Sentenced: Naomi Payton Lost Her Life To Her Mother's Husband

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Wendell Payton, 37, was sentenced to two life sentences in the deaths of his wife and step-daughter.

According to the Reno County Attorney’s Office, in the early morning hours of Feb. 1, 2025, Hutchinson police were dispatched to (redacted) after a neighbor reported hearing screaming coming from the house.

Officers arrived on scene and found a young child in the front yard and saw smoke coming from the roof. A fire in the house was confirmed and the Hutchinson Fire Department was called to the scene.

After the fire was put out, Kalsey Payton and a four-year-old girl were found dead in the home. Autopsies concluded that the child died from blunt force trauma, and that Kalsey died from sharp force trauma. Both deaths were determined to be homicides.

The third person in the house was identified as Wendell Payton, “who exhibited signs of self-inflicted wounds from which he recovered.”

The investigation resulted in multiple charges against Payton. On Oct. 17, he pleaded guilty to two counts of intentional, premeditated first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated endangering of the child, two counts of interference with law enforcement officers, and domestic battery against Kalsey Payton.

Payton won’t be eligible for 100 years, and he will receive no good time credit on those sentences. He also received sentences of 66 months in prison for aggravated arson, six months for aggravated endangering of the child, eight months on each count of interference with law enforcement officer, and six months in jail for domestic battery.

Hutchinson man sentenced to two life terms for killing wife and daughter

A Hutchinson man was sentenced to two life sentences Monday in the deaths of his wife and daughter.

www.kwch.com

Her biological father was named Eric Smith. Smith gave up custody of his two daughters back in 2023. He said the two girls lived with relatives from their mom’s side of the family. He was shocked to hear the news of Naomi’s passing, now choosing to remember her smile and gentle kindness.

Smith said he would try to win back custody of Naomi’s sister. Currently, she is in foster care.

“Fight this and get my daughter back home, to where she’ll be safe,” said Smith.

https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/hutch-man-remembers-4-year-old-daughter-found-dead-inside-burning-home/

Reports say the child was in a kinship placement with her mother and Wendell. Not sure how accurate this information is.

Payton, Wendell


Earliest Possible Release Date (1) Dec 31, 9999


Current Status Incarcerated


Admission Date Dec 22, 2025

Convictions​

County	Case Number (I)	Offense Date	Sentencing Date	ACS	Criminal Conviction Description	Counts	Crime Severity Level	Case Status (II)	State
Reno	2025CR000089	Feb 01, 2025	Dec 15, 2025	N/A	Domestic Battery - 1st convict; intent. bodily harm dating relationship or family/household member	1	Class B Misdemeanor	Active	KS
Reno	2025CR000089	Feb 01, 2025	Dec 15, 2025	N/A	Murder in the first degree	1	Unknown	Active	KS
Reno	2025CR000089	Feb 01, 2025	Dec 15, 2025	N/A	Interference with Law Enforcement by destroying evidence in felony case	1	Unknown	Active	KS
Reno	2025CR000089	Feb 01, 2025	Dec 15, 2025	N/A	Agg Endangerment child; Intent or reckless cause or permit a childLT18 to be injured/endangered	1	Unknown	Active	KS
Reno	2025CR000089	Feb 01, 2025	Dec 15, 2025	N/A	Murder in the first degree	1	Unknown	Active	KS
Reno	2025CR000089	Feb 01, 2025	Dec 15, 2025	N/A	Reporting information regarding death, disappearance or potential death or disappearance of a child under the age of 13	1	Unknown	Active	KS
Reno	2025CR000089	Feb 01, 2025	Dec 15, 2025	N/A	Aggravated Arson; Arson to occupied building or property; resulting in substantial risk of bodily harm	1	Unknown	Active	KS

 

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Naomi