Inset, from left: Elijah D. Mayes and Grayson Walton, according to the Central City Police Department. The background image shows the Cleaton, Kentucky, home where Grayson’s body was discovered, as reported by WFIE.
A Kentucky teenager is accused of killing an 11-month-old boy who had been left in his care, then giving investigators a false account of where the child had gone before police located his body.
Elijah Drew Mayes, 19, was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Grayson Walton. The charges include murder, first-degree criminal abuse, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse, authorities said.
In a press release, the Central City Police Department said officers were dispatched at approximately 5:10 p.m. Sept. 12 after receiving a report of a disturbance at a home in the 800 block of Harrison Avenue. The location is roughly 185 miles west of Lexington.
At the scene, first responders spoke with Grayson’s father, who said the infant was supposed to be staying with Mayes while he worked. Police said Mayes first told them that another person had taken the child, but investigators quickly began questioning that explanation.
Mayes allegedly told officers that a family friend had collected Grayson around 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, according to the department. Investigators contacted the woman, who denied ever picking up the child.
A relative later told police that Grayson was last seen with Mayes at about 10 p.m. that night at a residence in the 300 block of Hillview Street in Cleaton.
After conducting more interviews, investigators obtained a search warrant for the Harrison Avenue property and a vehicle there. Police said the search also led to the discovery of suspected methamphetamine inside the home.
Authorities then secured another warrant for a home and vehicle in the 300 block of Hillview Street, located about four miles southeast of the Harrison Avenue address. It was inside that residence that officers found Grayson deceased, according to police.
Investigators have not disclosed how the 11-month-old died.
Mayes was taken to the Muhlenberg County Detention Center. He also faces a separate charge of possessing a controlled substance.
Court records did not immediately indicate when Mayes was expected to appear before a judge.
The Central City Police Department said the investigation is continuing, with assistance from multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
The post Missing 11-month-old boy found dead, babysitter charged after lying to investigators: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
