By David Lohr
March 12, 2007
TUSCON, Ariz. (Crime Library) — Last month, authorities found the decomposing remains of a young child in an abandoned storage locker. Two weeks later, the child's father was arrested, and authorities announced that a second child was missing. Police have now made a second arrest in the case, which has left a community both shocked and sickened.
On Feb. 18, the manager of U-Store-It, located at 519 E. Prince Rd., called the Tucson Police Department to report a horrifying discovery. When officers arrived on the scene, they were led inside a storage unit, and directed towards a large plastic container. Officers immediately detected a foul odor and, upon closer examination of the container, they discovered the decomposing remains of a young child.
Shortly after the discovery, the Pima County Medical Examiner conducted a postmortem examination, and ruled the child's death a homicide. Citing "investigative purposes," the Tucson Police Department would not allow the medical examiner to reveal the exact cause of death.
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| Christopher Payne |
On March 1, authorities arrested Christopher Payne, 28, and charged him in connection with the girl's murder. Shortly after Payne's arrest, Chief Richard Miranda held a press conference at the Main Police Station.
"Investigative leads identified Christopher Payne as a subject of interest in this case," Miranda said. "On Wednesday February 28, we began an extensive effort to locate Christopher Payne. On Thursday February 29, Christopher Payne was located and after consultation with the County Attorney, he was charged with Child Abuse and First-Degree Murder for the child's death."
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| Ariana Payne |
Miranda identified the victim as Payne's daughter, 4-year-old Ariana Payne. Miranda also expressed concern about a second child of Payne's, whom his department has been unable to locate.
"This child is identified as Tyler Payne, DOB Nov 2001, approx. five-years-old, who is the brother of Ariana. We suspect that Tyler may also be the victim of foul play."
Police say that Payne was not the renter of the unit where his daughter's body was found, but that he was involved in the rental. Payne has a long rap sheet, which allegedly includes arrests for drugs and drug paraphernalia.
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