CAPTION: The scene of the early morning Feb. 1 house fire in the 1000 block of East 3rd Street in Hutchinson. Wendell Payton was arrested on multiple charges Tuesday in connection to the fire. CREDIT KATE IRELAN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE
By Kate Irelan
Hutchinson Police have arrested Wendell Payton and charged him with two counts of 1st-degree murder, one count of aggravated arson, one count of aggravated endangering a child and two counts of felony interference with law enforcement for the Feb. 1 early morning house fire in the 1000 block of East 3rd Street.
Kalsey Payton and a juvenile female were found deceased and another juvenile female has been medically released from Saint Francis Hospital in Wichita. Wendell Payton was transported to the Reno County Correctional Facility after being medically released.
That’s according to an HPD press release, which said after first responders arrived on scene, they located four individuals at the residence. Two of the individuals, Kalsey M. Payton, 32-year-old female of Hutchinson, and one juvenile female, were found deceased. The other two individuals, Wendell Payton, 37-year-old male of Hutchinson, and one juvenile female, were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, and later to Saint Francis in Wichita. The juvenile has since been medically released from Saint Francis.
Since responding to the scene, officers and detectives have been working around the clock to follow all leads. During the investigation, probable cause was established, and after being medically released, Wendell Payton was arrested and transported to the Reno County Correctional Facility and charged with one count of 1st-degree murder for the death of Kalsey Payton, one count of 1st degree murder for the death of the juvenile female, one count of aggravated arson, one count of aggravated endangering a child, and two counts of felony interference with law enforcement.
These charges have been forwarded to the Reno County District Attorney’s Office.
“We would like to thank the community and media for their patience,” the press release wrote. “We were confident there was no immediate threat to the community, and out of respect to the victims and their families, and to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we limited the amount of information that was released. We share in the grief of this tragic loss, and we stand with the family and community in seeking justice. Please keep this family in your thoughts and if you have any information that you feel would be beneficial to the investigation, please contact our agency at the information provided below.”
If you have any information regarding this case, contact Reno County Crime Stoppers or call Hutchinson Police Department 620-694-2816 and reference case number 2025-4633. Any further inquiries about this case should be directed to the Reno County District Attorney’s Office at 620-694-2715. All suspects are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
