Found Deceased AL - Paighton Houston, 29, left bar with 2 men, Birmingham, 20 Dec 2019

[Gardenkeep]

Had PH gone to the bar alone, I think it plausible she might have been lured outside. However, based on the background of the outing, I don't think it fits that PH would be subject to verbal intimidation-- or trafficking for that matter.

According to her family -- PH can take care of herself which I take to mean she's no wallflower. At age 29, I think it's safe to say PH has lived more than most given some of her hardcore life choices.

PH allegedly arrived at the bar with a group of friends from work. The same way she knew to send out a text that she may be calling for backup, I think she would have walked over to her friends if she felt she was being intimidated. To my knowledge -- there's no evidence that her friends had all left the bar by 10:45 pm.

Unless the two men are POI in suspected foul play, it would be highly inappropriate to release still photos of the men. This is a national news story about a missing person and the consequences of placing two innocent men on blast could be something they'd never recover from -- and also actionable.

MOO

Why Police and the FBI Should Be Wary to Use the "Person of Interest" Designation | FindLaw

Good point. I hadn't thought of that!

 

[Seattle1]

Rep. Danny Garrett‏ @DannyGarrett44
Several hundred people tonight from the Trussville community gathered tonight at Clearbranch Methodist Church to pray for the safe return of Paighton Houston and for her family. Paighton has been missing for 10 days. Please pray and share about the rewards offered for info.

5:17 PM - 30 Dec 2019

 

[michellefultzyahoo.com]

It's been too many days with no contact, no use of ATM card , and by golly its Christmas that just passed! Her phone is dead.... criminal yes something happened. She deserves just as much attention as anyone gone missing! MOO because shes 29 this is being down played!

 

[Spanky25]

I just discovered this too. Here is the thing about that. If Paighton used after being recovered for any length of time, she is in real danger of an overdose. I say this based on 30 yrs in an ER. I truly pray this is not the case. So, if she has relapsed, she needs to score a hit. She needs money. More than she likely had on her. Yet, there hasn't been any activity. I know, that is a thin thread, but I'm keeping my grip on it.

Maybe she had the money on her (like you said), hopefully didn’t OD. Because if she needed/wanted another “Hit” her bank account was untouched. “If” she was with the two guys, they would of told her to drain the ATM machine. Hence the reason I think they’re cleared.

 

[Seattle1]

Clearbranch UMC Live Stream (Paighton Houston)

 

[WildcatRunner]

It's been too many days with no contact, no use of ATM card , and by golly its Christmas that just passed! Her phone is dead.... criminal yes something happened. She deserves just as much attention as anyone gone missing! MOO because shes 29 this is being down played!

I don't think it's being downplayed at all. Quite the opposite. People go missing every day and don't get a local news story. This case has multiple national stories.
From a law enforcement standpoint, all we know thus far is that an adult walked out of a bar on their own. Until there's more evidence, police can only meddle in a person's life so much without evidence of a crime.

 

[borndem]

It's been too many days with no contact, no use of ATM card , and by golly its Christmas that just passed! Her phone is dead.... criminal yes something happened. She deserves just as much attention as anyone gone missing! MOO because shes 29 this is being down played!

Finally, she has been mentioned -- her picture and her parents were shown on a short interview on the national news news (NBC if I recall correctly) last night at 6:30pm (EST) and on another MSM TV news tonight. So finally her disappearance and the details about her phone call to her friend are being put out nationally. Maybe this will jog someone's memory, or cause someone to make a very helpful phone call.

But she has been shown on prime time national TV news, so maybe somebody who knows something will say something. Let us hope so.

 

[bwt42]

I think that if something bad happened to her it was at the hands of the guys she left with. I don't believe she left those guys and ran into someone else that did her harm. If the two guys were so nice, why didn't they return her to the bar?

 

[Beth11311]

Paighton was reportedly in recovery - and while it’s not unheard of to go to a bar in recovery, it is frowned upon in AA, especially in one’s early recovery.

