A TEENAGE babysitter has been arrested after the body of a baby, covered in bite marks and bruises, was found stuffed inside a couch.

Tiny 11-month-old Grayson Walton from Central City, Kentucky, was supposed to be taken care of by Elijah Mayes, 19, while his father was at work on September 11.

Elijah Mayes, 19 has been charged with murder after 11-month-old Grayson Walton was found dead inside a couch at a Kentucky home

Grayson was just two weeks shy of his first birthday when he was killed

Instead, he vanished and was later found dead hidden inside a couch with teeth marks on his stomach and covered in bruises at a house in Cleaton.

On September 13, Mayes was arrested and charged with murder, first-degree criminal abuse or neglect, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence.

Grayson’s step-grandfather Jeff Barnett has also been arrested in connection with the case and has been charged with tampering with physical evidence.

Investigators say they were called to a house just after 5pm on September 12 where Grayson’s father told cops he was searching for his son.

He told them that Mayes had been babysitting for him while he was at work which saw them question the teenager about the whereabouts of the baby.

Mayes told investigators that Grayson, who died just two weeks before his first birthday, had been picked up by a “family friend” at around 10pm on September 11.

According to officials, Mayes even created a fake phone number and sent messages to himself pretending to be the woman in an attempt to establish an alibi.

However, this alleged sick scheme was quickly thwarted when cops “located and interviewed that individual who stated that she had not picked up the child,” police said.

Meanwhile, a relative of Grayson told cops they had seen the baby and the teenager together at a different home in Cleaton on September 11.

A search of the first property found suspected methamphetamine and a follow up search of the Cleaton home led to the horrifying discovery of Grayson’s body.

A cause of death has not been publicly released

Grayson’s step-grandfather Jeff Barnett has also been charged in connection with his death

His step-grandfather’s address matches that of where the baby’s body was found.

An exact cause of death has not yet been released.

Mayes has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is due in court on Wednesday.

He is being held at the Muhlenberg County Detention Center on a $1million bond and is not allowed contact with Grayson’s family.

A candlelit vigil was held on Thursday night with organizer Georgina Sailing saying she hopes “justice is served” for Grayson and his family.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has raised over $4,500 to help the family with funeral costs.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/17032512/killer-babysitter-arrested-baby-body-found-couch/