Murder of Sarah Payne
Sarah Payne | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sarah Evelyn Isobel Payne 13 October 1991 Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England |
| Died | c. 1 July 2000 (aged 8) West Sussex, England |
| Cause of death | Suspected strangulation, suffocation or a combination of both |
| Body discovered | Pulborough, West Sussex, 17 July 2000 |
| Parent(s) | Michael and Sara Payne |
Sarah Evelyn Isobel Payne (13 October 1991 – c. 1 July 2000) was the victim of a high-profile abduction and murder in West Sussex, England in July 2000.
Her disappearance and the subsequent investigation into her murder became a prominent case in the United Kingdom, as did the campaign for changes to child protection legislation that resulted from the murder. The murder investigation was also notable for the use of forensic evidence, which played a major role in securing a conviction.
Roy Whiting was convicted of abduction and murder in December 2001 and sentenced to life imprisonment.