A Kentucky teenager allegedly murdered an 11-month-old infant he was babysitting, then concealed the child’s body in a nearby home while spinning a web of lies to investigators and the boy’s frantic father. Elijah Drew Mayes, 19, was taken into custody and charged with murder and first-degree criminal abuse following the discovery of Grayson Walton’s body in a residence in Cleaton, Kentucky, according to the Central City Police Department.
Background
The investigation began when officers responded to a reported disturbance at a home in the 800 block of Harrison Avenue around 5:10 p.m. on Sept. 12. The location is approximately 185 miles west of Lexington. When first responders arrived, they spoke with the father of Grayson Walton, who stated that his son was supposed to be in the care of Elijah Mayes while he was at work. The father’s anxiety quickly turned to suspicion when Mayes’ account of the child’s whereabouts began to unravel.
During an initial interview at the scene, Mayes claimed that a family friend had picked up the child at approximately 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. However, police located and interviewed the individual mentioned by Mayes, who confirmed she had not picked up the child. This contradiction prompted investigators to dig deeper, leading them to a relative of the victim who stated the last time they saw Grayson was when he was with Mayes at a residence in the 300 block of Hillview Street in Cleaton, also on Friday, Sept. 11.
The Charges
Authorities obtained a search warrant for the home on Harrison Avenue and a vehicle at that location, where they reportedly found what they believed to be methamphetamine. Following this development, police secured a second search warrant for a residence and vehicle in the 300 block of Hillview Street, located about 4 miles southeast of the initial scene. It was inside this second home that investigators discovered Grayson Walton dead.
Mayes was arrested and transported to the Muhlenberg County Detention Center. He faces charges of murder, first-degree criminal abuse, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and one count of possession of a controlled substance. Authorities have not yet released details regarding the infant’s specific cause of death.
Key Takeaways
- Elijah Drew Mayes, 19, is charged with murder and first-degree criminal abuse in the death of 11-month-old Grayson Walton.
- Mayes allegedly lied to police, claiming a family friend had picked up the child, a story disproven by investigators.
- Grayson’s body was found in a second residence in Cleaton, KY, about 4 miles from where Mayes was first interviewed.
- Police found suspected methamphetamine in the initial residence linked to the suspect.
- The case involves multiple charges including tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.
What's Next
Elijah Drew Mayes remains in custody at the Muhlenberg County Detention Center pending his initial appearance and arraignment. The Central City Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the infant's death, including awaiting official confirmation of the cause of death from the medical examiner. Prosecutors are expected to file additional documentation related to the charges of tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse as the case proceeds through the Kentucky court system.