Bio

Eric Christopher Payne was born in 1973. When Payne was just four months old, his father killed his mother and then took his own life. This left him orphaned at a very young age. After this, he went through a difficult upbringing, living in 22 different homes, shelters, and institutions over the next 18 years.

When he was eight years old, he was adopted by a man named Gerald Payne. However, their relationship was troubled. Gerald Payne later stated that he spent around $70,000 on counseling for Eric, but he felt they never truly connected. Eric had his own struggles during these years. He often lied, stole, and had difficulty fitting into the family.

At the age of 14, Gerald Payne decided to surrender custody of Eric. This decision marked another shift in Eric's life. Following this, he spent six years in a correctional center after being charged with distributing LSD. During this time, he got married in July 1996 while still incarcerated. He was released in January 1997 and began working for a drywall company. He moved into an apartment with his wife in western Henrico County, Virginia.

He struggled with alcohol and crack cocaine abuse after his release. This led to problems with the law, including exposing himself to women in public. A psychologist later described his sexual behavior as an abnormal extension of his desire for gratification.

Murder Story

On June 5, 1997, Eric Christopher Payne attacked Ruth Parham, a 61-year-old woman. He entered an office building in Hanover County, Virginia, where Parham worked as a cleaner. After asking to use the telephone, he struck her with a hammer, causing severe injuries. He attempted to rape her during the attack. Parham was found the next day after suffering multiple head injuries.

Just six days later, on June 11, 1997, Payne killed another woman, Sally Marie Fazio, 57, at her home in Richmond. He approached her while she was outside and asked to use her phone. Once inside, he attacked her with the same hammer, sexually assaulted her, and then stole money from her. He used excessive force, striking her repeatedly until he was sure she was dead. Afterward, he disposed of items related to the crime.

Payne also assaulted Ridley Fleck and her eight-year-old son, Dean, on the same day he murdered Fazio. He attacked them with a hammer outside a movie theater, causing extensive injuries to both. The police connected him to these crimes, leading to his arrest.

Payne was charged with the murders and other related crimes. In court, he pleaded guilty to capital murder for both Parham and Fazio. The evidence, including his violent history, led to a jury recommending the death penalty. On April 28, 1999, he was executed by lethal injection in Virginia.