Child Repeatedly Found Away From Home, 10th Report Leads to Felony Charge

John Eads
5 days ago
4 min read

TROY, Mo. — Ten incidents over eight months. A child repeatedly found away from home — at parks, outside businesses, along city streets and, in one case, naked nearly half a mile from his residence.

The first documented incident came in December. By August, the calls were happening days apart. The child had been found at Avery Park, the Troy Aquatic Center, McDonald’s, Chihuahuas and several other locations around Troy.

On Aug. 13, it happened for the 10th time.

The child was found at Avery Park, a little more than a quarter-mile from home. About 30 minutes later, an officer arrived at the residence and found the child’s bedroom window open. His stepfather, Blaine David Payne, was asleep on the couch, while the child’s mother was on her phone and did not know the child had left.

That incident ended with the child being taken into protective custody and Payne facing a felony charge.

Blaine David Payne — Troy, Missouri

Charge:

Endangering the Welfare of a Child Creating Substantial Risk — 1st Degree, Class D Felony

The series of incidents dates back to Dec. 6, 2025, when the child was found on Cap Au Gris about two blocks from home.

Less than two weeks later, on Dec. 18, he made it considerably farther. The child was found naked near Cherry Street and South Lincoln, nearly half a mile from his residence.

Several months passed before another incident was documented May 16, when the child was found in his underwear near Cap Au Gris and Third Street.

Three weeks later, on June 7, he was found in an open field west of Hall Street. Four days after that, he was found near Fair Court.

The pattern continued into July.

On July 6, the child made it to the gate of the Troy Aquatic Center. On July 19, he was found at McDonald’s off Highway 47.

By August, the incidents were occurring more frequently.

The child was found at Avery Park on Aug. 4. Four days later, on Aug. 8, he was found at Chihuahuas near Cherry Street and North Lincoln, nearly half a mile from home.

Then, five days later, came the 10th call.

Shortly before 10 a.m. Aug. 13, Troy police were sent to Avery Park after someone reported seeing a child running toward the park.

The child was located there, a little more than a quarter-mile from his Colonial Lane home.

An officer arrived at the residence around 10:24 a.m. and found the child’s bedroom window open. That window had been identified as the way the child was getting out of the house.

Inside the home, Payne was asleep on the couch. The child’s mother was on her phone and told the officer she did not know the child had left.

The child had been away from the residence for at least 30 minutes before the adults learned he was gone.

The repeated incidents had already prompted involvement from state agencies.

The child, who is identified only by initials in the criminal case, has a mental disability. The Missouri Children’s Division and Missouri Department of Mental Health had provided multiple safety plans for Payne to follow in an effort to prevent the child from leaving the home.

Despite those plans, the incidents continued.

After the Aug. 13 incident, Children’s Division was contacted again. A protective custody form was completed, and the child was removed from the home.

Payne was arrested Aug. 13.

Judge Michael R. Jacobs issued a warrant the following day and set bond at $5,000. Conditions include no contact with the child and compliance with directives from the Missouri Children’s Division.

Payne is charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, creating a substantial risk, a Class D felony.

His initial appearance was scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, before Jacobs in Lincoln County Associate Circuit Court.

The case remains pending.

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Story by: John Eads

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