Idaho Death Row Inmate Dies from Illness

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho death row inmate has died after a chronic illness. Prison officials say he recently decided to refuse medical treatment, but they did not disclose the nature of the illness.

Darrell Edward Payne was sentenced to death after he kidnapped, raped and murdered 22-year-old Samantha Maher on July 6, 2000. He was later convicted of three more rapes — a Boise woman in her apartment and two 14-year-old girls on the Boise greenbelt, all just days before Maher's murder.

Payne's death means there are now just 10 people on Idaho's death row. Idaho Department of Correction spokesman Jeff Ray says Payne was pronounced dead early Thursday morning.