today.
In 2019, the Parole Board determined that the seriousness of these offenses and the applicable parole considerations warranted continued incarceration. Since then, Tennessee courts have repeatedly upheld the Parole Board's decisions and the criminal judgment. Nothing that has occurred since the last parole hearing changes the extraordinary seriousness of these crimes or the lasting impact they continue to have on our family.
Please sign this petition and respectfully ask the Tennessee Board of Parole to deny parole and keep Fred Auston Wortman III in prison.
Every signature demonstrates that victims' voices matter and that community safety should remain the Board's highest priority.
Why This Petition Matters
✅ Three separate attempts to murder the same victim.
✅ A 30-year prison sentence resulting from repeated attempts to kill his estranged wife.
✅ Parole denied in 2019 by the Tennessee Board of Parole—a decision that has since been upheld through multiple court proceedings.
The History of This Case
On June 5, 2015, Fred Auston Wortman III was arrested by undercover Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) agents after attempting to hire what he believed was a hitman to murder his estranged wife, Staci, in their family home while their young children slept just feet away.
He chose to carry out this plan while his youngest child was celebrating her 6th birthday.
Following his arrest, he was held on a $15 million bond.
As investigators continued their work, they uncovered even more disturbing evidence.
While awaiting trial, Wortman was indicted on another count of attempted murder after investigators alleged he had poisoned Staci's toothpaste months before his arrest - toothpaste that Staci and one of her children used.
Only weeks later, prosecutors filed a third attempted murder charge after discovering he had allegedly attempted to hire a fellow inmate to arrange Staci's murder while he was incarcerated awaiting trial.
This was not one isolated incident.
It was three separate attempts to murder the same woman—the mother of his three children.
On November 10, 2015, Fred Auston Wortman III, a former attorney and physical therapist, entered guilty pleas that resolved the Shelby County and Fayette County criminal cases against him. He received an effective 30-year prison sentence with release eligibility at 30%.
What the Courts Have Already Found
Since his conviction, multiple Tennessee courts have reviewed various aspects of this case.
Each time, the courts have left the criminal judgment or the Tennessee Board of Parole's decision in place.
After the Tennessee Board of Parole denied parole in 2019, the Tennessee Court of Appeals upheld that decision. The court concluded that the Board acted within its authority in denying parole based on the seriousness of the offenses and the applicable parole factors.
The appellate record describes repeated attempts to kill the same victim over an extended period of time. The court concluded there was sufficient evidence supporting the Board's decision to deny parole.
Since the 2019 parole denial, Fred Wortman has continued to pursue litigation related to his conviction and parole, including:
Challenging the Tennessee Board of Parole's denial of parole.
Filing a separate civil lawsuit against the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Board of Parole, board members, employees, and prosecutors.
Filing a lawsuit against a parole-hearing witness concerning testimony given during the parole proceedings.
Pursuing post-conviction litigation claiming the State violated his plea agreement by opposing parole.
Those proceedings have now been resolved by the Tennessee appellate courts, and the criminal judgment and parole denial have remained in place.
Why We Believe Parole Should Be Denied
This case has never been about one impulsive decision.
It involved repeated planning, multiple methods, and continued efforts over many months.
Even after his arrest, prosecutors alleged that another attempt was made to arrange Staci's murder while he was incarcerated.
For our family, the consequences of these crimes did not end with the conviction.
The emotional trauma, fear, and lasting impact remain today.
We respectfully believe the reasons parole was denied in 2019 remain just as compelling today.
Victims deserve to know that the justice system continues to value their safety long after a sentence is imposed.
Case Timeline
June 5, 2015
Arrested after attempting to hire what he believed was a hitman—who was actually an undercover TBI agent—to murder his estranged wife.
Summer 2015
Indicted on an additional attempted murder charge involving the alleged poisoning of his wife's toothpaste.
Fall 2015
Charged with a third attempted murder after allegedly attempting to hire a fellow inmate to arrange his wife's murder while incarcerated.
November 10, 2015
Entered guilty pleas and received an effective 30-year prison sentence with release eligibility at 30%.
September 19, 2019
The Tennessee Board of Parole denied parole.
November 2021
The Tennessee Court of Appeals upheld the Board's decision denying parole.
2021–2026
Additional civil and post-conviction litigation related to parole and his conviction concluded without changing the outcome.
September 2026
The Tennessee Board of Parole will again decide whether parole should be granted.
Public Court Decisions & News Coverage
For anyone wishing to review the public record, the following news reports and court decisions provide additional information about this case.
