On February 15, 2023, in Arden, North Carolina, 23-year-old Lauren Michaela "Mikki" Payne was found deceased in her home from a gunshot wound. Authorities discovered her body after a family member reported concerns, leading deputies to the residence on Cutshaw Drive. Inside the home, they found Lauren's body, and outside, in a vehicle, they discovered the body of her boyfriend, 22-year-old Ian Clement Niesel, also dead from a gunshot wound.
Investigations by the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office determined that Niesel fatally shot Payne before taking his own life, classifying the incident as a murder-suicide. The couple lived together at the residence, and there were no prior recorded incidents of domestic violence between them. Detectives collected evidence at the scene, including a firearm believed to have been used in both deaths.
Family members of Lauren Payne indicated that they believed she was killed days before the bodies were discovered. They reported that Niesel had visited them, claiming that Lauren was unwell and staying inside due to a migraine, which they now suspect was an attempt to conceal the crime.
Lauren Payne was remembered as a sweet and loving individual who grew into a tender-hearted young woman. She was a free spirit, a lover of all animals, and was fiercely dedicated to animal rescue. Her unexpected passing left her family and community in deep mourning.
