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207 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
Case Description
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On May 15, 1997, **47-year-old African American female Rena Mae Payne** was found deceased in an employee restroom at a Cleveland Regional Transit Authority bus turnaround. Her body exhibited signs of a brutal assault, including beating, rape, and strangulation. At the time, the case remained unsolved, with no immediate suspects identified.

In 2015, advancements in DNA profiling led to a breakthrough in the case. DNA evidence collected from the crime scene was matched to **Robert Gene ...Read More
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Victim Details

Rita Payne

Female

Cleveland

OH

1997-05-15

47

Rita

Payne

11/23/2025