If Paighton was drinking at the bar, then that is already considered a relapse. When people drink, they often next go in search of their drug of choice - which for Paighton was heroin (I speak from experience as someone with over 12 years sober, who once was a heroin addict). So it’s possible she was seeking that out, which is why she left with those two men. You don’t need to know people to leave with them to score drugs, obviously. I got sober at 21 but I made plenty of terrible decisions before that.

Now do I think that’s what she did, and why she left? I’m not sure. It would make sense.

If she had never sent the text to her friend about feeling that she was in trouble, I’d be quicker to consider this a case of a possible OD, and if she was with people they got rid of her so that they wouldn’t get in trouble. However, that text gives me pause. If she was on a bender, you best believe her debit or credit card would be used. It’s not easy to hustle up enough money to feed a habit. She hasn’t been arrested for stealing or prostitution in the past that I am aware of, so it would be unlikely for her to employ either of those ways of getting money, now.

I believe that LE has everything they need and are working the case, at this point the quiet doesn’t concern me. If they needed the public’s help, I believe they would be asking for it, releasing video etc. I think those men she left with will be key in this, and that this will be another Savannah Spurlock case. I hope I’m wrong.

 

[Seattle1]

britt‏ @ny********
Paighton Houston - still missing. Her coworkers have sat with her empty chair for a week now. If you know something please PLEASE speak up! #PaightonHouston #MissingPerson #missing #alabama

3:09 PM - 27 Dec 2019

 

[michellefultzyahoo.com]

Yes shes a recovering addict, however shouldn't mean her case isnt as serious. Addiction has no prejudice, it can happen to anyone. She still deserves the news coverage and means to find her. If she was using then shed be using her ATM more for a fix!! Something isnt right

 

[WildcatRunner]

Paighton was reportedly in recovery - and while it’s not unheard of to go to a bar in recovery, it is frowned upon in AA, especially in one’s early recovery.

If Paighton was drinking at the bar, then that is already considered a relapse. When people drink, they often next go in search of their drug of choice - which for Paighton was heroin (I speak from experience as someone with over 12 years sober, who once was a heroin addict). So it’s possible she was seeking that out, which is why she left with those two men. You don’t need to know people to leave with them to score drugs, obviously. I got sober at 21 but I made plenty of terrible decisions before that.

Now do I think that’s what she did, and why she left? I’m not sure. It would make sense.

If she had never sent the text to her friend about feeling that she was in trouble, I’d be quicker to consider this a case of a possible OD, and if she was with people they got rid of her so that they wouldn’t get in trouble. However, that text gives me pause. If she was on a bender, you best believe her debit or credit card would be used. It’s not easy to hustle up enough money to feed a habit. She hasn’t been arrested for stealing or prostitution in the past that I am aware of, so it would be unlikely for her to employ either of those ways of getting money, now.

I believe that LE has everything they need and are working the case, at this point the quiet doesn’t concern me. If they needed the public’s help, I believe they would be asking for it, releasing video etc. I think those men she left with will be key in this, and that this will be another Savannah Spurlock case. I hope I’m wrong.

All very great, and logical points. Also, most importantly, congratulations on your ongoing sobriety! I've never struggled with drugs or alcohol, and I'm so thankful because getting clean and sober seems so challenging.

 

[WildcatRunner]

Yes shes a recovering addict, however shouldn't mean her case isnt as serious. Addiction has no prejudice, it can happen to anyone. She still deserves the news coverage and means to find her. If she was using then shed be using her ATM more for a fix!! Something isnt right

I don't believe anyone has said she shouldn't get attention due to her addiction. She is getting far more media coverage than most missing persons do.

 

[Seattle1]

Paighton was reportedly in recovery - and while it’s not unheard of to go to a bar in recovery, it is frowned upon in AA, especially in one’s early recovery.

