The Grayson County man arrested in the death of a one-year-old child in December has been indicted by the grand jury.
James A. Garrigus, 25, was indicted on one count of murder in the death of his girlfriend’s child, Dax Sexton, who was only a week away from his second birthday.
Garrigus, who the indictment says resided in the 700 block of Clark School Road, was arrested at a trailer park on Commerce Drive on an assault charge after he took Dax to Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center for treatment on the afternoon of December 20. The child was transferred to Norton Children’s Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Soon after his arrival, he 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 by police 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, prepared 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.
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.
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 270-259-6000
