CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. -- Investigators are looking for information on a deceased man who is now a person of interest in the murder of Christine Flahive in 1995.
According to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, Jonathan Charles Payne has been named as a person of interest in the cold case.
Payne passed away of natural causes at age 49 in 2011, but Crime Stoppers and detectives are anxious to hear from anyone who knew or had contact with Payne around the time that Flahive was murdered in January 1995.
Flahive was last seen by family members at home, before she left on her bicycle to go to a local bar. She was known to frequent J.D.’s Lounge in downtown Punta Gorda during that time frame, and detectives believe multiple individuals who also frequented that establishment may also have pivotal information that can help solve this case.
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Cold case detectives have confirmed that Jonathan Payne had close ties to the Rollins Street location, which was searched in January 2019 by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office and the Peace River K-9 Search and Rescue team.
Payne, like Christine Flahive, was also a frequent patron of J.D.’s Lounge.
Anyone with information on Jonathan Charles Payne, or any other aspect of the Christine Flahive murder, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made on the P3Tips mobile app.
