How Could You? Hall of Shame-Payton Shires

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Columbus, Ohio, “An Ohio social worker was arrested for having sex with a 13-year-old boy she was assigned to counsel, according to police and local reports.

Payton Shires, 24, allegedly admitted to the disturbing behavior during a call with the boy’s mother and detectives from the Columbus Police Department, according to reports.

Shires of Mount Sterling was previously employed by the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), a group which specializes in working with families involved in the foster care system, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

It remains unclear whether she was assigned to the boy through NYAP.

The boy’s mother contacted police Sept. 27 to report her suspicions after allegedly discovering inappropriate text messages between her son and Shires, court documents showed.

Cops allegedly conducted a search of the phone and discovered footage of the boy and Shires having sexual contact.

When investigators interviewed the boy, he reportedly admitted having sex with Shires on at least two occasions in September.

Shires was arrested Friday [October 6, 2023]after allegedly admitting her behavior with the boy to his mother on the call monitored by police.

She was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, according to WSYX, and is being held on $500,000 bond.

State records show that the social worker was licensed in June.

“The National Youth Advocate Program is saddened by the situation involving one of our former employees and a young person served by our organization,’’ the organization said in a statement.”

Social worker admitted having sex with 13-year-old boy she counseled: report

[NY Post 10/8/23 by Alex Oliver]

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