A 19-year-old babysitter in Cleaton, Kentucky, has been charged with murder after an 11-month-old boy in his care was found dead, his body hidden inside a couch, according to police.
Elijah Mayes was arrested following the discovery of Grayson Walton’s body on Sept. 13. Officers were called to the home around 5 p.m. that day after Grayson’s father said he had left his son with Mayes while he went to work, but the baby could not be found when he returned home.
A search of the residence led investigators to Grayson’s body stuffed inside a couch. His body showed bruising and what appeared to be teeth marks on his stomach, according to a report from 14 News.
The discovery contradicted an account Mayes had reportedly given officers, in which he claimed a family friend had picked up the baby from the home the previous night. Mayes allegedly showed police what he said were text messages between himself and the woman to support that story. But when investigators located her, she denied ever taking the child.
Police now allege Mayes created a fake phone number and sent himself the texts in an attempt to build a false alibi and conceal what happened to Grayson.
Separately, neighbors told police they had seen Mayes with Grayson at another property the night before the baby’s body was found.
During the search of Grayson’s home, officers also reported finding a quantity of methamphetamine they allege belonged to Mayes.
Mayes faces charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, criminal abuse and meth possession.
Grayson’s step-grandfather was also arrested in connection with the case and charged with tampering with physical evidence. It is not yet clear what role he is accused of playing.
Grayson died just two weeks before his first birthday.
At a vigil held for the child, Cleaton community member Jennifer Banks described the toll the case has taken on the family and the town.
“They’re devastated,” Banks said. “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.”
