Central City, KY — An investigation into the disappearance of an 11-month-old boy ended in tragedy after police found the child dead and arrested the 19-year-old man who was supposed to be caring for him.
Elijah Drew Mayes was taken into custody in connection with the death of Grayson Walton and faces charges including murder, first-degree criminal abuse, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse, authorities said.
The investigation began around 5:10 p.m. Sept. 12, when officers with the Central City Police Department responded to a reported disturbance at a home in the 800 block of Harrison Avenue.
When officers arrived, they spoke with Grayson’s father, who told investigators that his son was supposed to be in Mayes’ care while he was at work.
But Mayes allegedly gave police a story about the child that investigators quickly began questioning.
Babysitter allegedly gave police a false story
During an interview at the scene, Mayes reportedly told officers that a family friend had picked up Grayson around 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11.
Police contacted the woman he identified, but she told investigators that she had not picked up the child. That contradiction prompted investigators to dig deeper into what had happened to Grayson.
A relative of the child also provided investigators with another important detail. The relative told police the last time they had seen Grayson was around 10 p.m. Friday, when the baby was with Mayes at a residence in the 300 block of Hillview Street in Cleaton.
Investigators conducted additional interviews as they worked to establish the baby’s whereabouts and reconstruct the events leading up to his disappearance.
Search leads police to another home
Police eventually obtained a search warrant for the Harrison Avenue residence and a vehicle at the location. During that search, officers said they discovered what they believed to be methamphetamine inside the home.
Investigators then obtained a second search warrant for a residence and vehicle in the 300 block of Hillview Street, located about four miles southeast of the Harrison Avenue property.
It was during that search that authorities made the discovery that turned the missing-child investigation into a homicide case.
Grayson was found dead inside the home, police said.
Authorities have not released information about the child’s cause of death, leaving key questions about how the 11-month-old died unanswered as the investigation continues.
19-year-old babysitter faces multiple charges
Following the discovery, Mayes was arrested and transported to the Muhlenberg County Detention Center.
In addition to the charges connected to Grayson’s death, Mayes is also facing a possession of a controlled substance charge, according to police.
It was not immediately clear when Mayes was scheduled to appear in court.
Police have not publicly detailed a possible motive or explained what investigators believe happened between the time Grayson was last seen and when his body was discovered.
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The case remains active, with authorities continuing to gather evidence and piece together the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
Investigation remains ongoing
The Central City Police Department said numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies assisted with the investigation.
The case began as a search for a missing baby after his father learned that Grayson was no longer where he was expected to be. It quickly escalated after investigators challenged Mayes’ account of who had taken the child and began searching locations connected to him.
The discovery of Grayson’s body brought the search to a devastating end, while Mayes now faces serious criminal charges.
Authorities have yet to release additional details about the child’s death, and investigators are continuing to work on the case.
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