May 23, 2012
MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Two days after a Mountain City couple was found with gun shot wounds to their head, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest.
A family friend found Billy Payne and his girlfriend, Billie Hayworth, shot to death around 10:00 a.m. Tuesday in their home on James Davis Lane in Johnson County.
They both were shot in the head. Payne's throat was also cut.
The couple's eight month old baby was found in Hayworth's arms, but was not hurt.
Payne and Hayworth lived at the house with Payne's father. He left for work 5:30 a.m. and everything was fine.
While investigators interviewed friends and family on Wednesday, Billie’s family had a simple request: the person who killed Billie and Billy to come forward and confess.
“She was such a happy person, such a happy mom,” says Beverly Hayworth Morrell, Billie Jean’s older sister. “I don't know why they would do this to her. I don't understand.”
The family is now taking care of the 8 month old boy.
“We don't have any suspects at this time. We do not have a motive for this,” explains Johnson County Sheriff Mike Reece. “Nobody has a problem with this boy. Everybody liked him. Everybody got along but as you know there's somebody out there that did have a problem.”
The TBI is now working with the Johnson County Sheriff's office to solve the double murder. The TBI is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
If you have information, call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or theJohnson County Sheriff’s Office at 423-727-7761.
