The case of the Grayson County man accused of murdering his girlfriend’s one-year-old baby has been sent to the Grayson County Grand Jury.
James Garrigus, 25, was originally arrested at a trailer park on Commerce Drive on an assault charge after he took his girlfriend’s baby to Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center for treatment on the afternoon of December 20. The baby boy, Dax Sexton, was transferred to Norton Children’s Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Soon after his arrival, Dax was placed on life-support.
The baby died from his injuries at Norton Children’s Hospital on the afternoon of December 21, with Garrigus subsequently charged with Dax’s murder.
According to Garrigus’ arrest citation, the baby suffered from “multiple skull fractures, bruising to (the) face and bruising to the buttocks,” while under the care of Garrigus. The citation, by Kentucky State Police Trooper Jared Clemons, goes on to say that, “The doctors advised Dax’s injuries were consistent with inflicted child abuse.”
During questioning by Kentucky State Police Trooper Brandon Brooks, Garrigus said that the child injured himself when he “fell out of the bed causing an injury to his head.” Doctors, though, said Dax’s injuries were inconsistent with him falling out of a bed.
Kentucky State Police Detective Adam Hutchison interviewed Garrigus’ two biological children, ages three and six, who were present at the Clark School Road residence at the time Dax was under Garrigus’ care.
Garrigus’ six-year-old son told Hutchison, according to the citation, that “his dad spanked Dax very hard on his buttocks,” and “then stated his father took Dax into his bedroom and closed the door” where the six-year-old “heard his father strike Dax hard again.”
Garrigus then “brought Dax back into the kitchen and Dax appeared to be visibly suffering from some sort of head trauma,” the citation reads. The six-year-old said, according to the citation, “Dax’s condition became worse and then his father took Dax to the hospital.”
The child’s autopsy, performed by Dr. Jeffrey Springer at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville, showed “multiple contusions to the face, multiple subscalp and subgaleal contusions (bruising to the scalp), left temporal and occipital comminuted fractures (break or splinter of the bone into more than two fragments), depressed fractures of the left and right frontal bones (where broken bones displace inward), among others,” according to the citation.
With Garrigus’ preliminary hearing occurring on Thursday, January 3, Grayson County Court Clerk Stacie Blain said she isn’t certain if prosecutors will have enough time to prepare the case against Garrigus for presentation to the Grayson County Grand Jury on Monday, leaving open the possibility of the case being presented when the grand jury re-convenes on February 5.
Garrigus was previously arrested in Grayson County on March 9, 2016 on a total of 10 charges, including terroristic threatening, menacing, harassment, criminal trespass, and violating an EPO/DVO.
He is lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 260-259-6000
