In this brand new instalment of 20/20, airing on Friday April 5 at 9.00pm, ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman investigates a double homicide case that unfolded in Tennessee. The victims, 36-year-old Bill Payne and 23-year-old Billie Jean Hayworth, were found shot dead in their home, with their 7-month-old son miraculously unharmed in his mother’s arms.
Authorities initially suspected the murders were carried out by a professional hitman, but the investigation soon revealed a bitter online feud and a deadly catfishing scheme. Gutman untangles a web of incriminating evidence, including social media posts, texts, and emails, to expose a web of lies and uncover the mastermind behind the plot.
The episode features interviews with key individuals, including Joe Woodard, assistant chief of the Mountain City Police, and former prosecutor Matthew Roark. Additionally, Barbara and Jenelle Potter, the mother-daughter duo accused of orchestrating the murders, share their side of the story. The episode also includes insights from TBI Special Agent Scott Lott, Payne’s sister Tracy Greenwell, Hayworth’s sisters Beverly Morrell and Janie Hayworth, and the couple’s friend Lindsey Thomas.
The episode airs on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 9:00–11:00 p.m. EDT on ABC, with next-day availability on Hulu.