Briana Payne: Mother, 3 Daughters Killed in Indiana Murder-Suicide
Briana Payne, 27, of Lake Station, Indiana, loved on her children like no other, according to her mother. Payne made a living by working as a secretary for the parent-teacher organization and a licensed caregiver.
Speaking to TV station WLS in Gary, Indiana, Payne’s mother, Lilly Owens, said that her daughter was loyal to a fault.
"She went out of her way to help anybody, anytime, anywhere, whatever they needed. She was Johnny on the spot, right there for them," Owens said.
Payne, who was raising three daughters, had recently told her husband that she wanted a divorce, according to Owens.
"Anybody suffering from mental illness, or if you have family members mental illness, please get help. Please get help. Don't do this. Anybody else," Owens was quoted as saying.
Police said that the family of five was found shot to death in a Lake Station, Indiana, mobile home park on Friday, February 21, 2025, in what police call a murder-suicide. With a search warrant in hand, officers arrived at home around 2:45 p.m. for a welfare check, and found five people dead.
The deceased were identified by the Lake County Coroner’s Office as Briana Payne, 27; Alayna Payne, 4; Ava Payne, 6; and Aurorah Payne, 7. They all died of gunshot wounds, according to authorities.
Also among the deceased gunshot victims was 31-year-old Robert Payne. The coroner ruled his death as a suicide.
Cathryn Presley, who gave Payne a job at childcare facility a few years ago, said they lost track of each other after her husband became a nuisance.
"Anybody that wanted to get close to her or the kids, he wanted to create isolation," Presley told WLS-TV. "We all knew that there were red flags."
Neighbors at a mobile home park in Lake Station, Indiana, said the days leading up to the murder-suicide of a family of five were anything but normal.
"They were arguing a lot for the last few days," next-door neighbor Sandy Goodman told CBS News. "I knew there was something weird, because the cars weren't moved, and they go out every day."
"Those little girls were just so full of joy and happiness, and playing. They were just awesome," Goodman was quoted as saying.
Another neighbor, speaking to local TV station FOX 32, said that the family had arguments, but nothing out of the ordinary.
"We've heard occasional arguments, but it would never seem like anything escalating. We also have not seen a lot of police activity here previously," the neighbor said.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are many resources available to provide support and assistance. Here are some key organizations and hotlines:
National Resources (U.S.)
National Domestic Violence Hotline – 📞 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788
24/7 confidential support, safety planning, and resources for survivors.
Love Is Respect (For Teens & Young Adults) – 📞 866-331-9474 or text "LOVEIS" to 22522
Focuses on dating abuse prevention and support for young people.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) – 📞 800-656-HOPE (4673)
Support for sexual violence survivors, including domestic abuse-related sexual assault.
StrongHearts Native Helpline – 📞 844-762-8483
Culturally appropriate support for Native American and Alaska Native communities.
