The lead investigator in the excruciatingly slow probe of four murdered Idaho students is a 32-year-old US Army veteran who only joined law enforcement two years ago.
It has been over five weeks since Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were brutally slaughtered inside the house the girls shared in Moscow, Idaho.
Their killer remains on the loose, and the floundering Moscow Police Department is yet to name any suspects let alone make any arrests.
The FBI this week added 30 extra agents to the case in an effort to bolster their efforts.
Now, the lawyer for Kaylee's family has told her parents were told yesterday that the man in charge of the probe - Brett Payne - had been on the force for just two years.
The man in charge of the probe - Brett Payne - has been in law enforcement for just two years. He previously served in the army
Payne, shown with his brother Kyle when they both served in Afghanistan, was part of the 82nd Airborne Division
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Share'We are supportive of the investigation and everybody working on it, but we also have to hold people accountable for the decisions that they're making,' attorney Shanon Gray told NewsNation's Banfield.
'When went into the meeting on Monday, Brett Payne is the individual who identified himself as the lead investigator on the Moscow police department, who is on the case.
'My understanding is he was hired in 2020 as a rookie. He has a total of two years experience.
'I sent an email over to the Moscow Police Department, asking them to send some credentials over, for some experience or some education that Officer Payne might have that would give us some confidence, and their response was "it's personal records and we're not privy to that."
Kaylee Goncalves, center, Maddie Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were all brutally murdered on November 13
Shanon Gray, the attorney for Kaylee Goncalve's family, told NewsNation's Banfield of their fears over Payne's lack of experience
DailyMail.com can reveal that before joining the Moscow Police Department, Payne served in the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan.
Officer Payne joined the Moscow Police Force - his first policing job - in 2020 and was awarded 'Rookie of the Year'.
In the police department's annual report from that year, the department praised him extensively and gushed over his performance in the police academy.
'Officer Brett Payne was awarded the C.H.A.M.P.S. Rookie of the Year Award.
Officer Payne brings a great deal of experience to the Moscow Police Department because of his military service.
'Officer Payne was the first officer in P.O.S.T. history to be awarded three P.O.S.T. awards at the Academy.
The house in Moscow, Idaho, where the four students were murdered in their beds on November 13. Police yet to name or arrest any suspects
'His approach to community policing is exemplary. He has a desire to serve and protect the community. In addition, he regularly takes time away from his own tasks to help his coworkers, especially new officers.
'Whether it is citizens or other officers, Officer Payne is always willing put his needs aside to assist others. He exemplifies the core values of our department and is an excellent example to other officers.'
While his military record may be impressive (the 82nd division conducts forcible entry parachute assault into denied areas), what makes him qualified to lead one of the most high profile murder inquires in recent memory remains unclear.
Officer Payne did not immediately respond to inquiries on Tuesday.
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