If Paighton was drinking at the bar, then that is already considered a relapse. When people drink, they often next go in search of their drug of choice - which for Paighton was heroin (I speak from experience as someone with over 12 years sober, who once was a heroin addict). So it’s possible she was seeking that out, which is why she left with those two men. You don’t need to know people to leave with them to score drugs, obviously. I got sober at 21 but I made plenty of terrible decisions before that.

Now do I think that’s what she did, and why she left? I’m not sure. It would make sense.

If she had never sent the text to her friend about feeling that she was in trouble, I’d be quicker to consider this a case of a possible OD, and if she was with people they got rid of her so that they wouldn’t get in trouble. However, that text gives me pause. If she was on a bender, you best believe her debit or credit card would be used. It’s not easy to hustle up enough money to feed a habit. She hasn’t been arrested for stealing or prostitution in the past that I am aware of, so it would be unlikely for her to employ either of those ways of getting money, now.

I believe that LE has everything they need and are working the case, at this point the quiet doesn’t concern me. If they needed the public’s help, I believe they would be asking for it, releasing video etc. I think those men she left with will be key in this, and that this will be another Savannah Spurlock case. I hope I’m wrong.

Holidays can be a vulnerable time for anybody-- including addicts and those in recovery.

As PH seemed to have some safeguards in place, my concern is she fell victim to the epidemic proportion of counterfeit meds or synthetic opioids that are flooding our towns and cities -- especially drugs laced with fentanyl. Huge number of accidental OD's.

Really fear PH was left behind somewhere either intentionally or after individual(s) mistakenly thought she texted or called somebody to collect her.

MOO

The Dangers of Fake Drugs: Top 10 Facts on Counterfeit Meds

Alabama Opioid Summary

Fentanyl-Linked Deaths: The U.S. Opioid Epidemic's Third Wave Begins | WBHM 90.3

Woman indicted following drug overdose death in Alabama

Birmingham Man Convicted of Trafficking Nearly Half a Kilogram of Deadly Fentanyl

 

[Beth11311]

All very great, and logical points. Also, most importantly, congratulations on your ongoing sobriety! I've never struggled with drugs or alcohol, and I'm so thankful because getting clean and sober seems so challenging.

Awe thank you! I am one of the lucky ones...with so many of these cases I think of how it could be me, a “but for the grace of God go I” moment. Appreciate you!

 

[Crimechick27]

I have several thoughts on this case. All of this is moo...


It doesn’t seem odd to me that Paighton, as a single adult female living in a Southern city (with Southern cities typically having high crime rates,) stays in regular, frequent contact with her immediate family. I live in the urban South and am close to several of my single adult female cousins, and all of them keep in contact with their folks/siblings like that. That amount of contact feels similar to how frequently I text my husband so that someone I trust can keep tabs on me for safety and security reasons. I imagine Paighton’s prior history of addiction would make her maintain even closer contact with those who love her and would also help her maintain her sobriety; I bet that her folks in particular would probably want to talk to her often because she is someone they have worried about historically (which would be normal for parents of a child who has had addiction issues in the past).


My cynical fear is that the co-worker who left her at the bar, maybe even the other co-workers who were there the night Paighton disappeared, their company, the Tin Roof, and the men Paighton were talking to might all be a bit more worried about CYA than getting Paighton home. I certainly hope I am wrong about all of that, of course. It feels like a perfect storm of circumstances contributed to her going missing, and in all likelihood no one wants to be identified as the last person seen with a missing person because that could kick up a huge lingering cloud of suspicion around that person, imho. (Think Terri Horman in the Kyron Horman case, for instance). I think whoever ultimately prevented Paighton from returning was someone she connected with after she left the bar; whether or not this was an intentional set-up or not I have no idea about. I don’t think the person or persons responsible for Paighton’s absence is on LE’s radar, nor do I think there is any footage of her leaving with him/them.