News Coverage
Action News 5 – June 2015 Arrest
Action News 5 – September 2019 Parole Hearing
Action News 5 – Tennessee Appeals Court Upholds Parole Denial (2021)
Court Decisions
2021 – Tennessee Court of Appeals (Parole Denial Upheld)
2021 – Tennessee Court of Appeals (Civil Litigation)
2024 – Tennessee Court of Appeals
2026 – Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
How You Can Help
1. Sign This Petition
Your signature tells the Tennessee Board of Parole that victims matter and that community safety should remain the highest priority.
2. Share This Petition
Please share this petition with your family, friends, church, coworkers, and social media networks.
3. Send a Respectful Letter or Email
Letters and emails submitted directly to the Tennessee Board of Parole become part of the official parole file and help ensure that the Board hears from members of the community.
Please send your letters or emails before September 1, 2026.
Tennessee Board of Parole
Victim Services Division
404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1300
Nashville, TN 37243-0850
Email: Victim.Witness@tn.gov
Please reference:
Fred Auston Wortman III
TOMIS ID #00558354
We respectfully ask that all correspondence remain courteous and focused on the facts of the case and the importance of victim safety.
Important Note About Donations
Our family is NOT requesting or accepting donations.
If you are prompted to donate after signing this petition, please know those donations go directly to Change.org to support its platform. Our family does not receive any portion of those funds.
The greatest way you can support our family is simply to:
Sign this petition.
Share it with others.
Send a respectful letter or email to the Tennessee Board of Parole before September 1, 2026.
Thank You!
For more than ten years, our family has lived with the consequences of these crimes.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who takes the time to read our story, sign this petition, and respectfully contact the Tennessee Board of Parole.
Together, we can help ensure that the voices of victims continue to be heard and that the seriousness of these crimes is never forgotten.
Please join us in respectfully asking the Tennessee Board of Parole to deny parole for Fred Auston Wortman III.
1,515
The Issue
DENY PAROLE FOR 3x ATTEMPTED MURDERER FRED AUSTON WORTMAN III
Tell the Tennessee Board of Parole: Keep Fred Wortman in Prison
Our Request
We respectfully ask the Tennessee Board of Parole to deny parole for Fred Auston Wortman III at his upcoming September 9th 2026 parole hearing.
Fred Wortman was convicted after making three separate attempts to murder his estranged wife, Staci, the mother of his three young children. His crimes were deliberate, calculated, and repeated. More than a decade later, the trauma inflicted on our family remains, and we believe the reasons the Tennessee Board of Parole denied parole in 2019 remain just as compelling today.
In 2019, the Parole Board determined that the seriousness of these offenses and the applicable parole considerations warranted continued incarceration. Since then, Tennessee courts have repeatedly upheld the Parole Board's decisions and the criminal judgment. Nothing that has occurred since the last parole hearing changes the extraordinary seriousness of these crimes or the lasting impact they continue to have on our family.
Please sign this petition and respectfully ask the Tennessee Board of Parole to deny parole and keep Fred Auston Wortman III in prison.
Every signature demonstrates that victims' voices matter and that community safety should remain the Board's highest priority.
Why This Petition Matters
✅ Three separate attempts to murder the same victim.
✅ A 30-year prison sentence resulting from repeated attempts to kill his estranged wife.
✅ Parole denied in 2019 by the Tennessee Board of Parole—a decision that has since been upheld through multiple court proceedings.
The History of This Case
On June 5, 2015, Fred Auston Wortman III was arrested by undercover Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) agents after attempting to hire what he believed was a hitman to murder his estranged wife, Staci, in their family home while their young children slept just feet away.
He chose to carry out this plan while his youngest child was celebrating her 6th birthday.
Following his arrest, he was held on a $15 million bond.
As investigators continued their work, they uncovered even more disturbing evidence.
While awaiting trial, Wortman was indicted on another count of attempted murder after investigators alleged he had poisoned Staci's toothpaste months before his arrest - toothpaste that Staci and one of her children used.
Only weeks later, prosecutors filed a third attempted murder charge after discovering he had allegedly attempted to hire a fellow inmate to arrange Staci's murder while he was incarcerated awaiting trial.
This was not one isolated incident.
It was three separate attempts to murder the same woman—the mother of his three children.
On November 10, 2015, Fred Auston Wortman III, a former attorney and physical therapist, entered guilty pleas that resolved the Shelby County and Fayette County criminal cases against him. He received an effective 30-year prison sentence with release eligibility at 30%.
