A 19-year-old babysitter in western Kentucky has been arrested and faces multiple serious charges following the discovery of an 11-month-old boy’s body concealed inside a couch. The child, Grayson Walton, was only about two weeks away from his first birthday when he died.

According to authorities, Elijah Mayes had been left in charge of Grayson while the boy’s father went to work. When the father returned to the residence in Cleaton on September 13, 2026, he could not locate his son and contacted police around 5 p.m. Officers arrived and began searching the home.

During the search, investigators found Grayson’s body jammed inside a couch. The child showed multiple bruises, and officials noted what appeared to be teeth marks on his stomach. The discovery immediately contradicted the explanation Mayes had offered to police.

Mayes had told officers that a family friend had collected the baby the previous night. He even presented text messages that he claimed supported this account. When investigators located and spoke with the woman in question, however, she stated she had not taken the child. Police later alleged that Mayes had created a fake phone number and sent messages to himself in an effort to fabricate an alibi and conceal what had happened.

Additional information emerged from neighbors, who reported seeing Mayes with Grayson at another property the night before the body was found. A search of the home also turned up a quanтιтy of methamphetamine that authorities said belonged to Mayes.

Mayes was charged with murder, criminal abuse, abuse of a corpse, and possession of methamphetamine. In a related development, Grayson’s step-grandfather, identified in local reports as Jeff Barnett, was also arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence. The precise nature of his alleged involvement has not been fully detailed publicly.

The case has left a deep mark on the small community of Cleaton. Residents gathered for a vigil in memory of the baby. One local resident described the family as devastated and noted that in a close-knit town, such a tragedy is felt collectively, as if by one extended family.

The investigation continues, and further details may emerge as the legal process moves forward.

Source : New York Post