On Thursday night, a Radcliff man was arrested and charged with the murder of a foster child from Caneyville, four-year-old Hunter Payton.
Authorities said 33-year-old Billy Paul Embry was arrested by Radcliff police. In March 2017, Embry became a foster parent not only to Hunter, but also his two siblings, after the three children were taken from the care of their parents, Ryan and April Payton.
Ron Hines, the Payton’s attorney, said someone reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) there was drug use in the Payton home, according to a report in the News Enterprise. Hines claims the couple had fewer than 24 hours to take a drug test or the children would be taken from the home. He said they didn’t have the money to pay for the test and the next day, CPS removed the two boys and a girl.
A final report from the state Medical Examiner’s Office found that Hunter died from an inflicted head injury.
The Radcliff Police Department was contacted May 8 by Norton Children’s Hospital about a possible child abuse case after Hunter was admitted at the Louisville hospital from Hardin Memorial Hospital. When Hunter arrived at Norton, he was unconscious and not breathing. He died two days later.
Embry is being held in the Hardin Count Detention Center on a $250,000 cash bond.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
