The Abduction and Murder of Sarah Payne
Sarah Evelyn Isobel Payne was the victim of a high profile abduction and murder in the UK in July 2000. Her disappearance and murder by a known sexual predator prompted outrage and calls for changes to child protection laws.
On 4th March 1995, in broad daylight, Whiting abducted and sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl at knife point. He was sentenced to just 4 years in prison and served just 2 years 5 months. Whiting had been forced the serve the last 5 months due to his refusal to undergo a sex offenders rehabilitation course. A psychiatrist who assessed him said he was likely to re-offend after his release.
On 1st July 2000, Sarah Payne was playing with her three siblings in a field near their grandparent's house. The four children were playing hide and seek and Sarah ran to the edge of the field and was never seen again. Sarah's older brother saw a 'scruffy' man with yellow teeth driving a white van, chillingly the smiled and waved to the young boy minutes after abducting Sarah. A nationwide search and televised appeals for Sarah's safe returned were made but Sarah's family were told to 'prepare for the worst.' On 17th July the naked body of a young girl was found, it was confirmed to be Sarah's. A pathologist determined Sarah had suffered a violent death with a sexual motive.
Roy Whiting was initially questioned 24 hours after Sarah's disappearance and spent 2 days in custody but was released. Police found a receipt for fuel from a garage near where one of Sarah's shoes was found (the only item of Sarah's clothing ever recovered). On 23rd July Whiting stole a car and was involved in a car chase, he was arrested and imprisoned for dangerous driving and his house and van were searched. Whiting was later arrested for the abduction and murder of Sarah Payne.
The evidence began to mount against Whiting, a strand of hair matching Sarah's DNA was found on a T-shirt in Whiting's van, a white van matching the description of his van was seen near the site where Sarah's body was found. A 'child abduction kit' containing sweets, a knife, cable ties shaped into handcuffs, baby oil and rope were found in his van and it was discovered on the day of Sarah's abduction he had visited multiple locations where young children could be expected to be including 2 parks and a fair. The prosecution described him as on the 'prowl' for a victim.
Whiting pleaded innocent but was found guilty at trial, he was given life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum of 50 years in prison. Whiting has been attacked multiple times while in prison by other inmates.