In the spring of 2020, the life of 52-year-old Natalie Washington was tragically cut short in her Altoona, Pennsylvania apartment. On May 28, she and another individual, 28-year-old Mikal Jackson-Stevenson of Philadelphia, were found shot to death inside Washington's first-floor residence on Beale Avenue. The discovery launched a double homicide investigation that would uncover a story of a drug dispute turned deadly.
Investigators quickly identified two individuals, Isiah “Zay” Payne, then 33, of Philadelphia, and his girlfriend, Onya Lewis, 33, of Gallitzin, as persons of interest. The investigation revealed that the killings were the result of a dispute over drug-selling. Lewis, who was Washington's niece, had driven Payne to her aunt's residence on the night of the murders. Payne entered the apartment and, following a confrontation, shot both Washington and Jackson-Stevenson.
Following the shootings, Payne and Lewis fled the area. Their efforts to evade capture took them to Philadelphia and eventually to Georgia. However, law enforcement tracked their movements, and on July 10, 2020, U.S. Marshals apprehended the pair in New Castle, Delaware. They were subsequently extradited back to Blair County to face charges.
Payne was charged with first-degree murder, while Lewis faced charges of second-degree murder for her role in the crime. After a series of legal proceedings, both ultimately entered guilty pleas. In November 2023, Payne pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder to avoid a potential death penalty sentence. Lewis pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder. The following month, Isiah Payne was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Onya Lewis received a sentence of 30 to 60 years of incarceration for her involvement in the deaths of her aunt and Mikal Jackson-Stevenson.
