Teen babysitter charged after 11-month-old was found dead inside couch
09/21/2026 6:47 pm PDT
CENTRAL CITY, Ky. (TCN) -- A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder, criminal abuse, evidence tampering, abuse of a corpse, and possession of methamphetamine in connection with the death of an 11-month-old baby.
Elijah Mayes was responsible for watching a family friend’s baby, Grayson Walton, WLKY reports. On Sept. 12, police were called to a residence regarding a disturbance and the child’s father told police Mayes was watching the baby while he was at work.
Police spoke with Mayes, who claimed he had dropped the baby off with a friend the night before, according to police. When police contacted the friend, she said no one had dropped off a baby.
Police executed two search warrants at the home where a witness said the child was last seen. During the first search, they allegedly found methamphetamine. During the second search, they found Walton’s remains inside a couch, according to court records. He was allegedly covered in bruises and had bite marks on his stomach.
The investigation revealed Mayes had allegedly created a fake phone number to text himself messages posing as the friend he had supposedly dropped the victim off with, WLKY reports.
On Sept. 14, police announced Mayes was behind bars, charged with murder, criminal abuse, evidence tampering, abuse of a corpse, and possession of methamphetamine. WLKY reports Mayes’ bond was set at $1 million.
Walton’s step-grandfather, Jeff Barnett, was also arrested in connection with the case, WFIE reports, and he was charged with evidence tampering.
Walton’s obituary describes him as “always happy — he loved playing with other kids. He never met a stranger.”
People reports Mayes pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is scheduled to appear again in court on Sept. 23.
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