Double homicide trial set for March

Payne, Lewis accused in killing of two in Beale Avenue home

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- More challenges are developing to the criminal charges in a Blair County double homicide case now scheduled for trial in March.

Almost 2.5 years have passed since Natalie Washington, 52, of Altoona, and Mikal Jackson-Stevenson, 28, of Philadelphia, were shot dead on May 28, 2020, inside Washington's residence on the 2600 block of Beale Avenue during a drug-selling dispute.

Isiah "Zay" Payne, 33, of Philadelphia, is charged with first-degree murder and faces the death penalty if convicted.

Onya Lewis, 33, of Gallitzin, who drove Payne to and from Washington's residence at the time of the fatal shooting, is charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and related charges.

In court Thursday, Lewis' recently appointed defense attorney, Kristen Anastasi, told Judge Timothy M. Sullivan that she's asking for dismissal of all charges against Lewis.

Anastasi said Lewis took Payne to the Broad Avenue residence for what was to be "a meeting" with Jackson-Stevenson and Washington, who was Lewis' aunt.

"(Lewis) knew that Payne had a gun with him for protection," Anastasi said. "She didn't think he was going there to kill the aunt and Jackson-Stevenson."

While Lewis wasn't inside the house when Jackson-Stevenson and Washington were shot, she was charged with second-degree murder for her role in contributing to their deaths in driving Payne to and from the neighborhood and their efforts to leave town, eventually ending up in Georgia.

In court Thursday, First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith called upon Altoona Police Detective Sgt. Shane Strobel for testimony in support of the charges.

The officer, who de­­scribed Lewis and Payne as "always together," spoke of how Lewis drove Payne to and from the neighborhood on the night of the shooting and how they made plans to leave Altoona after the shooting.

He also said it was Lewis' idea to flee Pennsylvania, based on text messages collected during the investigation.

"We're going to drive baby," Strobel said Lewis texted Payne in reference to heading to Georgia.

Strobel also referenced additional text messages Lewis sent after the shooting including one in which she told the recipient: "My boyfriend killed her."

Anastasi asked Strobel about a statement Payne made when interviewed by police, indicating that Lewis didn't know he was going to go through with the shooting.

"Everything he says is to protect her," Strobel said.

Anastasi was appointed in August to take over Lewis' case after Chief Public Defender Russ Montgomery reported a potential conflict with his continued representation.

Earlier this year, Montgomery asked Sullivan to order separate trials for Lewis and Payne so their charges could be evaluated independently. Sullivan, who recognized that the cases are intertwined, concluded in a ruling that the pair should be tried together.

Sullivan also ruled in August against challenges to the criminal charge Payne faces, as raised by his defense attorney, Richard Corcoran.

Corcoran, who was in court on Thursday for Anastasi's challenges, said after court concluded that Payne's case is ready to go to trial.

While Sullivan is retiring as a full-time judge at the end of December, he is currently scheduled to preside over the Lewis' and Payne's trial in his role as a part-time senior judge starting in January.

Sullivan has already scheduled jury selection in the case for March 14 to 17 and the trial for March 21 to 24.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.