(MICHIGAN CITY) - Roy Lee Ward was executed by lethal injection at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. He was pronounced dead at 12:33 a.m. CT (1:33 a.m. EDT), approximately 30 minutes after the process began. His execution was carried out for the 2001 rape and murder of 15-year-old Stacy Payne.
Details of the case and execution
The crime: In July 2001, Ward entered Stacy Payne's home in Dale, Indiana, by pretending to look for a lost dog. He then proceeded to rape her and attack her with a knife and a dumbbell. Payne died from her injuries several hours later.
A history of appeals: Ward was convicted and sentenced to death in 2002, but the Indiana Supreme Court later overturned that decision. Following a new trial in 2007, he pleaded guilty and was again sentenced to death. His legal challenges continued for over two decades.
Clemency denied: In September 2025, the Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended against clemency, citing the "brutal nature" of the crime. Governor Mike Braun allowed the execution to proceed.
No media witnesses: Indiana is one of two states that bans journalists from witnessing executions. This was Ward's third execution since the state resumed capital punishment after a 15-year pause in December 2024. The previous executions were of Joseph Corcoran in December 2024 and Benjamin Ritchie in May 2025.