The State of Vermont is renowned for its safety and quality of life, making it an ideal place to raise a family.

Here, Don Marie “Pixie” Payant was born in 1970. She grew up quietly before entering Trinity College and working in the hotel industry, where she met David Viens, a chef.

Don was immediately captivated by David, seeing in him all the qualities she sought in a partner. David, however, was still legally married, though his divorce was pending.

After David’s divorce was finalized in 1997, the couple married. The two, who both had a restless spirit, spent years traveling and moving between states before finally settling in Lomita, California, in 2008.

They leveraged their savings to buy a small apartment and a former coffee shop, which they successfully renovated into their own restaurant.

David became the chef, and Don was the hostess and server. Their business thrived, and they were considered a successful “power couple” in the area.

However, the immense pressure of running a booming restaurant eventually strained their 15-year relationship. In October 2009, Don vanished. David Viens claimed Don left him, stating she was addicted to substances, was an alcoholic, and had drained their accounts.

Don’s sister, Daya, filed a missing person report after not hearing from Don for three weeks. Investigators learned David had claimed Don stole money from the restaurant, was frequently angry, and was spiraling out of control due to substance use.

David told police Don had voluntarily left him after a fight, seeking space, and he respected her wish for distance. He showed police a text message from Don to support his claim. He continued to run the restaurant alone.

However, the police found inconsistencies in David’s story. Don’s bank accounts, credit cards, and savings showed no activity after October 19, the day she was last reliably seen alive.

Furthermore, Don’s cell phone continued to ping cell towers near their restaurant, long after David claimed she had traveled to Florida.

The missing person case was elevated to a homicide investigation six months later. In October 2010, ten months after Don’s disappearance, David Viens was arrested.

The investigation uncovered a horrifying truth. Don’s friends and family revealed that David was intensely controlling and emotionally manipulative.

He allegedly convinced Don she was worthless and that her substance use was the root of all their problems. Friends also noted that Don had started saving money secretly and planned to leave him due to his abuse.

The pressure mounted on David. In February 2011, during a second interview, David Viens, under intense scrutiny, attempted to escape by jumping off a cliff, but he was rescued and returned to custody.

After his escape attempt failed, David finally broke. He confessed to his involvement in Don’s disappearance, though he initially claimed it was an accident. He said they had argued fiercely on October 18, 2009.

He claimed Don was under the influence of substances and that he bound her mouth, hands, and feet with duct tape to prevent her from hurting herself and let her sleep it off. He claimed he found her lifeless the next morning.

Panicked and determined to protect his reputation and his thriving restaurant business, David admitted to disposing of her body by placing it in a dumpster behind the restaurant.

However, investigators were not satisfied. They pressured him further, and he eventually confessed to a much more macabre and disturbing method of concealment.

David admitted that, over four days, he used a large commercial cooker in his restaurant to boil Don’s body and destroy her remains. He then disposed of what little was left in the garbage bin.

This horrifying confession was eventually used against him in court. The prosecution argued that David’s actions were premeditated, not accidental, as he feared Don would expose his abuse or take half of the thriving restaurant business in a divorce settlement.

The defense argued that the extreme stress of their relationship and Don’s alleged substance abuse pushed David over the edge, causing him to lose control. However, the jury was swayed by the gruesome evidence of the disposal and the systematic lies.

David Viens was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. He has since been repeatedly denied parole.

The tragic case of Don Marie Payant remains a horrific reminder of the lengths to which some will go to conceal their crimes and protect their wealth