Fulks Sentenced to 20 Years for Killing U City Man

One of two people charged with killing 26-year-old Willard Payne, University City, has been ordered to serve 20 years in prison.

Dawn Fulks, 29, and Mellonie Jones, 22, were charged with beating Payne to death in the Kennedy Forest in Forest Park in June 2009.

According to KSDK, Fulks was convicted of second degree murder, armed criminal action and filing a false police report after claiming Payne tried to sexually assault her and her friend.

Jones is schedule to stand trial next month. 

Fulks was ordered to complete a seven year prison term for a child abuse conviction from a year earlier, then begin serving the 20 year term in the murder case.

Authorities say Payne went to the area with the two women to smoke drugs when he was attacked and beaten to death. At one point, the victim tried to flee his attackers, however they caught up to him and continued the attack.

A passerby found Payne while driving in the park the following morning.