CHARLOTTE — Friends and family members gather in Midtown to honor the life of a South Carolina mother who was found dead in Charlotte.
The body of 22-year-old Ta’haley Payton was discovered almost three weeks after she went missing.
“We need to find her. We need help. We need to come together and we did that. And we found my best friend, and she’s in heaven,” said family friend Kelanie Davis.
Davis, one of Ta’haley’s best friends, said she was crushed when Ta’haley wasn’t found alive.
Davis was a part of the search party that traveled from South Carolina to Charlotte to search for Ta’haley during the weeks that she was missing.
A balloon release to honor Ta’haley took place and was then followed by a prayer from a representative of the Cherry community.
“Thank you for the life you gave her to them for 22 years, Lord that’s a blessing,” the representative said.
Last month, Ta’haley came to Charlotte from Greenville, South Carolina with her boyfriend to celebrate her birthday.
Friends told Channel 9 that the couple had a disagreement and separated. Ta’haley was then seen by several witnesses going into different businesses and asking to use their phones.
Ta’haley’s sister, Karlotta Payton, said she believed the community failed her.
“When she called for help, the shoulder was turned to her. She was not helped, she was not protected, and she was not rescued,” Karlotta explained.
One of the questions the family continues to have is how did Ta’haley die. And while the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating her death, the family said they have yet to share any answers.
VIDEO: Police find body of SC woman reported missing in Charlotte
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