Matthew Rourke

My name is Matthew Rourke. In January of 2012, I was an assistant district attorney in Johnson County, Tennessee, and I was the only prosecutor in the county. I did everything from speeding tickets to first-degree murders.

My name is Matthew Rourke. In January of 2012, I was an assistant district attorney in Johnson County, Tennessee, and I was the only prosecutor in the county. I did everything from speeding tickets to first-degree murders.

His friend came normal time as he was supposed to and called Billy from the driveway. Usually Billy was ready, but he wasn't. So his friend called him, didn't get him. So he stepped in through the sliding glass door on the side of the house. And it was pretty well known among everybody that knew Billy Payne that, you know, that door was rarely locked.

His friend came normal time as he was supposed to and called Billy from the driveway. Usually Billy was ready, but he wasn't. So his friend called him, didn't get him. So he stepped in through the sliding glass door on the side of the house. And it was pretty well known among everybody that knew Billy Payne that, you know, that door was rarely locked.

The first witness went in and heard an alarm clock going on and called out for Billy Payne, but Billy didn't answer. So he just assumed he was sick or that something was going on, so he left.

The first witness went in and heard an alarm clock going on and called out for Billy Payne, but Billy didn't answer. So he just assumed he was sick or that something was going on, so he left.

He thought it odd that both Billy Payne and Billy Jean Hayworth's vehicles were there in the driveway. So he went in the same sliding glass door that everybody goes in and out of and walked through the house.

He thought it odd that both Billy Payne and Billy Jean Hayworth's vehicles were there in the driveway. So he went in the same sliding glass door that everybody goes in and out of and walked through the house.

He walked into the first room and saw Billy Payne laying there on the bed. He approached Billy Payne just to see if he was responsive and saw that blood going through the room and then saw the pool of blood on the bed and saw that Billy Payne's throat had been slit and he'd been shot.

He walked into the first room and saw Billy Payne laying there on the bed. He approached Billy Payne just to see if he was responsive and saw that blood going through the room and then saw the pool of blood on the bed and saw that Billy Payne's throat had been slit and he'd been shot.

They found Billy Gene Hayworth in the second bedroom, which was the baby's room. They had a seven-month-old at the time. And they found Billie Jean laying on her side in the floor holding the baby. The baby was covered in blood, but the baby was quiet at the time. Apparently, he had just cried himself out.

They found Billy Gene Hayworth in the second bedroom, which was the baby's room. They had a seven-month-old at the time. And they found Billie Jean laying on her side in the floor holding the baby. The baby was covered in blood, but the baby was quiet at the time. Apparently, he had just cried himself out.

I was actually in court that morning in Johnson County. I was notified that two bodies had been found. And as soon as I got out of court, I went down to the scene.

I was actually in court that morning in Johnson County. I was notified that two bodies had been found. And as soon as I got out of court, I went down to the scene.

There just wasn't a lot to go on. Nothing was disturbed. There was no forced entry. There were no obvious fingerprints, no bloody footprints.

There just wasn't a lot to go on. Nothing was disturbed. There was no forced entry. There were no obvious fingerprints, no bloody footprints.

Yes, this was not the typical homicide that you have in Johnson County. Most of the homicides in Johnson County are people that are familiar with each other. There's usually a lot more to work with at the scene, a little bit easier to put together. But because this crime scene was evidence-wise was actually pretty clean, that was what really piqued everyone's interest.

Yes, this was not the typical homicide that you have in Johnson County. Most of the homicides in Johnson County are people that are familiar with each other. There's usually a lot more to work with at the scene, a little bit easier to put together. But because this crime scene was evidence-wise was actually pretty clean, that was what really piqued everyone's interest.

By all accounts, it looked like a hit. It looked like something that had been pre-planned and carried out.

By all accounts, it looked like a hit. It looked like something that had been pre-planned and carried out.