Scott Weinberger

According to everyone they talked to, Billy and Billie Jean seemed like the last people who would be targeted by anyone. They had no criminal history, no pattern at all of high-risk behavior, and no associations with anyone who seemed capable of this kind of violence.

According to everyone they talked to, Billy and Billie Jean seemed like the last people who would be targeted by anyone. They had no criminal history, no pattern at all of high-risk behavior, and no associations with anyone who seemed capable of this kind of violence.

Janelle Potter was a 30-year-old woman who lived with her parents, Barbara and Marvin Potter, a former Marine that everybody called Buddy.

Janelle Potter was a 30-year-old woman who lived with her parents, Barbara and Marvin Potter, a former Marine that everybody called Buddy.

As a result, Janelle spent much of her time online, where she found a social outlet on Facebook and in other online forums.

As a result, Janelle spent much of her time online, where she found a social outlet on Facebook and in other online forums.

Of course, from an investigator's point of view, there is a huge gap between someone online trash talking and double murders. But still, if there was any history of animosity between the murder victims and Janelle Potter, detectives would have to dig in.

Of course, from an investigator's point of view, there is a huge gap between someone online trash talking and double murders. But still, if there was any history of animosity between the murder victims and Janelle Potter, detectives would have to dig in.

In tiny Mountain City, Tennessee, detectives investigating the double murder of Billie Payne and the mother of their son, Billie Jean Hayworth, are trying to piece together how an online feud could have possibly led to real-world violence.

In tiny Mountain City, Tennessee, detectives investigating the double murder of Billie Payne and the mother of their son, Billie Jean Hayworth, are trying to piece together how an online feud could have possibly led to real-world violence.

Despite an eight-year age difference, Janelle and Jamie Curd became an item, and the typically shy and isolated Janelle saw her social circle expand to include Billy Payne and his new girlfriend, Billie Jean, and then this being the modern age, those friendships were codified by the act of friending each other on Facebook.

Despite an eight-year age difference, Janelle and Jamie Curd became an item, and the typically shy and isolated Janelle saw her social circle expand to include Billy Payne and his new girlfriend, Billie Jean, and then this being the modern age, those friendships were codified by the act of friending each other on Facebook.

As we know, crushes and jealousy can certainly be the starter ingredients for larger conflicts. In this case, that conflict first took the form of an escalating exchange of words on Facebook between Janelle and Billie Jean.

As we know, crushes and jealousy can certainly be the starter ingredients for larger conflicts. In this case, that conflict first took the form of an escalating exchange of words on Facebook between Janelle and Billie Jean.

The falling out was typical of young people the world over, in which petty grievance and jealousies can lead to the end of friendships and the hurling of hurtful comments, also known as cyberbullying. But in this case, two of the people involved were now dead, and so police had more than enough reason to go question Janelle Potter.

The falling out was typical of young people the world over, in which petty grievance and jealousies can lead to the end of friendships and the hurling of hurtful comments, also known as cyberbullying. But in this case, two of the people involved were now dead, and so police had more than enough reason to go question Janelle Potter.

Janelle and her parents described to police how she'd been victimized by a campaign of online bullying orchestrated by Billie Jean and her friends.

Janelle and her parents described to police how she'd been victimized by a campaign of online bullying orchestrated by Billie Jean and her friends.

Of course, law enforcement officers are trained to take any threat online or otherwise seriously. And given what Janelle and her parents were describing, Janelle very well could have been a victim in this online feud. But according to the detectives that conducted the interview, there were also some red flags that made them question her story.

Of course, law enforcement officers are trained to take any threat online or otherwise seriously. And given what Janelle and her parents were describing, Janelle very well could have been a victim in this online feud. But according to the detectives that conducted the interview, there were also some red flags that made them question her story.