Crime
Five People, Including Three Children, Found Dead in Northwest Indiana Home
Lake Station, Indiana – Authorities have identified the five individuals found dead inside a home in Lake Station on Friday afternoon, February 23, 2025.
Officers from the Lake Station Police Department conducted a welfare check at approximately 2:44 p.m. at a residence in the 6700 block of 9th Avenue.
Upon entering the home, officers discovered five deceased individuals, including three young children.
On Saturday, February 24, the Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed that all five individuals had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
The victims were identified as:
- Alayna Payne, 4 (homicide)
- Ava Payne, 6 (homicide)
- Aurorah Payne, 7 (homicide)
- Briana Payne, 27 (homicide)
- Robert Payne, 31 (manner of death pending)
The coroner officially ruled the deaths of Briana Payne and the three children as homicides.
However, the manner of death for Robert Payne remains under investigation, and officials have not yet classified it as either a homicide or suicide.
Lake Station Police have stated that they believe the incident was isolated and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
However, authorities have not released additional details regarding the circumstances of the deaths, potential suspects, or any possible motives.
The Lake Station Police Department, along with the Lake County Coroner’s Office, continues to investigate the case.
Authorities have urged the public to remain patient as they work to determine the exact sequence of events.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Lake Station Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through local crime reporting channels.
This remains a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more details become available.
ANGOON, Alaska — Roger Williams Jr., 35, was found dead Wednesday after he went missing during a cockle fishing trip near Angoon, Alaska, authorities said. Search teams found his body along the shore near Danger Reef Point after the U.S. Coast Guard discovered his empty boat the previous evening.
Alaska State Troopers said Angoon Search and Rescue found Williams shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday. Officials are transporting his remains to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. His family has also been notified.
Williams was last seen around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. He reportedly left the Angoon boat harbor in a red-and-silver, 16-foot Lund boat to go cockle fishing.
Cockle fishing involves collecting shellfish from coastal areas. Williams did not return as expected, and authorities later found his boat without anyone aboard.
Officials have not shared further details about his final movements or what happened during the trip.
At around 8 p.m. Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard found an empty 16-foot Lund skiff near the shoreline between Killisnoo Island and Angoon.
The discovery led to a search for Williams. Authorities looked for him after finding the boat with no one aboard.
Officials have not explained how the boat ended up near the shore or confirmed what caused Williams to disappear.
The U.S. Coast Guard joined local search-and-rescue teams and crews from Wrangell to look for Williams.
The teams continued their search after finding the empty boat on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, Angoon Search and Rescue found Williams’ body near Danger Reef Point shortly before 1 p.m.
Authorities have not released details about the conditions during the search or the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
Alaska State Troopers said officials are transporting Williams’ remains to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities have notified his next of kin.
Officials have not announced a cause of death. The medical examiner’s findings may provide more information about the circumstances of the incident.
The case remains under review as authorities work to determine what happened during Williams’ fishing trip.