DAYTON, Ohio – Paula Payne, a valedictorian and nature enthusiast, tragically became a murder victim at the young age of 20. Her body was discovered near the Dayton Museum of Natural History, now known as the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, sparking one of the most sensational murder mysteries in the Miami Valley in 1977.
Payne’s passion for nature, particularly birds, led her to study biology at Earlham College and teach classes to children at the Dayton Museum of Natural History. Described as enthusiastic and remarkable by her colleagues, Payne’s promising future was cut short on the morning of August 9th, when she failed to show up for work.
Following an extensive search, Payne’s body was found in the woods near the museum, revealing that she had been strangled with her own clothing. The investigation into her murder has spanned decades, with cold case detectives now focusing on a crucial clue – Payne’s blouse, which has never been tested for DNA.
Despite numerous leads and potential persons of interest over the years, including a former boyfriend and a man previously accused of raping a woman in the same area, Payne’s killer remains unidentified. Her family, friends, and former colleagues continue to seek closure, hoping for justice to be served after 45 years of uncertainty.
Anyone with information about Paula Payne’s murder is urged to contact the Dayton Police Cold Case Unit at 937-333-7109. As detectives continue their pursuit of justice, the community remains hopeful that answers will finally be found in this long-standing cold case.