An Alabama couple is facing multiple charges – including capital murder – in the death of their toddler foster child.
Brooklyn Paige Posey Grimes, 31, and Mason John Grimes, 36, are charged with capital murder of a child, murder, felony murder and aggravated child abuse under the age of 6, according to court records made public Wednesday.
The 18-month-old boy arrived at a Blount County hospital in November, emaciated and cool to the touch. He was pronounced dead that day.
“I have handled dozens of cases classified as child abuse cases during my career,’’ said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey. “But this case is beyond anything I could have ever imagined.”
“The photos of this child from Nov. 22 are heartbreaking,’’ Casey said.
“This child needed food. This child needed medical care,’’ she said.
“This child deserved to be loved just like any other child regardless of any congenital anomalies in the child’s appearance or development.”
The couple, who live in Oneonta, were booked into the Blount County Jail between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The indictments against them were issued by a grand jury on July 24.
Mason Grimes’ attorney, Edward Lowe, has request bond be set.
Lowe said his client is not guilty of the charges against him, has extensive family ties to Blount County, no prior felony convictions, no substance abuse issues, and his home has been an approved, thoroughly investigated foster placement for years.
The attorney also noted that Mason Grimes does not have an active U.S. passport.
Court documents do not yet show that Brooklyn Grimes has an attorney.
According to a motion to deny bond for both filed by Casey and Assistant District Attorney Scott Gilliland, the boy was placed in the Grimes’ care on Aug. 5, 2022, when he was just 3 months old.
The child flourished for about a year, the records state.
But on Sept. 25, 2023, the boy was taken to Children’s of Alabama and diagnosed with multiple congenital disorders and genetic testing was performed.
The child was to return to the Birmingham hospital on Oct. 20, 2023, but the Grimes didn’t take the child to the appointment or return follow up telephone calls.
On Nov. 22, 2023, the Grimes took the boy to St. Vincent’s Blount because he wasn’t breathing.
“Upon arrival, the child was severely emaciated, asystolic, and cool to the touch,’’ prosecutors wrote.
The boy had lost about one-third of his body weight since Sept. 25.
“There is no evidence of the child receiving any medical care subsequent to being diagnosed as having multiple congenital disorders,’’ prosecutors wrote.
Mason Grimes in a Mother’s Day 2024 post on Facebook said he and his wife have fostered 17 children over five years. He lashed out at DHR for the handling of the boy’s care. The couple was licensed through Marshall County.
Two days ago, he posted this: “God help us for what me and Paige are about to endure this week. You would think others involved in this case would have eventually grown a conscience, come to our aid, and scream from the roof tops this wrong.”
“But this is a sign of the times, evil has penetrated every part of this system. Please pray for us, the truth will be revealed.”
The couple is set for arraignment on Aug. 29.
Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon has scheduled a Thursday press conference to discuss the arrests.