What the Courts Have Already Found
Since his conviction, multiple Tennessee courts have reviewed various aspects of this case.
Each time, the courts have left the criminal judgment or the Tennessee Board of Parole's decision in place.
After the Tennessee Board of Parole denied parole in 2019, the Tennessee Court of Appeals upheld that decision. The court concluded that the Board acted within its authority in denying parole based on the seriousness of the offenses and the applicable parole factors.
The appellate record describes repeated attempts to kill the same victim over an extended period of time. The court concluded there was sufficient evidence supporting the Board's decision to deny parole.
Since the 2019 parole denial, Fred Wortman has continued to pursue litigation related to his conviction and parole, including:
Challenging the Tennessee Board of Parole's denial of parole.
Filing a separate civil lawsuit against the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Board of Parole, board members, employees, and prosecutors.
Filing a lawsuit against a parole-hearing witness concerning testimony given during the parole proceedings.
Pursuing post-conviction litigation claiming the State violated his plea agreement by opposing parole.
Those proceedings have now been resolved by the Tennessee appellate courts, and the criminal judgment and parole denial have remained in place.
Why We Believe Parole Should Be Denied
This case has never been about one impulsive decision.
It involved repeated planning, multiple methods, and continued efforts over many months.
Even after his arrest, prosecutors alleged that another attempt was made to arrange Staci's murder while he was incarcerated.
For our family, the consequences of these crimes did not end with the conviction.
The emotional trauma, fear, and lasting impact remain today.
We respectfully believe the reasons parole was denied in 2019 remain just as compelling today.
Victims deserve to know that the justice system continues to value their safety long after a sentence is imposed.
Case Timeline
June 5, 2015
Arrested after attempting to hire what he believed was a hitman—who was actually an undercover TBI agent—to murder his estranged wife.
Summer 2015
Indicted on an additional attempted murder charge involving the alleged poisoning of his wife's toothpaste.
Fall 2015
Charged with a third attempted murder after allegedly attempting to hire a fellow inmate to arrange his wife's murder while incarcerated.
November 10, 2015
Entered guilty pleas and received an effective 30-year prison sentence with release eligibility at 30%.
September 19, 2019
The Tennessee Board of Parole denied parole.
November 2021
The Tennessee Court of Appeals upheld the Board's decision denying parole.
2021–2026
Additional civil and post-conviction litigation related to parole and his conviction concluded without changing the outcome.
September 2026
The Tennessee Board of Parole will again decide whether parole should be granted.
Public Court Decisions & News Coverage
For anyone wishing to review the public record, the following news reports and court decisions provide additional information about this case.
News Coverage
Action News 5 – June 2015 Arrest
Action News 5 – September 2019 Parole Hearing
Action News 5 – Tennessee Appeals Court Upholds Parole Denial (2021)
Court Decisions
2021 – Tennessee Court of Appeals (Parole Denial Upheld)
2021 – Tennessee Court of Appeals (Civil Litigation)
2024 – Tennessee Court of Appeals
2026 – Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
How You Can Help
1. Sign This Petition
Your signature tells the Tennessee Board of Parole that victims matter and that community safety should remain the highest priority.
2. Share This Petition
Please share this petition with your family, friends, church, coworkers, and social media networks.
3. Send a Respectful Letter or Email
Letters and emails submitted directly to the Tennessee Board of Parole become part of the official parole file and help ensure that the Board hears from members of the community.
Please send your letters or emails before September 1, 2026.
Tennessee Board of Parole
Victim Services Division
404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1300
Nashville, TN 37243-0850
Email: Victim.Witness@tn.gov
Please reference:
Fred Auston Wortman III
TOMIS ID #00558354
We respectfully ask that all correspondence remain courteous and focused on the facts of the case and the importance of victim safety.
Important Note About Donations
Our family is NOT requesting or accepting donations.
If you are prompted to donate after signing this petition, please know those donations go directly to Change.org to support its platform. Our family does not receive any portion of those funds.
The greatest way you can support our family is simply to:
Sign this petition.
Share it with others.
Send a respectful letter or email to the Tennessee Board of Parole before September 1, 2026.
Thank You!
For more than ten years, our family has lived with the consequences of these crimes.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who takes the time to read our story, sign this petition, and respectfully contact the Tennessee Board of Parole.
Together, we can help ensure that the voices of victims continue to be heard and that the seriousness of these crimes is never forgotten.
Please join us in respectfully asking the Tennessee Board of Parole to deny parole for Fred Auston Wortman III.
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Petition created on July 29, 2026