A man who deceived a teenage girl into allowing him entry into her residence under the guise of searching for a lost dog has been put to death for committing rape and murder.
Roy Lee Ward killed 15-year-old Stacy Payne at her home in Dale, Indiana, after gaining access by pretending to look for his missing pet. Upon her opening the door, Ward, then 29, forced his way in, bound Stacy, and savagely assaulted her, prompting her sister to alert the authorities.
During a hearing seeking clemency, state attorneys recounted the disturbing events of the assault on July 11, 2001, which deeply affected the local community. Neighbor Carolyn Black expressed the community’s shock and sadness over the tragic incident.
Indiana carried out Ward’s execution via lethal injection shortly after midnight on October 10. The 53-year-old was pronounced dead at 12:33 am by the Indiana Department of Corrections. His final meal, sourced from Texas Corral, comprised a variety of items. Ward’s last words, “Brian is going to read them,” were shared by Department of Corrections officials.
Ward was slated for execution 22 years ago but had exhausted all legal avenues to challenge it. Governor Mike Braun denied his clemency request in September based on the Indiana Parole Board’s recommendation.
Despite filing two federal lawsuits to stall the execution by contesting the state’s lethal injection process and broader execution procedures, Ward withdrew them, paving the way for his execution, which occurred early on a Friday.
In a joint filing on October 2, Ward’s legal team and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office reached an agreement addressing concerns about the handling and storage of execution drugs.
Stacy’s father, residing in the same house, chose not to attend the execution. Family members remembered Stacy, an honor student and cheerleader, as a vibrant individual who cherished the song ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and worked at a pizzeria to save money.
Stacy’s mother, Julie Wininger, lamented the loss of her daughter’s promising life, emphasizing the void left by Stacy’s absence and the missed opportunities to witness her growth into adulthood.
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