It was on the morning of Aug. 9, 1977 when 20-year-old Paula Payne said goodbye to her sister, Abigail, and headed to her job at the Dayton Museum of Natural History. It was the last time that anyone saw her alive.
Authorities said Payne went to work a little early on that August morning to get in some extra hours. She took a trail to work every day to her job as a summer camp teacher at the museum. She was full of promise with ambitions to be an ornithologist.
Abigail Payne said she received a call that morning from the museum, saying his sister had not reported to work.
Police said about 7:30 a.m. a worker in a nearby park reported hearing a scream. A few hours later, Paula’s co-workers from the museum stumbled onto her body just off the trail. They said she was naked and strangled to death by her own blouse.
Abigail Payne said, “You know, you remember high graduation and wedding days. One of things I remember vividly is the day my sister died.”
Police interviewed co-workers and collected evidence.
The case went cold until another important phone call two weeks ago from someone police are calling a concerned citizen.
Police decided to reopen the case. Investigators have sent evidence from the scene to be analyzed by brand new DNA technology and compared against a state database. However, authorities believe the true key lies with someone out there who has kept a secret for more than three decades.
Det. Patty Tackett said, “I do believe our suspect is sorry for what he did and does have a conscience and has talked to people.”
Police are asking anyone with information to call Det. Tackett at 333-7109.