Quardreka Payne was 32 when she was killed in Peoria, Illinois, on September 29, 2022. Payne, escalated early that morning. He allegedly struck her repeatedly in the face with an object, inflicting severe fractures, then shot her three times, including wounds to the face and neck. A forensic pathologist reported she was still alive after the shootings. The scene inside the house was described as having a trail of blood.

The same account states that Rickey Payne then went upstairs and shot his 8-year-old stepson, Cael Thornton, twice in the head; Cael was pronounced dead. Two 15-month-old twins who were in the room were not harmed. Rickey Payne called 911 and was arrested; he was charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Quardreka and Cael.

Does anyone have information about Quardreka’s life in Peoria or knew the family and can help fill in what happened that morning?