Murder on Nottely Dam Road

Union County double homicide suspect shot and killed in Canton

By Charles Duncan
editor@nganews.com

A 34-year-old Union County man is dead following a confrontation with Cherokee County, GA authorities. Anthony Payne was a person of interest in the Tuesday shooting deaths of his father, Charlie Payne, 59, and his stepmother Louise Payne, 67.

The couple's bodies were discovered Thursday by family members at their home at 1098 Nottely Dam Road, Union County Sheriff Mack Mason said.

Anthony Payne died after he fired on Cherokee County sheriff's deputies as they confronted him near Swan Lane in Canton, Sheriff Mason said.

“Two Union County residents, husband and wife, were found shot to death in their home on Nottely Dam Road,” Sheriff Mason said. “Their vehicle was missing, it was a 2007 Ford F250 pickup, grey in color.”

Sheriff Mason said that a witness saw Anthony Payne speeding out of Nottely Dam Road on Tuesday afternoon in that vehicle, which lead authorities to make him their prime person of interest in the case.

“We entered that truck on the GCIC as missing/stolen,” Sheriff Mason said. “That truck was located in Cherokee County, GA. Mr. Anthony Payne was not with that truck at the time that it was located by Cherokee County.

“Information from the persons in that truck led Cherokee County authorities to Swan Lane in Canton,” Sheriff Mason said. “At approximately 1:30 a.m., Cherokee County deputies encountered Anthony Payne, he brandished a weapon, deputies urged him to drop his weapon, shots were fired.

Family prays “Anthony Payne was pronounced dead at the scene in Canton,” Sheriff Mason said. “We had not secured murder warrants for Anthony Payne at the time of his death. We simply had a lookout for his father's stolen F250.”

Sheriff Mason said that two weapons were secured at the Swan Lane location in Canton. One weapon, the gun Anthony Payne used to fire at Cherokee County sheriff's deputies. The second, a weapon believed used to kill Charlie and Louise Payne, Sheriff Mason said.

“Obviously, this is all still under investigation at this time,” Sheriff Mason said. “We're working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office trying to piece all of this together.”

Events leading up to the shooting death of Anthony Payne in Canton began to unfold on Tuesday. That's when authorities believe Anthony Payne had a confrontation with his father at Charlie Payne's home on Nottely Dam Road.

Charlie Payne died in his living room, his wife Louise was wounded in the living room, and made a run for the bedroom, where she died, Sheriff Mason said.

“Unfortunately, we don't have a motive for this shooting, and we never will,” Sheriff Mason said.

Neighbors say the last time they saw Charlie Payne alive was on Tuesday when they saw him tilling his garden spot.

Charlie and Louise Payne were discovered Thursday afternoon by family members who had not heard from them in a couple of days.

Anthony Payne was a career criminal, in and out of state prison since 1997 for burglary, theft and drug convictions. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison 2006 for drug-related charges. He was released by the state Pardons and Parole Board in February 2009.
Anthony Payne returned to state prison in June 2011 for multiple theft-related charges. He was released by the state Pardons and Parole Board in October 2012.

All totaled, Anthony Payne spent slightly more than five years in prison for a laundry list of convictions in Union County, and two fraud convictions in Gilmer County, Georgia Department of Corrections records show.

Read the North Georgia News’ April 10th edition for more details about this tragedy.

April 4, 2013, 7:00 p.m. - Foul play suspected in death of two on Nottely Dam Road

By Charles Duncan
editor@nganews.com

The Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating what authorities believe is a double-homicide on Nottely Dam Road in rural Union County.

Union County Sheriff Mack Mason declined to release the names of the victims pending notification of family members. However, neighbors confirmed they are husband and wife.

The sheriff did say that the couple is believed to have been dead for a couple of days. They were discovered Thursday afternoon by family members who had not heard from them in a couple of days.

“We believe that they did not die by their own accord,” the sheriff said. “We have three persons of interests that we’d like to talk with about this case.”

“Is foul play involved? We definitely believe so,” Sheriff Mason said.

Neighbors say the last time they saw the husband alive was on Tuesday when they saw him tilling his garden spot.

No motive for the suspected murders have been determined at this time. The investigation continued into the night on Thursday.

