Lexington Mom Charged With Losing Track of Daughter
Lexington Mom Charged With Losing Track of Daughter Save Email Print
Posted: 3:47 PM Jul 22, 2008
 Last Updated: 3:59 PM Jul 22, 2008
 Reporter: Mark Kennedy
Email Address: mark.kennedy@wkyt.com
21 comments
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A Lexington mother is in jail after police arrested her for driving under the influence.

Quickly after her arrest, 34-year old Dawn Payne called her family to tell them she didn't know where she left her 3-year old daughter.

Police say Payne was high on drugs when they found her passed out in her crashed car early Saturday morning. Payne told officers she last remembered seeing her daughter playing with a neighbor late Friday afternoon. Late Saturday, family called police to file a missing persons report.

Then, late Sunday family say they received a call from a woman who said she had the 3-year old and she was safe.

Police added on an endangering the welfare of a minor charge to Payne.
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Posted by: Anonymous Location: berea on Jul 25, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I feel bad for the baby! I hope the baby is placed in a good home and has a good life. The mother on the other hand....that is up to the judges.
Posted by: Anom Location: ky on Jul 24, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Sickening !! "I forgot where I left my baby.." Bet she could give you directions to the nearest drug dealer and liquor store and not bat an eye !!
Posted by: Paul Location: Lex on Jul 24, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Lets see, places where sterilization has been considered an option..Nazi Germany, and Chinalead that list. You people are twisted. Jail time, if found guilty of course, mandatory parenting and substance abuse treatment yes, but sterilization, thats just plain fascist. Read some history folks.
Posted by: Give me a Break Location: Lexington on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:10 AM
In responce to Mercy, "A Mistake" is transposing a number when writing a check. What this so called mother did cannot be called A MISTAKE. She made the choice to get high and forget where her child was. No one held a gun to her head and made her take the drugs. Mistakes and stupid bad choices cannot be thought of as the same thing! Even though she is out of jail now she should have been kept there to think long and hard about what her child was going through. I agree sterlization should be the legal solution for these women. Then they would not destroy another life other than their own.
Posted by: Mj Location: Kentucky on Jul 24, 2008 at 07:58 AM
This could have happend anyone who drinks and drives with a child in the car. Why do you think there are not all that many posts? Too many people have been there and have been lucky enough to get home with their child in tow. I am in no way defending this woman. She will get what she deserves.
Posted by: kymom Location: lex on Jul 24, 2008 at 07:43 AM
To ANONYMOUS, per your previous statement, let me correct you, we were probably already paying for this child! If this woman is on drugs this bad, I can pretty much tell you with 99.9 % certainty that we were already paying to feed this child and any others that she may have!
Posted by: Thelma Lou Location: Mayberry on Jul 23, 2008 at 07:53 PM
sterilization sounds like the smartest thing you all have come up with in a while. I agree now lets get our officials to agree. don't vote for McCain.
Posted by: mercy Location: lexington on Jul 23, 2008 at 05:37 PM
the mother of the little girl made a horrible mistake. she should be allowed to learn from herself explotation of substance abuse and get treatment then possibly her child back.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 23, 2008 at 02:54 PM
This is an original idiot here and what is so sad, she'll probably get by with it and be free to do it once again! It's terrible what stupid drug addicted people do and the lengths they go to get their high. Wake up people, children have to pay for what their stupid parnets do.
Posted by: RIGHT WINGER on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Amen to the sterilization comment! It may seem extreme, but people should be required to have a minimum IQ to have kids! It would help with overpopulation and protect innocent children from all types of abuse. I'm for a $5,000 stipend for anyone who gets sterilized. The ones who need the 5k are the ones who don't need to be raising kids. It would cost less in the long run.
Posted by: Give Me A Break Location: Lexington on Jul 23, 2008 at 12:28 PM
What needs to happen is the legal system needs to keep people like this in jail and not let them out in a few days to repeat the same thing! I do not understand the love of drugs coming before the love of your child. This is such a sad thing to happen but the child will be better off away from her mother if this is the way the mother chooses to live her life. The legal system needs to quit giving chance after change to these drug addicts. God Bless the little girl. May she have a safe and happy life.
Posted by: Paul Location: Lex on Jul 23, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Wonderful centiment Annie, those of you that want this woman locked up, lets give her the option of 30 days in jail or 30 days inpatient rehab
Posted by: Cut her snip her Location: Ky on Jul 23, 2008 at 07:03 AM
This trashy woman needs fixed so she can never have children again! The child in question should never be released into her custody ever again!I think if a parent test positive for drugs they should have their children taken away immediately.
Posted by: Steve Location: KY. on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:46 AM
Sterelize the idiot! Don't let her ever have another child!
Posted by: judy Location: berea on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:20 AM
DRUGS ARE DESTROYING OUR YOUNG PEOPLES LIVES AND THEIR CHILDRENS AS WELL.
Posted by: Annie Location: Morehead on Jul 23, 2008 at 06:03 AM
I am so saddened by the fact that this mother was so high on drugs she couldn't remember where she left her child. I hope she gets help and I hope the child grows up safe and drug free.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lexington on Jul 23, 2008 at 05:16 AM
What a real winner. Guess that is another child the tax payers will have to pay for.
Posted by: Jasmine Henderson Location: Lexington on Jul 22, 2008 at 08:53 PM
Her mug shot speaks for itself. Lock her up.
Posted by: me Location: berea on Jul 22, 2008 at 05:28 PM
this is so sad!i truly do not understand people and there drugsto put this befofe your children.and when so many others who cant have children would make wonderful parents.god help this little child.
Posted by: Jose Location: Lexington on Jul 22, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Stories like this make me realize just how blessed (by God) I am for having such wonderful and loving parents who raised me with love. I pray that this woman turns her life around and get off drugs and I also pray that this child can find a loving home to be raised in. All children are so innocent and deserve a Godly upbringing.
Posted by: just shocked Location: lexington on Jul 22, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Let me be the first, like the other story about the grandmother to say we all make mistakes. THAT being said, AGAIN it is TIME FOR PARENTS TO BE PARENTS and stop putting innocent children at risk or for someone to step in and remove these children from this situation. Before anyone says it, yes she does love her child evidently not as much as she does her drugs. Now, passing judgement is one thing calling the shots as they are is simply TELLING the truth. NEGLECT AND MISTREATMENT OF CHILDREN ARE NOT MISTAKES THEY ARE CRIMES.
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