Search For Tara Savannah Payne Ends, Body Found In Water Near Canton

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The search is over for missing 26-year-old Tara Savannah Payne. Baltimore Police confirm her body was found in the water near Baltimore's Canton neighborhood.

Original Post, March 23: The search continues for a 26-year-old woman who went missing after a night out celebrating her birthday with friends.

Savannah Payne, whose legal name is Tara Payne, got separated from her friends around 1:30 a.m. on March 23 while the group was leaving Southern Provisions, a bar on Canton Square.

Police have traced her disappearance to the Boston Street corridor.

Investigators have reason to believe Payne may have fallen into the water near that area, according to police.

For hours, the Baltimore City Police Marine Unit searched the Canton waters, looking for Payne.

Homicide detectives have assumed control of the investigation.

After she didn't show up to lunch with her aunt on Tuesday, her aunt called her cell phone and Baltimore City Police picked up. Her purse was found along Boston Street.

Family and friends became concerned and began a social media campaign to find her, while police searched the area where she was last spotted.

Brian Siwinski said Payne grew up down the street from his house in Anne Arundel County. He is friends with her parents who are stricken with worry.

"We have known her since she was just a little girl and she has not run off," Siwinski said. "Her parents are devastated our community is devastated. I don't think any of us slept last night."

Baltimore Fire and Police marine units searched the harbor Wednesday afternoon. Divers were seen in the water around 4 p.m. They wrapped up their search around 9 p.m. WJZ's Rachael Cardin said Payne's family was there.

According to posts on social media by family and friends, Payne was last spotted around the Shipyard apartments off Boston Street around 3:30 a.m.

Her purse was found along Boston Street, her aunt said.

WJZ spoke to some of Payne's family who didn't want to go on camera but said they were in the area to help find Savannah.

On Wednesday, photos of Payne were getting shared thousands of times among Baltimore area residents in hopes someone saw her.

Her family said she's not the type to run off.

"If you saw a tall, thin girl with dark hair running the night before last or maybe you'd see something out of the ordinary, call police," one family member said.

Residents told WJZ they heard a commotion in the area at the time Payne went missing, but they don't know if it's related.

"It was her birthday, they were in Canton, she was having a good time with some friends, she got separated. After that the details are kind of sketchy," Siwinski said.

"I don't want to think about why the boat is here," he added. "We all know why the boats are here but that's the worst case, we're not there yet. We have hope."

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Payne is urged to contact the Southeast District's Missing Person Unit at 410-396-2422 or simply dial 911.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can utilize the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line, at 1-866-7LOCKUP. You can also submit an online text tip by visiting the Metro Crime Stoppers website.

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