Disturbing details in death of baby, 11 months, hidden in couch & covered bite marks after babysitter, 19, arrested

NEW details have emerged about the murder of an 11-month-old baby as officials confirm a second arrest has been made. Grayson Walton went missing and was later found dead after his father left him with a babysitter while he went to work. Grayson Walton, an 11-month-old from Kentucky, was found dead after his father left him with a babysitter while he went to work Credit: Central City Police Department Elijah Mayes, 19, was arrested and charged with Grayson’s murder after the baby was found dead inside a couch Credit: City of Central City Police Department The investigation has been underway in the small town of Cleaton, Kentucky with a population of less than 200 people Credit: WBKO News Jeff Barnett, a relative of the Mayes, has also been charged in connection with the case Credit: Muhlenberg County Jail Elijah Mayes, 19, was arrested after police found Grayson dead while searching a home in Cleaton, Kentucky, a small town with fewer than 200 residents, the Central City Police Department said on Monday. Grayson’s father told police that he left his son with Mayes when he went to work, and the teen later told investigators that a family friend picked up the infant around 10pm on September 11. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Officials searched Mayes’ home and allegedly found methamphetamine, later searching another home where they found baby Grayson dead. Court documents obtained by local outlet WFIE have revealed that when police searched the second residence, which belongs to Mayes’ step-grandfather, they discovered Grayson dead inside a couch. The 11-month-old appeared to have teeth marks on his stomach and was covered in bruises. Mayes’ relative Jeff Barnett has also been arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence, inmate records show. He was placed in custody at a gas station in Graham, roughly 14 miles from Cleaton, and had a warrant for his arrest, WFIE reported. When Mayes first spoke to police about the missing child, he said he gave Grayson to a relative. Most read in The Sun “Officers located and interviewed that individual, who stated that she had not picked up the child,” the department said on Monday. Investigators have now accused Mayes of making “a fake phone number and [texting] himself pretending to be the person he stated he gave the baby to,” according to Fox affiliate WDKY-TV. Mayes has been charged with murder, criminal abuse, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse and possession of meth. He was arraigned in court on Thursday, where after the hearing the court clerk ordered that the documents pertaining to the search warrant be sealed until March 17, 2027. Mayes is being held at Muhlenberg County Detention Center on a $1million cash only bond, WBKO reported. Funeral services were held for Grayson on Thursday afternoon, and his family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover the expenses. “On behalf of all of us I want to thank the first responders all of the people who shared the posts & offered to help in the search for baby Grayson our community really showed up & out for him and we couldn’t be more thankful! [sic],” the fundraiser read. “He loved the water. He loved Mrs. Rachel. He was always happy – he loved playing with other kids. He never met a stranger,” the 11-month-old’s obituary read.