The Wyoming Highway Patrol successfully rescued a missing 13-year-old girl from her abductor following a vehicle chase near Rawlins on Sunday.
The suspect is now in custody and faces multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, reckless driving, and eluding law enforcement.
The situation unfolded after a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer identified a vehicle linked to a missing juvenile report from Meade County, South Dakota. The suspect, initially compliant when pulled over, soon fled the scene with the girl still in the car. The patrol officer initiated a pursuit and ultimately performed a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI), which safely brought the suspect’s vehicle to a stop. Fortunately, the girl was unharmed during the incident.
The suspect, 22-year-old Sean Carlos Payne of Omaha, Nebraska, is a registered sex offender with multiple outstanding warrants, including a probation violation for enticing a minor. Payne was apprehended without further incident and now faces additional charges in Wyoming.
Authorities credit effective collaboration between dispatchers and law enforcement agencies across multiple states for the quick resolution of the case. Meade County Sheriff Pat West praised the swift communication efforts, which played a crucial role in locating the missing child. The Wyoming Highway Patrol also thanked the Rawlins Police Department and BLM Rangers for their assistance.
With input from Oil City News, County 10, and KOTA.
