Babysitter Charged in Death of Toddler Hidden Under Couch

A 19-year-old babysitter now faces murder charges after police found the bruised body of an 11-month-old boy hidden inside a couch. Elijah Mayes was supposed to watch little Grayson Walton while the toddler's father worked, but the infant vanished instead. Investigators say Mayes spun a complicated lie to cover up the disappearance. He allegedly invented a fake phone number and sent texts to himself pretending a stranger had taken the baby. This trick was just an attempt to build a false alibi. The search dragged on until officers located Grayson dead at a home in Cleaton, Kentucky. Local media obtained court records that confirm the discovery. Police stated the infant had bruises all over his body and bite marks on his stomach. Grayson died only two weeks before he was set to turn one year old.

The investigation started shortly after 5pm on September 12 when Central City Police Department officers responded to a call. Grayson's father told police he could not find his son and claimed Mayes, age 19, had been watching him that day. Officers began questioning Mayes about the boy's whereabouts immediately. Mayes allegedly told detectives a family friend had picked up Grayson around 10pm on September 11. Police tracked down that woman quickly but her story completely dismantled his defense. The officer noted in reports that she stated she never collected the child at all. Investigators also spoke to a relative who confirmed the baby was last seen with Mayes on September 11 at another location nearby. Officers searched the Harrison Street home and allegedly found what they suspected was methamphetamine there as well.

The case then moved to the property in Cleaton where the body lay waiting. Authorities secured another search warrant and entered that residence. Court records viewed by Fox 56 state the child's body had been concealed inside a couch. Mayes faces a long list of serious charges including murder, first-degree criminal abuse, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty last Thursday and remains jailed at the Muhlenberg County Detention Center while the case proceeds in court. His next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. A second arrest happened during this ordeal too. Grayson's step-grandfather, Jeff Barnett, was charged with tampering with physical evidence following Mayes' capture. The address listed for Barnett matches the Cleaton property where the body was found. Authorities have not released specific details about the exact allegation against him yet.

The community around them rallied to support Grayson's grieving family. One mourner held a banner that demanded justice for Grayson specifically. Mourners gathered for a candlelight vigil last Thursday night with residents urging everyone to speak his name and never forget him again. People remembered Grayson as an adorable, happy boy who loved playing with other kids and never met a stranger in the neighborhood. The organizer of the vigil, Georgina Sailing, told WBKO that they were getting his name out there so people would remember him. She hoped justice is served for Grayson and his devastated loved ones soon.

My whole thing is, speak his name. Don't let him be forgotten." That plea comes from a family trying to keep the memory of an infant alive after he passed away too soon. The obituary paints a gentle picture of a boy who loved the water and was always happy playing with other kids. He never met a stranger.

Now a GoFundMe campaign stands ready to cover funeral costs and pay for a headstone. Families like this one often face steep barriers when trying to secure proper burial arrangements, especially when public resources fall short. The effort relies entirely on community support because access to information about available aid remains limited and hard to reach.