11-MONTH-OLD BABY FOUND DEAD INSIDE COUCH AS BABYSITTER FACES MURDER CHARGE

A 19-year-old Kentucky man has been charged with murder after an 11-month-old baby he was supposed to be babysitting was found dead inside a couch, according to police and court documents.

The baby, Grayson Walton, disappeared while his father was at work on September 11. Days later, investigators found the infant’s body inside a home in Cleaton, Kentucky.

Police have charged Elijah Mayes, 19, with murder, first-degree criminal abuse, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse and possession of a controlled substance.

Mayes has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

BABY WAS LEFT IN THE CARE OF A 19-YEAR-OLD

According to police, Grayson’s father left his son with Mayes while he went to work.

When officers were called on September 12 after the father reported that he could not find his son, Mayes allegedly told investigators that a family friend had picked up the baby at around 10 p.m. the previous night.

Investigators contacted the woman Mayes identified.

She told police that she had not picked up Grayson.

Police also learned that a relative had seen Grayson with Mayes at another Cleaton residence on September 11.

Those discrepancies led investigators to continue searching for the missing child.

POLICE MAKE HORRIFYING DISCOVERY

Authorities first searched a home on Harrison Street and reportedly found suspected methamphetamine.

They then obtained another search warrant and searched a property on Hillview Street in Cleaton, where Grayson’s body was discovered.

According to a criminal citation obtained by local media, investigators found the 11-month-old inside a couch.

Police said the baby’s body showed bruising and apparent teeth marks on his stomach.

An official cause of death has not been publicly released.

The disturbing discovery has now become the centre of a homicide investigation.

POLICE ALLEGE A FAKE ALIBI

Investigators also allege that Mayes attempted to create an explanation for what had happened to Grayson.

According to the criminal citation, police allege that Mayes created a fake phone number and sent messages to himself, pretending to be the person he claimed had collected the baby.

The messages were allegedly intended to support his account of events.

Police later determined that the woman Mayes had identified had never picked up Grayson.

The allegations will be examined as the criminal case proceeds.

SECOND MAN ARRESTED

The investigation has also resulted in a second arrest.

Jeff Barnett, identified by local authorities as Grayson’s step-grandfather, was arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence.

His address is listed as the same Cleaton property where investigators discovered Grayson’s body.

Authorities have not alleged that Barnett is responsible for Grayson’s death.

Both cases remain ongoing.

COMMUNITY GATHERS TO REMEMBER GRAYSON

As investigators worked to establish what happened, residents of the small Kentucky community gathered for a candlelight vigil in Grayson’s memory.

The vigil was held on September 17, with dozens of people gathering to remember the baby and support his family.

Organizer Georgina Sailing said she wanted people to continue speaking Grayson’s name and remembering him.

Grayson died just two weeks before his first birthday.

His obituary remembered him as a happy and social baby who loved water, watching Ms. Rachel and playing with other children.

“He never met a stranger,” his obituary said.

CASE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION

Mayes remains in custody at the Muhlenberg County Detention Center on a reported $1 million cash-only bond and has been ordered not to contact Grayson’s family.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 23.

The court has not determined that Mayes is responsible for Grayson’s death. He remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

For Grayson’s family and the Cleaton community, the investigation continues as authorities work to establish exactly what happened to the 11-month-old boy in the days before his body was discovered.