One man is dead and his girlfriend is in custody following a shooting Wednesday night in Duchesne, reports the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office. 51-year-old Guy Wells Mecham was found dead in his home at 683 East 300 North at about 9:40pm on August 2nd. According to Sheriff Dave Boren, Mecham shared the home with 41-year-old Stephanie Dawn Payan, his girlfriend, and her teenage daughter. Following an argument, Mecham left the home for several hours that afternoon. During his absence, Payan gave her daughter a credit card and cash, telling the girl “you’re going to need this.” Payan told investigators that Mecham returned home four or five hours later. The couple argued again and Mecham told Payan he was leaving her. “When Mecham walked out of the master bedroom, Payan retrieved a handgun, followed Mecham down the hall and shot him once in the back,” shares detectives. “Mecham made it back to the bedroom despite the wound and handed his cellphone to Payan’s daughter, asking her to call 9-1-1…Payan allegedly took the phone from the girl, preventing her from calling for help. Then Payan told the girl to pack her belongings and called the girl’s father, telling him he needed to come get their daughter because she had just shot Mecham.” The girl’s father called 9-1-1 but did not know the address and then called Payan urging her to call 9-1-1. She then called and told dispatchers that she shot Mecham and he might be dead. “The first deputy to arrive at the home found Payan sitting in the vehicle outside, her daughter in her bedroom inside the home, and Mecham dead in the doorway of the master bedroom,” shares Sheriff Boren. Payan’s daughter was interviewed and then released to her father. Payan was booked into the Duchesne County Jail for investigation of murder, domestic violence in the presence of a minor, and interruption of a communication device. Duchesne County prosecutors are expected to file formal charges in 8th District Court this week.
