Update December 28, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. PT: Bre Payton died Friday at age 26, according to a tweet from her friend Morgan Murtaugh
Bre Payton, a staff writer at The Federalist, was found unconscious in her room Thursday morning and is currently in critical condition at a San Diego, California, hospital.
Payton, 26, was discovered by her friend Morgan Murtaugh, who first reported the news on Twitter Friday morning.
“24 hours ago I found my friend unconscious and called 911,” Murtaugh said. “She’s been in a coma since and really needs a miracle right now. Please, if you’re religious at all, send prayers this way. We really need them.”
Murtaugh also shared a website about Payton’s condition that had more information.
“Bre was taken to the hospital where she was admitted to the ICU, sedated & intubated, and doctors began working up a diagnosis. After a CT scan and hours of testing, they have determined she has the H1N1 flu and possibly meningitis,” it read. “The doctors are concerned that her neurological signs are not great at this point and have informed us the next 24-48 hours are going to be critical for her.”
Payton has been a staff writer with The Federalist for more than three years, according to her LinkedIn profile. Her most recent Twitter post had urged followers to tune into OANN to watch her co-host the network’s show “Tipping Point” with anchor Liz Wheeler.
Within minutes of the news of her condition breaking, many online offered their support and prayers.
“I am asking you all to pray this morning for our own @Bre_payton, who is battling a horrible and sudden medical condition,” The Federalist publisher Ben Domenech said, echoing many others, in a tweet Friday.
A rep for The Federalist declined to offer any additional comment.