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Christopher M Payne

Last Updated: February 29th, 2024
Jail Location
Arizona
45yo
Male
6′ 2″ (1.88m)
240lbs (109kg)

Personal Details

Date of birth: May 17, 1978
Ethnicity: CAUCASIAN
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Unit: ASPC Eyman SMU II
Status: ACTIVE
Release type: NEW COMMITMENT
Most recent loc: ASPC Eyman
Last movement: May 13, 2009
Inmate number: 242196
Inmate detainee: INMATE
Custody class: 5/2
Crime description: INMATE 242196 - PAYNE, CHRISTOPHER M. In January of 2002, Payne married Jamie Hallam. They had two children, Tyler, born in 2001 and Ariana, born in 2002. Shortly after Ariana was born, Payne and Jaime divorced and she got sole custody of the children. Jamie had been investigated by CPS for reports of meth use and domestic violence and in 2006, CPS agreed that the children be in Payne's custody. At that time, Payne and his girlfriend Reina Gonzalez had an apartment together, and they were both heroin addicts. In February of 2007, there was a delinquent storage unit at a Tucson storage facility called U-Store-It, and the manager opened the unit and cleared the contents. There was a large Rubbermaid tub with a foul smell in the unit which the manager decided to throw in the dumpster. When she did, the lid opened and bugs flew out; there was a bag with liquid in it. The manager called police and they subsequently determined that the tub contained the remains of 4-year-old Ariana. The police investigation led to the arrests of both Payne and his girlfriend Reina. Initially, Reina told police she had no knowledge of the deaths. Reina eventually pled guilty to two counts of second degree murder and her testimony at trial revealed that Tyler and Ariana were severely abused, neglected, beaten, starved, and locked in the closet for long periods of time while she and Payne abused heroin. When Payne found Ariana lifeless one evening, and after failing to resuscitate her, he put Ariana in the closet and he and Reina went to abuse more heroin. In September of 2006, Chris paid a drug acquaintance to rent a storage unit where the remains of Ariana were ultimately found. Tyler's remains were never found. Chris was sentenced to death for the two murders. Reina was sentenced to two consecutive 22 year terms. PROCEEDINGS Presiding Judge: Hon. Richard S. Fields Prosecutors: Susan Eazer & Bunke Chi Defense Counsel: John O'Brien & Rebecca McLean Start of Trial: February 17, 2009 Verdict: March 17, 2009 Sentencing: March 31, 2009 Aggravating Circumstances Age of the victims Especially heinous, cruel or depraved Multiple homicides PUBLISHED OPINIONS [Direct Appeal pending before the Arizona Supreme Court]
Community supervision parole: N
Commitment status: COMPLETE AND VERIFIED
Admission date: May 13, 2009

Documented Aliases

CHRISTOPHER MATHEW PAYNE
CHRISTOPHER PAYNE

Recent Arrests

Booking location: Maricopa County, AZ

Sentences

Consec concur: Consecutive:A01
Commit number: B04
Admit date: Apr 30, 2009

Consec concur: Consecutive:B07
Commit number: B06
Admit date: Apr 30, 2009

Consec concur: Consecutive:B04
Commit number: B07
Admit date: Apr 30, 2009

Discharge date: 2000
Flat maximum: Feb 23, 2030
Consec concur: Concurrent:A01
Commit number: C02
Admit date: Apr 30, 2009

Discharge date: 2000
Flat maximum: Feb 23, 2030
Consec concur: Concurrent:C02
Commit number: C03
Admit date: Apr 30, 2009

Commit number: A01
Admit date: Mar 31, 2009

Consec concur: Concurrent:A01
Commit number: A05
Admit date: Mar 31, 2009

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