Deputies: Man wanted on homicide charges captured after citizen tip

Suspect caught in Sam's Club

David Payne, left, is wanted in death of Jasmine Samuel.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The man Orange County deputies have been searching for charged with the murder of a woman who called 911 reporting that she had been abducted and forced into the trunk of her car has been captured.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said that shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday a citizen who had seen the news reports and photos of suspect David Payne recognized him. He was in the cafe area of Sam's Club at Taft/Vineland Road and South Orange Blossom Trail. The citizen immediately called the Sheriff's Office. Deputies converged on the store and were able to confront Payne as he walked out of the store.

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Deputies said Thursday they were searching for Payne, 62, on charges of first-degree murder and armed kidnapping. His ex-girlfriend Jasmine Samuel, 25, was found dead Thursday morning.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said it had received a call just after 12:30 a.m. Thursday from Samuel stating that she was forced into the trunk of her vehicle by Payne.

Samuel gave a general area of where she had been abducted and deputies began an extensive search for her black 2014 Nissan Maxima, according to officials. 

Deputies said Samuel was on a break while working at; Sonoco Consumer Products just after midnight when she was forced into her trunk by Payne, who is also her co-worker.

Deputies found Samuel's body inside the vehicle's trunk just after 2 a.m. in the 9000 block of; 11th Avenue. Payne was nowhere to be found, according to deputies, who added a firearm was used in the homicide.

Payne was convicted for kidnapping in 1991 and served 5 1/2 years in prison. Neighbors said in that case, Payne also physically assaulted a woman and locked her in a trunk. Neighbors said the woman survived because Payne left the car at a hospital.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Jasmine Samuel and with the help of people here on Orange County, we should be able to bring some sense of justice to this family," said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.

Samuel was the mother of two girls, ages 4 and 7; Demings also said Samuel had expressed to her family that she feared for her life because of threats from Payne.

Friends of the family said that Samuel's two daughters are now staying with their grandmother.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call; Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.


About the Authors:

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.

Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009. When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com, Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby.

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