Rebecca Payne

Rebecca Payne

Suspect In Double Homicide Held On Stalking Charge

POSTED: 6:53 am EDT April 7, 2007

CARMEL, Ind. -- The man police said is the primary suspect in the slayings of his estranged wife and her boyfriend is being held without bond on a stalking charge.The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department said Toby Payne, 31, was taken into custody at his parents' home in Fountain County early Saturday morning.

Payne faces one count of felony stalking and was being held without bond in connection with a probation violation stemming from a previous felony conviction in Boone County.

Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Carter released few details about the Thursday deaths of Rebecca Payne, 32, and George Benner, 35, in Payne's home in the 11000 block of Central Avenue, near Carmel."We are still trying to build a timeline of communication that he had with his deceased wife up to and including the day of the murder," Carter said.

Toby Payne was initially held after turning himself in about two hours after the deaths, but was uncooperative in the investigation and was subsequently released Friday, police said.

Police declined to reveal the manner in which the victims died, but said they were investigating the deaths as homicides.

Rebecca Payne filed for a protective order against her husband in February and had recently filed for divorce, 6News reported. The couple's 6-year-old son was not home at the time of the killings.The victim in the stalking case was Rebecca Payne, police said.

Police pleaded for any information anyone might have that could help them in their investigation.

Previous Stories:

• April 6, 2007: Man Released After Questioning In Double Homicide
• April 6, 2007: 2 Found Dead Near Carmel; Estranged Husband Detained

Also see post for dear friend George Benner.