stacy payne what happened: Spencer county,Indiana executes Roy Lee Ward,murder of Stacy Payne

On October 10, 2025, the State of Indiana executed Roy Lee Ward for the 2001 rape and murder of 15-year-old Stacy Payne in Spencer County, Indiana. The crime remains one of the most brutal and haunting episodes in the region’s history, and the long legal journey of Ward’s case—through appeal, retrial, clemency petitions, and finally to execution—has drawn attention to the death penalty, forensic procedures, and victims’ rights in Indiana.

This article reconstructs what happened: the murder itself, the investigation, the trial and appeals, the debates around clemency and execution, and the broader implications.

Background: Stacy Payne and Spencer County

Stacy Lynn Payne was born February 24, 1986.  She lived in Dale, a small community in Spencer County, southern Indiana. The region is rural, with a close-knit population of roughly 1,500 in Dale. student: she was in the school marching band, a cheerleader, served on student council, and made honor roll consistently. Her family described her as bright, loving, and with potential. The murder devastated the community and left a long scar on her family.

The Murder: July 11, 2001

Entry and Attack

On July 11, 2001, a man knocked on the Payne residence door in Dale, claiming he was looking for a lost dog.  Stacy, along with her younger sister, answered. According to reports, the intruder gained entry under that pretense and forced his way inside. 

Once inside, the attacker tied up Stacy, raped her, and then proceeded to assault her violently using a knife and a dumbbell (or weight). She sustained multiple stab wounds, blunt force trauma to her body and head, and internal injuries.  Some reports indicate 18 blunt force injuries and lacerations, including one cut through the neck and one penetrating the spine. Also, evidence of sexual assault was confirmed in the autopsy. 

Stacy was found stripped from the waist down, lying on the floor, in critical condition. She was airlifted to a hospital in Louisville, but her injuries proved too severe; she succumbed a few hours later. 

Arrest at the Scene

Local authorities arrived and found Roy Lee Ward at the crime scene, still holding a knife and covered in blood.  He was immediately arrested. 

Because the crime occurred in Spencer County, local law enforcement led the investigation. The brutality of the assault, the forced entry, and physical evidence were central to what would become a high-profile prosecution.

Legal Proceedings: Conviction, Overturning, Plea, and Appeals

First Trial and Conviction (2002)

In 2002, Roy Lee Ward was tried and convicted of first-degree murder, rape, and criminal deviate conduct in Spencer County. On October 18, 2002, the jury returned a guilty verdict.  On December 18, 2002, he was sentenced to death, along with consecutive 50-year sentences for rape and criminal deviate conduct. 

However, Ward’s defense raised issues about pretrial publicity and jury impartiality. His defense argued that widespread media coverage and community outrage had prejudiced the jury pool. The Indiana Supreme Court agreed that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to grant a change of venue or draw jurors from a different county.  Thus, his conviction and sentence were overturned, and the case was remanded for retrial. 

Plea and Second Sentencing (2007)

Instead of proceeding with a full new jury trial, Ward entered a guilty plea in 2007 to the rape and murder charges. A second jury again recommended a death sentence, which was imposed. After that point, Ward’s appeals strategy shifted to direct appeals, constitutional challenges, and clemency attempts. 

Appeals and Legal Challenges

Over the ensuing years, Ward’s defense raised multiple legal claims:

• Constitutional challenges to the method of execution (particularly the use of pentobarbital) as potentially cruel and unusual punishment.