By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – As expected, authorities have gone public with further information about the missing Kayla Croft-Payne.
Earlier this week, law enforcement revealed they believed she died in northern Cowlitz County about the time she went missing. They said they had recently been looking for her body in Oregon.
Kayla Croft-Payne
Yesterday, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office revealed they believe she died from an overdose and that it happened in an RV park in their county.
The then-18-year-old Lewis County resident was reported missing in early May of 2010.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office has investigated the case over the course of the past five years and conducted numerous interviews of people that have knowledge of the case.
In a news release issued yesterday, Cowlitz County indicated the new information that got them to this point was obtained by Lewis County investigators. The suspected location of the death prompted the transfer of the case to Cowlitz detectives.
The new and credible information passed along to them included that Croft-Payne’s body was transported to a remote and heavily wooded area in Oregon and concealed, according to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.
The (Longview) Daily News reports detectives believe she was buried in northwestern Oregon, and it was because people were scared of notifying authorities and didn’t know what to do.
In yesterday’s news release, Cowlitz authorities stated that detectives from the two counties have conducted multiple extensive searches over the past six weeks in Oregon.
No human remains were found.
“Out of respect to the current property owners, we are not describing the area where Kayla is believed to be located,” the sheriff’s office wrote in its news release.
Early in the investigation, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said the last place they could verify her spending time was a trailer park in the Toutle area. Among their theories early on, was that she died of a drug overdose.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for further information from anyone who knows something.
They offered up numerous ways to contact them.
Detective Cory Robinson and Sgt. Brad Thurman can be reached at 360-577-3092.
Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers of Cowlitz County at 360-577-1206. People can also give tips by texting 847411 and downloading “CCSOTip”.
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For background, read “Law enforcement: ‘Credible report’ the missing Kayla Croft-Payne died in Cowlitz County” from Tuesday November 17, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Thinking is not knowing find the F*%$# out that is someones daughter someones friend confidant sister lover and community member….. Do ur dang jobs please for the love of human kind ….. Just because she could have overdosed doesnt mean that she was not a meaningful being to peoples lives …. Even as police or law enforcement……. Does that mean your children or family memebers or friends/peers are above ever being an addict of any sorts ….f%$#÷ NO it DOES NOT . please solve this heart wrenching story.
I just wanted to reach out and say to all of Kaylas family, friends and everyone else who knew her, my hopes and prayers go out to you that she is found. She seems like such a sweet and beautiful girl. Keep digging on the truth about what happened. Her loved ones deserve closure and be given peace. So never give up hope, my love and support to all.
What’s that word? You know, the one used to describe an unsubstantiated claim without any corroborating evidence?
Just say no kids!!
What a pretty girl—this sucks! I hope and pray that her family and friends learn the truth and try to have some type of closure. Thoughts and prayers to all that knew and loved Kayla. 🙂
I am glad that they are starting to learn new information about her death. I am just hoping that they are finally able to figure out what happened so that the family can have closure. My thoughts and prayers to the family.