Dateline: House of Horrors – Who was Nichole Payne and what happened to her? Details of the 2007 homicide, explored

Dateline revisits a chilling murder case that tore apart a family in the quiet town of Quitman, Texas. Nichole Payne, a vibrant mother of four, was found shot dead in her bed in December 2007. Her teenage son, Taylor, was also found dead nearby, a rifle positioned between his legs.

At first glance, it looked like a murder/s*icide. But as details emerged, investigators realized there was far more beneath the surface.

So who was Nichole Payne? And what really happened inside that home? Here's a closer look at a case that took nearly a decade to fully unravel.

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Dateline uncovers - Who was Nichole Payne?

Nichole Payne raised two sons on her own before meeting Jason Payne. They met by chance at a gas station and married just weeks later. Friends and family were stunned, but Nichole was happy...at least for a while.

She created a life with Jason and eventually had two more children with him. The family bought their dream home in the woods, thanks to a $900,000 payout Jason had received after a car accident. But while everything looked picture-perfect from the outside, cracks were forming inside.

Nichole ran a small dove-release business and tried to keep things afloat. Over time, her marriage grew strained. Those close to her began to notice that something wasn't right.

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A tragic day in December changes it all

On the morning of December 11, 2007, Jason Payne said he left to drop his son Jackson off at school. He returned home with his toddler daughter, Remington, only to make a terrifying discovery - Nichole was dead in their bed.

Their 16-year-old son, Taylor, was also found dead in another room. According to Dateline, Jason's 911 call was frantic. He cried out on the 911 call, saying;

"My wife and my son are both shot. I need some help..."

Police initially thought it was a murder-suicide. A rifle lay across Taylor's body, and it seemed like the teen may have shot his mother before taking his own life. But something didn't sit right. EMT Leah Courtney, who responded to the scene, noticed Taylor's body was cold. Nichole wasn't.

That small detail changed everything. As investigators took a closer look, the murder/s*icide theory started to crumble.

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The evidence started to point in a different direction

Detectives uncovered several disturbing facts that shifted the case. A bloodstained rag found in Jason's truck raised eyebrows. DNA tests confirmed the blood belonged to Nichole.

Investigators also found out the couple had financial troubles despite their dream home and new lifestyle. Jason was set to receive a $100,000 life insurance payout on Nichole's death. It wasn't just a coincidence anymore.

Lt. Miles Tucker from the Wood County Sheriff's Office shared his observations. He said Nichole's body was still warm, while Taylor's was not - indicating he died earlier. That directly contradicted the theory that Taylor had shot his mother.

It became clearer that someone else had orchestrated the killings. Suspicion quickly turned toward Jason.

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A mother’s instinct, a family’s truth, and justice hard-won

Nichole's mother, Sherry Hawthorne, had long suspected something was off. She told Dateline,

"She wasn't happy that last couple years... He was controlling, very controlling..."

Her daughter had even spoken about leaving Jason, but feared his reaction. That fear, it seemed, wasn't unfounded. A relative told police Nichole Payne had once said Jason threatened to burn down the house with her inside if she ever tried to leave.

Ten months after the murder, Jason Payne was arrested. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison in 2010. His conviction brought justice but also cleared Taylor's name. Sherry said,

"It was heartbreaking to think that not only did a monster take Taylor's life at 16 years old, but he also tried to brand him as a murderer."

Jason went for a retrial in 2016, but was found guilty again. And yet, the story didn't stop there. Faye Payne (Jason's mother) had also tried to play around with a witness by asking someone to intimidate EMT Leah Courtney. Faye was eventually arrested and put on probation.

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Nichole Payne's story is one of love, fear, and an end that came far too soon. Through years of investigation and 2 trials, her family never stopped fighting for the truth and justice. What happened inside that house was a calculated double murder.

Also read: Dateline: House of Horrors – Who was Jason Payne and what do we know about his crimes? Disturbing details from the true crime episode, revisited

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