A criminal citation obtained Friday details the death of 11-month-old Grayson Walton in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. According to investigators, the baby’s babysitter, 19-year-old Elijah Mayes, told people a family friend had picked the child up on Sept. 11. Police say that story was fabricated, and the infant was later found dead inside a couch at a home on Hillview Street, with bruises and apparent teeth marks on his stomach.
Mayes faces charges including murder, criminal abuse, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and possession of meth. Investigators also allege he created a fake phone number and texted himself to create an alibi. The baby’s step-grandfather has been arrested on a tampering charge, while Grayson’s father was at work when the incident occurred.
For Suncoast families, this case raises hard questions about how we choose the people we trust with our children. Whether you’re a parent in Sarasota or a grandparent in North Port helping with childcare, the same basics apply: check references, stay connected, and trust your instincts when something feels off. How do you vet the sitters in your life? Let us know on our Facebook page.
