Pervis Tyrone Payne was born on March 1, 1967.

On June 27, 1987, Pervis Tyrone Payne was involved in a brutal crime in Tennessee. He was accused of attempting to rape Charisse Christopher and murdering her and her two-year-old daughter, Lacie Jo. Neighbors reported hearing loud noises and called the police. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Payne leaving the apartment building covered in blood.

The police discovered a horrific scene inside the apartment. Charisse Christopher had suffered forty-two stab wounds. Her daughter, Lacie Jo, and her three-year-old son, Nicholas, also had stab wounds. Nicholas was found holding his intestines during transport to the hospital.

Payne initially claimed he was in the building to visit his girlfriend and heard screams. He stated that he attempted to help the victims. Witnesses reported seeing another man fleeing the scene right before Payne arrived. Evidence collected at the scene included his fingerprints on malt liquor cans, the victims' blood on his clothes, and his belongings left behind.

A trial followed, with many witnesses, including police officers and neighbors, testifying against Payne. The evidence presented was described as overwhelming, leading the jury to convict him on multiple counts, including two counts of first-degree murder. During the sentencing phase, the court allowed both the defense and prosecution to present evidence. The jury sentenced Payne to death.

After his conviction, Payne appealed the decision to higher courts. His case reached the United States Supreme Court. On June 27, 1991, the Court ruled that victim impact statements could be used in death penalty cases, marking a significant change in legal practice.

Over the years, Payne faced multiple scheduled executions, but they were postponed. He maintained his innocence, garnering support from various advocacy groups. In 2021, he was deemed ineligible for execution due to an intellectual disability and was resentenced to two concurrent life sentences, with the possibility of parole in 2027.