Payton Hough
Payton Nathaniel Hough grew up in Hanalei on Kauai, where his family says he was caring and warm, a skateboarder skilled with electronics who loved the beach, fishing and camping. He was held at the privately contracted Columbia Regional Care Center in South Carolina, about a year after Hawaii moved him there as part of an effort to reduce overcrowding, and his family says they were denied access and had little contact with him. The Columbia County coroner told the family that he died by suicide in November 2025, and his father says he was not checked every 30 minutes as required while on suicide watch. His sister posted on Instagram that the family learned of his death on Nov. 25, and his attorney said he was sent to South Carolina without notice or a court hearing. The Hawaii Department of Health has not confirmed the death, and state lawmakers have called for a comprehensive review.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). His sister's Instagram post says he died by suicide, while his father says staff did not check him every 30 minutes as required while he was on suicide watch, and the family says they were denied access to him.
Reported by: family (sister's Instagram post) (family or their lawyers); Columbia County coroner, as relayed to the family (medical examiner or coroner); his father; his attorney.