The murders of Billy Payne and Billie Jean Hayworth were incredibly senseless. The case would end up being dubbed “The Facebook Murders” because of an ongoing feud between the victims and a woman named Jenelle Potter who had moved to their small town years earlier. Strangely enough, all three had been part of the same friend group at one time, but unreciprocated romantic feelings would tear the friend group apart. The case would involve catfishing, manipulation, Facebook…. and even the CIA.
Thank you to the astounding David White for research assistance
References
Diaz, Joseph, and Alexa Valiente. 2015. “How a Social Media Feud Led to the Murder of a Young Tennessee Couple.” ABC News, October 9.
Ghianni, Tim. 2012. “Handguns Found at Home of ‘Facebook’ Murder Suspect.” Fort McMurray Today, February 15.
Lee, Murry, Ashley Sharp, and Slater Teague. 2021. Daughter, mother convicted in ‘Facebook murders’ case asking for new trials. July 12. Accessed December 23, 2022. https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/mother-daughter-convicted-in-facebook-murders-case-to-appear-in-court-tuesday/.
Schoals, Gayle. 2016. “Tricked Into Murder: Obsession, CIA Conspiracies and Shocking Killings.” The Sun, September 4.
Sharp, Ashley. 2021. Attorneys respond to ‘guilty’ plea, reduced sentence of Barbara Potter in 2012 ‘Facebook Murders’. November 11. Accessed December 26, 2022. https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/attorneys-respond-to-guilty-plea-reduced-sentence-of-barbara-potter-in-2012-facebook-murders/.
State of Tennessee v. Barbara Mae Potter. 2018. E2015-02262-CCA-R3-CD (Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Knoxville, September 26).
State of Tennessee v. Marvin E. Potter. 2016. E2015-00013-CCA-R3-CD (Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Knoxville, March 8).
Thompson, John. 2012. “Slaying Suspect’s Daughter Interviewed .” Knoxville News Sentinel, February 10.
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