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Who is 'Savannah' Tara Payne? Baltimore woman, 26, goes missing after celebrating birthday, purse found by cops

Payne's body was found in the water in Baltimore harbor on Thursday, March 25 afternoon, according to city police

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: Police in Baltimore were searching for a missing 26-year-old woman who disappeared after a night out with friends, celebrating her birthday. Payne's body was found in the water in Baltimore harbor on Thursday, March 25 afternoon, according to city police.

Tara Payne, who goes by the name Savannah, was with her group of friends when she left a bar on Canton Square at about 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23. She became separated from her friends at that time, and investigators reportedly believe she may have been in the Boston Street corridor after she was no longer with the group.

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Police sources stated that detectives suspect that Payne may have fallen into the water in the harbor area where she may have been last seen. According to the report, Payne’s purse was found along Boston Street and her car was located where she had parked it on Monday, March 22, night.

Homicide detectives are reportedly leading the investigation, but police have not stated publicly that they believe foul play is involved. The report further indicates that police had Payne’s cell phone by March 23 afternoon. Payne had been scheduled to have lunch with her aunt that afternoon but did not appear. When her aunt called her cell phone, the police answered.

It is not clear who found Payne’s purse and when or if her cell phone was in her purse as the report does not indicate how the police got hold of her phone. According to the report, investigators were seen searching the Baltimore Harbor on Wednesday, March 24, afternoon. The Marine Unit also searched the Canton waters, looking for Payne.

Payne's aunt, Terry Stopowski Moritz wrote on Facebook: "it's a freaking nightmare; my niece Savannah Payne didn't show up for lunch w/me today to celebrate her birthday; when I called her cell phone the Baltimore Police answered."

"She has not been seen since she was out partying around Canton last night; her car was left where she parked it and her purse was found on Boston Street. If anyone was in that vicinity last night and heard or saw ANYTHING please, please contact the Baltimore Police - 410-396-2422. I would like to add that if you know her family, please don't call them right now. They need a little bit of space and also want to leave phones free in case the police call them. Thanks."

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. 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.”

On March 24, Payne's pictures 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. 

Seb Rodrick who called Payne her "sister" shared a video with the caption: "#MISSINGPERSON #PLEASESHARE LAST KNOWN TO BE IN THE 2800 BLOCK OF O’DONNELL STREET, BALTIMORE MARYLAND PLEASE LET THE BALTIMORE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT KNOW IF YOU SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING AND CONTACT ME IF NOT COMFORTABLE GOING TO THE POLICE THANK YOU #URGENT #TRUECRIME #FINDHER #PLZ"