I am not sure what the staffing situation on law enforcement is in Birmingham; I know with where I live now and also where I am from the biggest cities have a lot of crime and only 50% of the number of law enforcement officers that they need, so crime is usually out of control in both of them. I worry that LE could still be scratching their heads not able to put the pieces together to bring her home due to lack of manpower/resources while precious time is being lost every second. I just think LE doesn’t have all the pieces yet, and I really hope they get them soon.


I wish the public knew more to help more. It worries me that the public is not being given much new info at all on this case. I don’t want Paighton to fade from anyone’s thoughts; I want her home safe with her family.


I also worry that Paighton’s age (being a grown woman who family says can take care of herself) and her prior addiction issue might influence law enforcement/the public not to treat this as urgently as I think it should be treated. From all reports thus far, Paighton’s disappearance is completely out of character. This, combined with the last text she sent, as well as the amount of time which has passed since she disappeared, ring a lot of danger bells for me.


My friends and I frequented pubs and bars when I was Paighton’s age. Texting is a much more subtle way to sound an alarm for help than a phone call would be. The text she sent made me think she was pressed for time and so she sent out the fastest SOS she could to let someone know to check on her. The first name to pull up in cell phones is the last person texted, so my guess is that this was the co-worker who had traveled over there with her. My thought is that the co-worker was who she believed she could reach the fastest when she realized she was in trouble. Also, if the co-worker lives close to the bar, it seems logical to me that from a geographical standpoint she thought her colleague could get to her fast if she needed her to. It is odd to me that the text was allegedly not seen and responded to for so long. Most women I know would not have left the female friend they went out with at a bar with 2 strange men and then not watched their phone like a hawk to keep an ear out for them afterwards even if they had done so. All of that feels very foreign and strange to me as far as what seems “normal” for 2 female friends traveling to a bar together. So, I wonder if the co-worker got the impression Paighton had some friendly acquaintanceship with the men already so she wasn’t as worried as she would have been if they were total strangers. Again, all of this is moo...


I check the news frequently and say prayers for her safe return home often. I earnestly hope we get good news about her soon.


#bringPaightonhomenow

 

[Spanky25]

Besides her text to her friend, I wonder if she made any phone calls that made her leave the bar? The fight/argument with her co-worker might have led her to make a phone call & leave. As far as the two guys, they could have just been leaving out the door coincidentally. If they were “suspects”, I think there photos & video would have been released by now.

 

[Beth11311]

Holidays can be a vulnerable time for anybody including addicts and those in recovery.

As PH seemed to have some safeguards in place, my concern is she fell victim to the epidemic proportion of counterfeit meds or synthetic opioids that are flooding our towns and cities -- especially drugs laced with fentanyl. Huge number of accidental OD's.

Really fear PH was left behind somewhere either intentionally or after individual(s) mistakenly thought she texted or called somebody to collect her.

MOO

The Dangers of Fake Drugs: Top 10 Facts on Counterfeit Meds

Absolutely a very real possibility. Fentanyl is a huuuuge problem right now. Just insane.

And yes, holidays are notorious for relapses.

Additionally, if she did in fact relapse, and this was her first time using in a while, it wouldn’t be uncommon for her to OD simply from too much heroin. Have lost a lot of people over the years that way...they use what they used to when their tolerance was higher, and their body can’t handle it. You also never know the purity...each time is a bit of a gamble. If she was into mainlining it, all the more risk.

 

[Seattle1]

New photos of missing Trussville woman Paighton Houston

TRUSSVILLE, Ala — Paighton Houston has been missing since December 20, 2019. She was last seen leaving the Tin Roof bar in Birmingham's Lakeview district.

A reward is being offered for credible information in the case.

On Monday, December 30, 2019, Paighton's family made these photos available to aid in her search. [PHOTOS AT LINK ABOVE]

If you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact the Birmingham Police Department at 205-297-8413 or 911. If you have additional information on this investigation, contact Crime Stoppers @ 205-254-7777.

