INDIANA. (WFIE) - Just after midnight Friday morning in Michigan City, Indiana, the Indiana Supreme Court’s order to execute Roy Lee Ward was carried out.

Just over 30 minutes later, officials say he was pronounced dead.

In July of 2001, Ward raped and murdered 15-year-old Stacy Payne in Spencer County.

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

[Stefanie Silvey Investigates: Roy Lee Ward]

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 of Payne’s rape and murder and was sentenced to death, however, the trial and conviction were overturned due to “pre-trial publicity.”

During his second trial in 2007 , Ward pleaded guil

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