The body of 22-year-old Ta’haley Payton, a mother from Greenville, South Carolina, was discovered in a park in Charlotte, North Carolina, three weeks after she went missing during a trip to celebrate her birthday.
Authorities are investigating her death to determine if foul play was involved.
A Birthday Celebration Turns Tragic
Payton had traveled to Charlotte with her boyfriend and the father of her child, Setoby Armstrong, to mark her birthday on Nov.19.
However, the celebration turned into a nightmare when the couple reportedly got into a heated argument, allegedly over Armstrong’s infidelity. During the altercation, Armstrong left the hotel in his car, stranding Payton.
Payton, distressed and without support, walked to a local Crumbl Cookie store where she borrowed a phone from an employee to contact her mother and Armstrong.
In text messages sent from the borrowed phone, she expressed her isolation and revealed her plan to sleep outside. After leaving the cookie shop, Payton vanished.
Her last social media post, written the day before her disappearance, reflected her emotional turmoil:
“It’s my birthday, and I hate it here! I feel like trash.”
A Heartbreaking Discovery
Weeks later, Payton’s body was found in a Charlotte park, bringing an end to the search but raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding her death.
Law enforcement is now working to piece together what happened in the days following her disappearance.
A Community in Mourning
Payton’s tragic story has sent shockwaves through her community, leaving friends, family, and loved ones grieving the loss of a young mother.
As investigators continue their work, Payton’s family and supporters are left seeking answers and justice.
