Facebook Feuds Murder– The Billie Jean and Billy Payne Case
Published by Crime Clueless Podcast
What happens when a Facebook block turns deadly? When petty internet drama jumps off the screen and into real life with bullets and betrayal?
You get the absolutely jaw-dropping case of Billie Jean Hayworth and Billy Payne, a young Tennessee couple who were gunned down in their own home in 2012—while their infant son sat in his mother’s arms.
And behind the trigger? Not one, not two, but an entire ensemble cast of the most unhinged murder squad we’ve ever seen. Picture it: A controlling matriarch with a gun obsession, a jealous ex who couldn’t handle being unfriended, and a group of confused accomplices who thought they were in a Fast & Furious prequel but were actually just in… Mountain City, Tennessee.
Let’s break this down.
The Victims
Billy Payne and Billie Jean Hayworth were young, in love, and raising their baby boy together. They lived in a small, tight-knit community where everyone knew everyone—and unfortunately, some of them were entirely too online.
Their only crime? Being happy. And maybe not wanting to be friends with toxic exes on Facebook. And in this town? That was apparently enough to get you killed.
The Real Housewives of Mountain City™
At the center of this chaos was Jenelle Potter, a then-30-something woman with a controlling family, no real independence, and a tendency to spiral when she didn’t get what she wanted—especially when it came to boys.
Jenelle claimed she was being bullied online by Billie Jean and Billy. She told her parents they were harassing her, spreading rumors, and making fun of her. In reality, they just… blocked her. (Can you imagine if that counted as bullying? We’d all be on trial.)
Enter: Barbara Potter, Jenelle’s mother, and—drumroll, please —wannabe-crime-boss grandma with a gun. She believed everything her daughter told her. And with the help of her husband Buddy Potter and family friend Jamie Curd, she helped orchestrate a murder plan. A literal kill list, signed off with love and rage.
The Murders
On January 31, 2012, Billy and Billie Jean were shot execution-style in their home. Billy was found in bed with a fatal gunshot wound to the face. Billie Jean was found in the nursery—dead from a gunshot to the head, still holding their baby, who was miraculously unharmed but covered in blood.
The level of cruelty and coldness here is unmatched—and all for what? Online drama?
The Investigation
Thankfully, the authorities actually did their job on this one. Through forensic evidence, interrogation fumbles, and an absolutely unhinged trail of emails and fake CIA messages (YES—FAKE. CIA. MESSAGES.), the truth came out:
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Jenelle’s emails referenced “orders” to eliminate threats
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Barbara was fully involved in planning the murders
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Jamie Curd confessed to being manipulated into helping
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And Buddy Potter, former Marine and proud trigger man, pulled it off like he was starring in a low-budget action film
Oh, and the “CIA agent” who gave the green light for the murders? That was Jenelle… pretending to be a guy named “Chris” in her emails. Because of course it was.
The Fallout
Every single adult involved went down—Jenelle, her parents, Jamie—all convicted of the murders. But honestly? Nothing can make up for the senseless loss of Billie Jean and Billy, or the trauma their baby boy now has to carry forever.
This case isn’t just about a murder. It’s about what happens when delusion meets dysfunction in the age of social media. And how dangerous it can be when people with power (even just over a daughter’s laptop) use it to justify revenge.
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The case of Billie Jean and Billy Payne is a tragic reminder that digital drama can become deadly—and that obsession, jealousy, and delusion are a dangerous mix. If you want to go deeper, here’s where to start:
🔗 Resources at a Glance:
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ABC News: “Tennessee Couple Killed Over Facebook Feud”
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Snapped: Barbara Potter Episode (Oxygen)
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State v. Jenelle Potter – Appeals Summary
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Casefile Podcast: Ep 189
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Websleuths Case Forum
🎧 Listen to the episode now:
Facebook Feuds and Front-Porch Executioners – The Murders of Billie Jean and Billy Payne
Streaming on all podcast platforms. Bring your headphones. And maybe delete your ex from Facebook.
Have thoughts on this story or other cases you’d like to see highlighted? Share them with us in the comments or connect with us on social media. Together, we can ensure that stories like this are never forgotten.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media, share your thoughts, and let us know what you’d like to hear about in future episodes. If you have any true crime stories of your own, send them our way crimeclueless@gmail.com to be featured on a future episode! And as always, remember: refuse to be clueless, careless, or caught off guard. Not today, murderers.
See you in the next episode of Crime Clueless!
🗂️ Billie Jean & Billy Payne Case – Research & Resources
📰 News Articles & Coverage
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ABC News – “Tennessee Couple Killed Over Facebook Feud”
One of the first national news reports on the murders, laying out the timeline and arrest details. -
NBC News – “Family Killed in Facebook Feud Plot”
Highlights the arrests and strange motivations behind the killings. -
The Guardian – “Facebook Bullying Case Ends in Murder”
A great summary of the social media conflict that led to murder. -
Johnson City Press – Local Coverage Archive
Use the site search for archived articles from 2012–2015; they covered every courtroom update in detail.
🎧 Podcasts & Documentaries
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Snapped: Barbara Potter (Oxygen)
Full TV episode covering the matriarch behind the murder plot, with interviews and case reenactments. -
Killer Cases – Season 2, Episode 6: “The Facebook Killers”
A docu-style episode with interviews from investigators, prosecutors, and family members. -
Casefile Podcast – Ep 189: Billy Payne & Billie Jean Hayworth
A highly detailed breakdown of the entire case from a research-heavy true crime podcast.
📖 Court Documents & Legal Analysis
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State v. Barbara Potter – Appeals Case Summary
Full appellate review of Barbara Potter’s conviction and sentence. -
State v. Jenelle Potter – Sentencing & Appeals
Includes Jenelle’s defense arguments and details on the fake CIA email plot. -
Affidavits and Arrest Warrants (via CourtTV archives)
Search for “Jenelle Potter” or “Billy Payne” to find original filing PDFs.
📚 Books, Forums & Deep-Dive Reads
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Unfriended: The Facebook Murders by Adam J. Daniels
A short nonfiction ebook that recounts the case and trial with supplemental background on the Potters. -
Reddit – r/TrueCrime Discussion Thread
Deep discussion, links to interviews, and memes that truly capture how bonkers this case was. -
Websleuths Forum – Jenelle Potter Case Thread
Long-running sleuth discussion including theories, transcripts, and media timelines.
📢 Social & Victim Advocacy
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National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
While this wasn’t a DV case in the traditional sense, it’s worth linking for resources related to online harassment and protective planning. -
The Victim Connect Resource Center
Offers confidential assistance and support resources to those impacted by crime, especially stalking or targeted threats.
