In Arizona, attorneys for the murder trial of Christopher Payne began selecting jurors today. Payne will stand trial for the death of both of his children. If convicted, prosecutors will seek the death penalty. Two years ago, Ariana Payne’s body was found. Tyler Payne is known to be deceased, but his body has not been found.
Payne’s former girlfriend, Reina Gonzales, lived with Payne and his children at the time of their death. She pled guilty to second-degree murder and will testify in the trial of Christopher Payne. Gonzales told investigators that Payne abused the children. She said that Payne struck Tyler in the head with a belt and did not seek treatment for the infected injury. She reports that Ariana died first. Then Tyler died. The investigation reveals that their deaths occurred approximately one week apart. Gonzales and Payne hid the bodies in a plastic tub and kept them at a storage facility. The couple did not pay the rent on the storage unit. Employees threw the tub into a trash bin noticing that there was a strong odor coming from the bin. They reported the finding to Tucson police. Tucson police went to the Los Reales Landfill and found the body of Ariana.
Jamie Hallam, mother of the two deceased children, will provide testimony also. She tried to contact Payne to get her children back from an extended visit. She called police to report Payne for not giving the children back. The police did visit his home and found the children playing. Police allegedly conferred with Child Protective Services (CPS) and decidedly left the children at Payne’s home.
Following the death of Ariana and Tyler, Hallam brought suit against CPS and the Tucson Police Department for the death of her two children. CPS has since settled for one million dollars. The lawsuit against Tucson Police Department is still in progress.
As for the trial of Christopher Payne, the jury selection is underway.
The Keane Law Firm represents children nationwide that have been catastrophically injured by child abusers. Please contact the law firm or visit our website for a consultation.
https://www.keanelaw.com/
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Address: Keane Law Firm, 530 Jackson Street, Second Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
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Attorney Christopher Keane has devoted his Bay Area practice to representing children whose lives have been irrevocably altered by abuse, neglect, injury, or death. He is a member of the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center (SFCAPC), and is currently serving as the co-Vice President on their Board of Directors. The prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers has awarded Christopher Keane a top rating and, reflecting his dedication to professional excellence. In addition, Mr. Keane is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum Top Trial Lawyers in America, listed in the top 500 Plaintiff's attorneys in America by Lawdragon.com and as a principal member of Keane Law has acted as lead plaintiff’s lawyer on a number of successful multi-million dollar cases.
