Payne Convicted of Armed Sexual Battery in 1996 Cold Case

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces today that Terrence Keith Payne, 44, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Armed Sexual Battery. Payne now faces a maximum of Life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Steven B. Whittington the week of Nov. 6, 2017.

On Oct. 19, 1996, Payne and three others were together in a Southside motel room. At some point in the evening, Payne slipped out of the motel room and went to the victim’s Arlington home, where he raped her at knifepoint in her bedroom. The victim, in her 40s at the time, fought the attack and was left with lacerations to her neck and hands. She was able to provide a general description of Payne, but was unable to identify him due to his face being concealed.

The victim immediately reported the assault and was taken in for a sexual assault exam. The victim’s rape kit was tested for DNA in September 2014 and results later identified Payne as the perpetrator.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Coreylyn Crawford and Erin Wolfson.