Shortly after midnight on October 10, 2025, the state of Indiana carried out its third execution since ending a 15-year hiatus on capital punishment. Roy Lee Ward, 53, was put to death by lethal injection at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, marking a grim milestone in the resumption of executions in the state. The case—centered on the brutal 2001 rape and murder of 15-year-old Stacy Payne—has haunted the small community of Dale, Indiana, for more than two decades and sparked renewed debate over the death penalty, the secrecy surrounding lethal injection drugs, and the nature of justice itself.
According to the Associated Press, Ward’s execution began shortly after midnight, with officials pronouncing him dead at 12:33 a.m. Central Time. The Indiana Department of Correction confirmed that Ward’s last meal came from Texas Corral: a hamburger, steak melt, French fries, baked potato with butter, twelve fried shrimp, a sweet potato, chicken alfredo, and breadsticks. His final words, as reported by the Department of Correction, were, “Brian is going to read them,” a reference to his spiritual adviser, Deacon Brian Nosbusch, who was present in the execution chamber. However, it remains unclear whether Nosbusch was permitted to read Ward’s prepared statement aloud.
Ward’s story is one of both horror and remorse. Convicted in 2002 for the April 16, 2001, attack, Ward raped and murdered Stacy Payne in her family’s home in Spencer County, about 30 miles east of Evansville. Authorities detailed that Ward used a dumbbell and a knife in the assault, leaving Payne with 18 blunt-force injuries and deep cuts to her throat and abdomen. Dale Town Marshal Matt Keller, the first officer on the scene, found Ward standing in the doorway holding a knife and tried to comfort the wounded teenager. Paramedic Jane Stout, who responded to the call, told the Indiana Parole Board last month, “I have never seen anything this brutal,” recalling that Payne was conscious but unable to speak, tears in her eyes as she struggled to breathe.
The crime devastated Dale’s close-knit community of 1,500. Payne was remembered as an honor student, cheerleader, student council member, and active participant in her school’s band. Her mother, Julie Wininger, told the parole board, “Our family has endured emotional devastation. Now our family gatherings are no longer whole, holidays still empty. Birthdays are sad reminders of what we lost.” She added, “8,839 days of emotional devastation,” had passed since her daughter’s death, and granting clemency “would tell the world that Stacy’s life didn’t matter.”
Ward’s journey through the legal system was long and winding. After his initial conviction, the Indiana Supreme Court overturned the verdict, ordering a new trial. In 2007, Ward pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death. Over the years, his case was reviewed multiple times by both state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, but his sentence was never overturned. In 2019, Ward sued the state in an attempt to halt all pending executions, but his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Last month, the Indiana Supreme Court declined to stay his execution, and Governor Mike Braun rejected his final bid for clemency.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said in a statement reported by the Indiana Capital Chronicle, “Early this morning, the execution of Roy Lee Ward was carried out, delivering accountability for the brutal rape and murder of 15-year-old Stacy Payne on April 16, 2001. Today, we honor Stacy Payne’s memory and bring long-awaited closure to her family and loved ones.” Rokita also praised the legal team that upheld the jury’s verdict and emphasized, “Let this stand as a resolute warning: those who commit such heinous crimes will face the full weight of justice.”
Yet the execution did not pass without controversy. Ward’s attorneys raised concerns over the use and storage of pentobarbital, the powerful sedative used in Indiana’s lethal injections. After years of difficulty obtaining the drug—owing to pharmaceutical companies’ refusal to supply it for executions—Indiana resumed capital punishment in 2024, citing new access to the required chemicals. The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported that the state spent over $1.175 million on lethal injection drugs in the past year, with doses costing between $275,000 and $300,000 each. The secrecy surrounding the source and handling of these drugs has drawn criticism from advocates and legal experts alike. Indiana law shields the identity of drug suppliers, and the Department of Correction has refused to disclose details about the procurement or storage of pentobarbital, citing a 2017 secrecy statute.
Another point of contention is Indiana’s policy barring media witnesses from executions unless invited by the condemned individual. No journalists were present for Ward’s execution, and the Indiana Capital Chronicle—a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging this restriction—was not invited. The lack of independent observation has fueled suspicions about the state’s adherence to execution protocols, especially after reports of irregularities during previous executions. Ward’s legal team had filed lawsuits alleging that the Department of Correction failed to follow its own directives in earlier executions, specifically regarding drug handling and the administration process. These lawsuits were withdrawn only after reaching an agreement with the DOC to ensure compliance with written protocols.
Outside the prison, a small group of anti-death penalty advocates gathered to protest and pray. Members of the Indiana Abolition Coalition and the Diocese of Gary read scriptures, while the nonprofit Death Penalty Action loaned the “Delaware Bell,” a symbol of protest rung at executions across the country. Abraham Bonowitz, executive director of Death Penalty Action, told the Indiana Capital Chronicle, “Roy Ward can be held accountable and severely punished without executing him.”
Ward’s defense team highlighted his recent diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder, arguing that it affected both his ability to communicate remorse and how jurors perceived his expressions of regret. In his written statement, Ward expressed deep remorse: “Stacy Payne was full of life and had a bright future. I took that away from her and her family. I wish I could go back and change things, but I can’t. I hate myself for what I did. If I could take with me every bit of pain I have caused Stacy and her family, I would. There is no excuse. I also hurt my family, I wish I could take that away. I have asked God for forgiveness, even though I feel I do not deserve it and cannot forgive myself. I hope my execution gives Stacy’s family some peace.” He continued, “While incarcerated, I have been on [a] journey to be a better person, and hope I did not fail. I have embraced God and believe the words He wrote are words to live by.”
Ward’s attorneys and spiritual advisers described a transformation during his time in prison. Laura Volk, a member of his defense team, told the Indiana Capital Chronicle, “I have witnessed a transformation. He has become a person who is kind and generous to the people around him. Clearly in prison, a person’s ability to help others is severely limited. They have little and little is given to them. Through the years, Roy has taken what he has and given it to others.” Deacon Brian Nosbusch, his spiritual adviser, said simply, “He knows he did it. He knows it was horrendous.”
Indiana’s resumption of executions has reignited debates over the death penalty, the state’s transparency, and the meaning of justice. Five men remain on Indiana’s death row, with four deemed competent for execution. For the family of Stacy Payne, the execution brings a measure of closure, though the pain of their loss remains indelible. For others, the questions raised about the process—and the very practice of capital punishment—are far from settled.
