Tyler was living in Tucson, Arizona with his three year old sister, Ariana Socorro Payne, his father, Christopher Mihael Payne, and fathers girlfriend and a two year old brother. Tyler and Ariana's mother, Jamie Hallam, had custody of them. Hallam called 911 in March 2006 and asked for help in recovering her children. She had permitted Christopher to take them for a few days in January and he refused to return them. Ariana remains were found in a 25 gallon plastic tub and Tyler is believed to be in the Los Reales Landfill. Christopher has been sentenced to death and is awaiting execution. Tyler was last seen on January 15, 2007.