Payton Harleigh Shires, 24, of Mount Sterling, Madison County, Ohio, United States received her social work license on June 12, 2023. She was assigned to provide mental health counseling services to a boy, 13, of Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.
In September 2023, Shires had sex with the boy at various locations in Columbus and they took videos of the encounters. She later sent text messages to him, asking him if he deleted their sex videos and if his mother had seen messages between them.
On September 27, 2023, the mother saw the messages and contacted the Columbus Division of Police. Joined by police officers, the mother called Shires and the social worker admitted to having sex with the boy multiple times.
On October 6, 2023, Shires was arrested and charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. On October 12, 2023, she posted a $500,000 bond and was released from jail.
At 5:30 p.m. on October 26, 2023, Shires showed up to the residence of the boy in Columbus with a gun. Via a doorbell camera, the boy’s mother, who was away, noticed Shires on the porch and called police.
Just before 5:40 p.m., police officers arrived at the scene and found Shires sitting on the front porch with a gun to her head and her finger on the trigger. She was arrested again after yelling that she was going to kill herself.
Shires was additionally charged with intimidation of a crime victim and intimidation of a crime witness. On November 6, 2023, she will be back in court.
CONAN Daily 