A couple accused in the killing of a 76-year-old man last year have been indicted on several charges, including murder, by a Floyd County grand jury.

Jozell Payne was found dead in his home at 3408 Callier Springs Road on Oct. 18.

His daughter and her boyfriend are accused of killing the elderly man and then fleeing to Michigan in his vehicle.

According to the indictments, Payne was smothered to death by a gasoline-soaked rag on Sept. 17, about a month before police found his body.

Payne’s hands were bound, and his house was locked, according to the indictment.

His daughter, Laura Ann Payne, 33, of 304 Chambers St., and her boyfriend Edward Eugene Gaines, 36, of 1 E. Ninth St., were indicted on two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault, robbery, false imprisonment, three counts of theft by taking, identity fraud and transaction card fraud.

Gaines also was indicted on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

After robbing Jozell Payne, the couple took his credit cards, bank card, money, wallet, a .38 caliber revolver and a .45 caliber revolver, and fled in Jozell Payne’s 2004 Chevrolet Ava­lanche, according to police.

The suspects were captured on Nov. 12 in Dearborn, Mich., and extradited back to Floyd County to face charges.

Gaines is a registered sex offender. He was convicted of sexual battery in 1996, according to the Georgia Sex Offender Registry.

The suspects remain in the Floyd County Jail.

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