Three missing children found dead after Fort Cobb house fire

FORT COBB, Okla. (AP) -- The bodies of three children were discovered in their family's burned-out house in Fort Cobb Friday.<br/><br/>FBI spokesman Gary Johnson says their father, Dean Payne, is being

Friday, August 26th 2005, 1:20 pm

By: News On 6

FORT COBB, Okla. (AP) -- The bodies of three children were discovered in their family's burned-out house in Fort Cobb Friday.

FBI spokesman Gary Johnson says their father, Dean Payne, is being held as a suspect in their deaths. Johnson says Payne faces federal homicide charges because the children died on Caddo Nation federal trust land.

Johnson identified the victims as 5-year-old Tye Payne; 7-year-old Keelie Payne; and 9-year-old Cirea Payne.

Investigators from the Caddo County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs went to the scene of the fire around 1:10 AM. Dean Payne was detained about 9 AM.

Johnson says Payne was served with a protective order sought by his wife late Thursday. She alleged that Payne had threatened to kill her and the kids.