Read the North Georgia News’ April 10 th edition for more details about this tragedy.


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	Union County double homicide suspect shot and killed in Canton By Charles Duncan editor@nganews.com A 34-year-old Union County man is dead following a confrontation with Cherokee County, GA authorities. Anthony Payne was a person of interest in the Tuesday shooting deaths of his father, Charlie Payne, 59, and his stepmother Louise Payne, 67. The couple's bodies were discovered Thursday by family members at their home at 1098 Nottely Dam Road, Union County Sheriff Mack Mason said. Anthony Payne died after he fired on Cherokee County sheriff's deputies as they confronted him near Swan Lane in Canton, Sheriff Mason said. “Two Union County residents, husband and wife, were found shot to death in their home on Nottely Dam Road,” Sheriff Mason said. “Their vehicle was missing, it was a 2007 Ford F250 pickup, grey in color.” Sheriff Mason said that a witness saw Anthony Payne speeding out of Nottely Dam Road on Tuesday afternoon in that vehicle, which lead authorities to make him their prime person of interest in the case. “We entered that truck on the GCIC as missing/stolen,” Sheriff Mason said. “That truck was located in Cherokee County, GA. Mr. Anthony Payne was not with that truck at the time that it was located by Cherokee County. “Information from the persons in that truck led Cherokee County authorities to Swan Lane in Canton,” Sheriff Mason said. “At approximately 1:30 a.m., Cherokee County deputies encountered Anthony Payne, he brandished a weapon, deputies urged him to drop his weapon, shots were fired. “Anthony Payne was pronounced dead at the scene in Canton,” Sheriff Mason said. “We had not secured murder warrants for Anthony Payne at the time of his death. We simply had a lookout for his father's stolen F250.” Sheriff Mason said that two weapons were secured at the Swan Lane location in Canton. One weapon, the gun Anthony Payne used to fire at Cherokee County sheriff's deputies. The second, a weapon believed used to kill Charlie and Louise Payne, Sheriff Mason said. “Obviously, this is all still under investigation at this time,” Sheriff Mason said. “We're working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office trying to piece all of this together.” Events leading up to the shooting death of Anthony Payne in Canton began to unfold on Tuesday. That's when authorities believe Anthony Payne had a confrontation with his father at Charlie Payne's home on Nottely Dam Road. Charlie Payne died in his living room, his wife Louise was wounded in the living room, and made a run for the bedroom, where she died, Sheriff Mason said. “Unfortunately, we don't have a motive for this shooting, and we never will,” Sheriff Mason said. Neighbors say the last time they saw Charlie Payne alive was on Tuesday when they saw him tilling his garden spot. Charlie and Louise Payne were discovered Thursday afternoon by family members who had not heard from them in a couple of days. Anthony Payne was a career criminal, in and out of state prison since 1997 for burglary, theft and drug convictions. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison 2006 for drug-related charges. He was released by the state Pardons and Parole Board in February 2009. Anthony Payne returned to state prison in June 2011 for multiple theft-related charges. He was released by the state Pardons and Parole Board in October 2012. All totaled, Anthony Payne spent slightly more than five years in prison for a laundry list of convictions in Union County, and two fraud convictions in Gilmer County, Georgia Department of Corrections records show. Read the North Georgia News’ April 10th edition for more details about this tragedy. April 4, 2013, 7:00 p.m. - Foul play suspected in death of two on Nottely Dam Road By Charles Duncan editor@nganews.com The Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating what authorities believe is a double-homicide on Nottely Dam Road in rural Union County. Union County Sheriff Mack Mason declined to release the names of the victims pending notification of family members. However, neighbors confirmed they are husband and wife. The sheriff did say that the couple is believed to have been dead for a couple of days. They were discovered Thursday afternoon by family members who had not heard from them in a couple of days. “We believe that they did not die by their own accord,” the sheriff said. “We have three persons of interests that we’d like to talk with about this case.” “Is foul play involved? We definitely believe so,” Sheriff Mason said. Neighbors say the last time they saw the husband alive was on Tuesday when they saw him tilling his garden spot. No motive for the suspected murders have been determined at this time. The investigation continued into the night on Thursday. Read the North Georgia News’ April 10 th edition for more details about this tragedy.

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