We, the undersigned, demand justice for Ta’haley Payton, a mother, beloved daughter, and friend, whose life was tragically cut short under suspicious and violent circumstances. The negligence, mishandling, and indifference shown in her case by law enforcement and others must not go unanswered. We call on the Mecklenburg County authorities to take immediate, decisive action to ensure that Ta’haley’s death is fully investigated, and that those responsible are held accountable.

The Tragic Events Leading to Ta'haley's Death:

On November 19th, 2024, Ta’haley Payton traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to celebrate her birthday with the father of her child. The following morning, on November 20th, they had an altercation at their hotel, which left Ta’haley alone, without a phone or resources. Desperate for help, she sought assistance from those around her.

Ta’haley dialed 911 from a Circle K, “I need an ambulance to save me. I woke up this morning to getting my ass whooped, my ass is raw.” “He was punching the fuck out of me” claiming she woke up to find her boyfriend on top of her, hitting her. She reported that her ear was bleeding. She requested to call her mother, but the 911 operator told her “you’re gonna have a chance to call your mom”. Unfortunately, Novant Hospital did not reach out to Ta’haley’s mother at any point. 

At Novant Health hospital, Ta’haley was briefly admitted, but after just a few hours, she was released with no meaningful care or support. She continued her search for help. Ta’haley made her way to a nearby pub, where she called her mother and said she was heading to a Burger King. She then returned to the pub a second time and asked for the address before making another call, disclosing her location. Afterward, employees stated that Ta’haley left the pub.

Ta’haley was next seen at Crumbl Cookies, where she used an employee’s phone to text her mother, telling her she was waiting on her best friend. She then tried to reach her boyfriend to explain her location in the shopping center.

Around 9 p.m., employees at Arby’s reported that Ta’haley came in, frantic and covered in mud. She claimed that her boyfriend and another woman had assaulted her, chased her with a gun, and threatened to kill her.

Ta’haley continued her search for help. Later speaking to employees at Trader Joe’s with the same story, appearing anxious and upset. Surveillance footage from a Target parking garage shows Ta’haley clearly disoriented, walking up and down the parking garage stairwell, possibly trying to speak to others, but it’s unclear if anyone responded to her.

Shortly afterward, Ta’haley was seen by a security guard in the parking garage's second level. She was running and screaming her boyfriend’s name. The security guard spoke with her, calming her down, and later, surveillance cameras showed her entering Target. Employees noted she looked at blankets but left without purchasing anything. Security footage later revealed that she had hidden a pink blanket under her shirt.

The last confirmed sighting of Ta’haley was by another security guard, who reported that he spoke with her before watching her fall asleep in the grass, clutching the pink blanket. After that, Ta’haley was never seen again.

The Inadequate Response:

The Mecklenburg Police Department failed to respond with urgency or care in searching for Ta’haley Payton. Instead of conducting a thorough search, the authorities made a public appeal for assistance but failed to take swift, decisive action. Weeks later, just a few hundred feet from her last known location, Ta'haley’s body was discovered in the river—naked, abandoned, and without any of her clothes or personal belongings.

It is clear that Ta’haley’s death was not an accident. The evidence points to foul play, and it is apparent that she was a victim of violence. Despite damning evidence and the potential involvement of her baby’s father, law enforcement has inexplicably failed to investigate him as a person of interest.

This case highlights the systemic issue of domestic violence, sexual assault, and the dismissal of violence against Black women. We cannot allow Ta’haley’s case to be swept under the rug.

We Demand Justice:

We, the undersigned, call on the Mecklenburg County authorities, the District Attorney, and local law enforcement to:

Conduct a full, transparent, and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ta’haley Payton’s death.
Immediately question and investigate all persons of interest, including Ta’haley’s boyfriend, who has a known history of violent behavior.
Hold those responsible for her death accountable, regardless of their relationship to Ta’haley.
Ensure that domestic violence, sexual assault, and violence against Black women are taken seriously in all future investigations.
Increase resources and support for victims of domestic violence, postpartum depression, and sexual assault to prevent similar tragedies.
Provide a public statement of accountability for the mishandling of Ta’haley’s case and the steps being taken to rectify these failures.
Why This Matters:

Ta’haley Payton’s death is a tragic reminder of how vulnerable women, especially women of color, are often ignored and marginalized by law enforcement and society at large. Domestic violence and sexual assault are serious issues that require immediate action. Black women deserve justice and protection.

Ta’haley deserves justice. Her family deserves answers. And we will not stop until those responsible are held accountable.

Sign this petition to demand justice for Ta’haley Payton and all victims of domestic violence and violence against women.

Justice for Ta’haley! Justice for all victims of violence.