The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

On November 9, 2015, a hunter discovered the nude, decapitated, and decomposed body of Samantha Payne tied to the base of a tree in the forest. Samantha's hands were stretched upward and bound to the base of the tree with a leather belt, and a 'coaxial cable' was tied around Samantha's wrists. Her head was approximately 14 feet from her body. Samantha's body was so decomposed that it was impossible to determine her exact cause of death. She had fractures to four of her ribs, and those fractures were caused by a 'crushing trauma of some type.' Samantha was alive when she was tied to the tree. Dr. Dunton testified that, based on his experience, he did 'not believe' that Samantha died of natural causes. Two of D's codefendants testified in exchange for plea agreements with the State. D appealed. D argues that the circuit court erred in allowing the admission of hearsay statements made by Samantha's mother at trial. D argues that Suzanne Payne should not have been allowed to testify to facts outside the scope of her knowledge and to what her daughter told her about her movements. D argues that it was an error to allow Suzanne to testify concerning the names of the individuals with whom her daughter hung out when using drugs because, he says, that information was based on what her daughter had told her and not on Suzanne's personal knowledge.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.