Kokomo, Ind. — The Indiana Supreme Court has scheduled the final execution date for Roy Lee Ward, the man convicted of raping and murdering 15-year-old Stacy Payne in 2001. Ward is set to be executed before sunrise on Friday, Oct. 10.
The 2001 Murder of Stacy Payne
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On July 11, 2001, Ward approached Stacy Payne’s home in Dale, Indiana, pretending to search for a lost dog. He convinced the teenager to let him inside. Once in the house, Ward attacked her while her younger sister, the only other person home, witnessed the assault.
According to investigators, the girl’s sister called 911 and hid in a closet after seeing Ward holding Stacy down. State records reveal Ward struck Stacy with a five-pound weight and stabbed her with a knife.
When the town marshal arrived, Ward was found inside the home, covered in blood, and holding the weapon. Stacy was airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Two Trials, Two Death Sentences
Ward was initially sentenced to death, but he successfully appealed his first conviction, arguing the trial venue should have been changed due to pretrial publicity. During his second trial, Ward pleaded guilty, yet the jury once again sentenced him to death.
Legal Battles Over Execution
On June 27, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita requested an execution date. Ward’s attorneys filed for a 45-day extension on July 2, seeking more time to respond.
In recent filings, Ward’s legal team challenged the state’s use of a single, costly chemical for lethal injections. According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the state spent $1 million to purchase four doses of the drug — two of which later expired unused.
Ward’s attorneys claim the purchase violated state bidding laws and argue the drug could cause “severe pain” during the execution, raising Eighth Amendment concerns.
The court, however, did not rule on the execution-method challenge. Instead, justices stated that since no stay of execution was currently in place, there was no legal reason to delay setting the date.
Ward’s attorneys may continue challenging the method of execution, but it remains unclear whether the courts will grant a stay before the scheduled date.
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