 

[ZsaZsa]

I have several thoughts on this case. All of this is moo...


It doesn’t seem odd to me that Paighton, as a single adult female living in a Southern city (with Southern cities typically having high crime rates,) stays in regular, frequent contact with her immediate family. I live in the urban South and am close to several of my single adult female cousins, and all of them keep in contact with their folks/siblings like that. That amount of contact feels similar to how frequently I text my husband so that someone I trust can keep tabs on me for safety and security reasons. I imagine Paighton’s prior history of addiction would make her maintain even closer contact with those who love her and would also help her maintain her sobriety; I bet that her folks in particular would probably want to talk to her often because she is someone they have worried about historically (which would be normal for parents of a child who has had addiction issues in the past).


My cynical fear is that the co-worker who left her at the bar, maybe even the other co-workers who were there the night Paighton disappeared, their company, the Tin Roof, and the men Paighton were talking to might all be a bit more worried about CYA than getting Paighton home. I certainly hope I am wrong about all of that, of course. It feels like a perfect storm of circumstances contributed to her going missing, and in all likelihood no one wants to be identified as the last person seen with a missing person because that could kick up a huge lingering cloud of suspicion around that person, imho. (Think Terri Horman in the Kyron Horman case, for instance). I think whoever ultimately prevented Paighton from returning was someone she connected with after she left the bar; whether or not this was an intentional set-up or not I have no idea about. I don’t think the person or persons responsible for Paighton’s absence is on LE’s radar, nor do I think there is any footage of her leaving with him/them.


I am not sure what the staffing situation on law enforcement is in Birmingham; I know with where I live now and also where I am from the biggest cities have a lot of crime and only 50% of the number of law enforcement officers that they need, so crime is usually out of control in both of them. I worry that LE could still be scratching their heads not able to put the pieces together to bring her home due to lack of manpower/resources while precious time is being lost every second. I just think LE doesn’t have all the pieces yet, and I really hope they get them soon.


I wish the public knew more to help more. It worries me that the public is not being given much new info at all on this case. I don’t want Paighton to fade from anyone’s thoughts; I want her home safe with her family.


I also worry that Paighton’s age (being a grown woman who family says can take care of herself) and her prior addiction issue might influence law enforcement/the public not to treat this as urgently as I think it should be treated. From all reports thus far, Paighton’s disappearance is completely out of character. This, combined with the last text she sent, as well as the amount of time which has passed since she disappeared, ring a lot of danger bells for me.


My friends and I frequented pubs and bars when I was Paighton’s age. Texting is a much more subtle way to sound an alarm for help than a phone call would be. The text she sent made me think she was pressed for time and so she sent out the fastest SOS she could to let someone know to check on her. The first name to pull up in cell phones is the last person texted, so my guess is that this was the co-worker who had traveled over there with her. My thought is that the co-worker was who she believed she could reach the fastest when she realized she was in trouble. Also, if the co-worker lives close to the bar, it seems logical to me that from a geographical standpoint she thought her colleague could get to her fast if she needed her to. It is odd to me that the text was allegedly not seen and responded to for so long. Most women I know would not have left the female friend they went out with at a bar with 2 strange men and then not watched their phone like a hawk to keep an ear out for them afterwards even if they had done so. All of that feels very foreign and strange to me as far as what seems “normal” for 2 female friends traveling to a bar together. So, I wonder if the co-worker got the impression Paighton had some friendly acquaintanceship with the men already so she wasn’t as worried as she would have been if they were total strangers. Again, all of this is moo...


I check the news frequently and say prayers for her safe return home often. I earnestly hope we get good news about her soon.


#bringPaightonhomenow

I do wonder why her friend didn't just text her right back when she got that message. That would have been the first thing I would have done had I received it. What's going on, where are you- do you want me to come get you? That's what I would have asked pronto.