INDIANA. (WFIE) - The Indiana State Supreme Court has set a final execution date for Roy Lee Ward.

As we’ve previously reported, Ward raped and murdered 15-year-old Stacy Payne of Spencer County over 24 years ago in July of 2001.

Authorities say Ward pretended he was looking for a lost dog and convinced Payne to let him into her home.

State records show Ward then hit her with a five-pound weight and then stabbed her with a knife multiple times.

Back in 2002, Ward was found guilty in the rape and murder of Payne and was sentenced to death, however, the trial and conviction were overturned due to pre-trial publicity.

Then in his second trial in 2007, Ward pleaded guilty to the rape and murder where he was again sentenced to death.

In 2012, Ward had an execution date set for December 1

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