A 19-year-old Kentucky babysitter allegedly fatally abused an 11-month-old boy, leaving bruises and apparent teeth marks on the child’s stomach before hiding his body inside a couch, police said. Investigators also accused the teen of creating an elaborate false story to conceal what happened.
Elijah Mayes was arrested after the body of Grayson Walton was discovered Sept. 13 inside the Cleaton home where Mayes had been caring for him.
Police arrived at the residence at about 5 p.m. after Grayson’s father reported that he had left his son with Mayes while he went to work. When he returned, the baby was missing from the home.
A detailed search of the house produced a grim discovery. Officers found Grayson’s body wedged inside a couch. The child had multiple bruises, along with what appeared to be teeth marks on his stomach, according to 14 News.
The finding contradicted the account Mayes had reportedly given police. He claimed that a family friend had come to the home the previous night and picked up the baby.
Mayes also showed investigators what he said were text messages exchanged with the woman. However, when police located her, she denied ever taking Grayson.
Based on the investigation, police alleged that Mayes created a fake phone number and sent messages to himself in an attempt to build an alibi and conceal the circumstances surrounding Grayson’s death.
Neighbors also told investigators they had seen Mayes with Grayson at another property the night before the child’s body was found.
During the search of the home, police also found methamphetamine they alleged belonged to Mayes.
Mayes faces charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, criminal abuse and possession of methamphetamine.
Grayson’s step-grandfather was separately arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence. Authorities have not publicly explained the circumstances behind that charge.
Grayson died just two weeks before his first birthday.
“They’re devastated,” Cleaton community member Jennifer Banks said of the child’s family during a recent vigil for Grayson.
“And to live in a small community is to feel everything together. That’s what small community is. It’s like we’re all family,” Banks told WBKO.
