House Committee Will Hold Closed-Door Inquiry

Child Protective Services Questions on death of Tucson girl (State Capitol, Phoenix) Rep. Jonathan Paton said Friday, March 30 the House Government Committee will hold a closed-door inquiry to question Child Protective Services in the death of several Tucson children. State law gives the Legislature oversight of CPS, however, any review of specific cases must be done in private. Paton reviewed the files of Ariana and Tyler Payne, 4 and 5, respectively. Ariana was found in a storage locker dead and Tyler remains missing while their father, Christopher Payne, has been charged in the killing of the children. "The Legislature needs to find out what happened and see if our laws should be changed to provide greater protections to our vulnerable children," said Paton, R-Tucson. The committee will also look into the case of a 5-year-old who died after receiving a lethal dose of Tylenol. CPS had contact with that family as well. The committee will also investigate any other cases that it deems necessary. State law bars Paton from disclosing what the files contain but after viewing them he called for the closed-door investigation. The meeting will be scheduled by Chairman Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, after he reviews the materials.