Feb 04, 2025

Kansas man arrested for house fire that killed woman and child

Posted Feb 04, 2025 11:30 PM
Photo courtesy KWCH
Photo courtesy KWCH

RENO COUNTY —Authorities investigating the cause of a fatal fire at a home in Hutchinson have made an arrest.

After first responders arrived on scene at 3:30a.m. Saturday, they located four individuals at the residence. Two of the individuals 32-year-old Kalsey M. Payton and one juvenile female were found deceased. The other two individuals 37-year-old Wendell Payton and one juvenile female, were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, and later to Saint Francis in Wichita. The girl has since been medically released from the hospital.

Since responding to the scene, Hutchinson police 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 on requested charges of one count of 1st degree murder for the death of Kalsey Payton and 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.

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RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal fire at a home in Hutchinson. 

Just before 3:30a.m. crews were dispatched to a fire at a home in the 1000 block of East 3rd Street in Hutchinson with possible people trapped, according to a media release.

A neighbor notified authorities the house was on fire and there were people in the basement. Hutchinson Police Department arrived on scene and found one juvenile standing out front of the home and they transferred care directly to EMS who was on scene.

First arriving crews found smoke coming from the 900 square foot single family home.  They initiated an aggressive interior fire attack and search operation and were immediately met with a hole in the first floor.

They were able to navigate to the interior stairwell and made entry into the basement where they found 3 victims and the fire. Crews worked diligently to remove all 3 victims from the basement as the stairwell had been compromised due to fire.

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Fire was considered controlled shortly after.  Two of the victims, one adult and one juvenile, were found deceased,  EMS transported one adult and one juvenile to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. Incident is still under investigation in collaboration with Kansas State Fire Marshals Office.