In the early morning hours of October 2, 2021, the life of 38-year-old Clifton Tyler, a male resident of Wagener, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. Deputies from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to his home on Wagener Road after receiving reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered Mr. Tyler deceased inside his upstairs apartment from at least one gunshot wound.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing the sound of gunshots and seeing a dark-colored SUV speeding away from the residence shortly thereafter.
The investigation into the death of Clifton Tyler quickly progressed, and within weeks, authorities had identified a primary suspect. On October 14, 2021, the Aiken County Sheriff's Office announced they were seeking 29-year-old Robert Gene Payne II on charges of Murder and Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime. Payne became a fugitive, managing to elude capture for several months. During this time, investigators also made another arrest in connection with the case. Taveisha Danike Porter, 28, was taken into custody and charged with Accessory after the Fact to Murder for her alleged role in the events surrounding Tyler's death.
The manhunt for Robert Gene Payne II came to an end on January 7, 2022, when he was located and apprehended in Jacksonville, Florida. His arrest was the result of a collaborative effort between the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, who acted on a tip regarding his whereabouts. Following his capture, Payne was held in the Duval County Jail as he awaited extradition back to Aiken County to face the charges against him. Information regarding the trials, convictions, or sentences for either Robert Gene Payne II or Taveisha Danike Porter is not available in publicly accessible online records.
