Blount County foster parents charged in 18-month-old’s death are wrongly accused, lawyers say
A Blount County couple charged with capital murder in the death of their foster child have been falsely accused and loved the 18-month-old boy, their lawyers say.
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.
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The child arrived at a Blount County hospital in November 2023, emaciated and cool to the touch. He was pronounced dead that day, according to investigators and prosecutors.
The couple, who live in Blount County but were license foster parents out of Marshall County, were booked into the Blount County Jail last week following indictments issues by a grand jury on July 24.
Both remain held.
Mason Grimes is represented by attorneys Richard Jaffe, Michael Hanle, Jonathan Brown and Jessie Lowe.
Brooklyn Grimes is represented by attorneys Brian White and Eric Holloway.
Mason Grimes lawyers in a statement to AL.com said their client has been painted totally inaccurately and unfairly- as an uncaring and callous human being.
“In fact, he is the complete opposite,’’ the statement reads. “He loved this child with all his heart- just like he did the other 15 or more children for which he and his wife served as foster parents.”
“This unfortunate child, laboring with a genetic defect, required that he be fed through a feeding tube,’’ they said. “Rather than give the child up when diagnosed, they made herculean efforts to seek medical treatment and nourish him.”
Jaffe said an independent and extensive investigation, along with the medical and DHR records, will clearly show that he has been falsely accused and thrust into an inconceivable nightmare.
“The tragic death of this disadvantaged child is literally destroying Mason,’’ according to the statement. “We are grateful to so many who know him in his church and community for their unwavering support.”
Brooklyn Grimes attorneys said, “We support what Mr. Grimes has said through his attorneys.”
The Grimes other children - adopted and foster - have been removed from the home following the arrests.
According to court records, 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 half of his body weight, Sheriff Mark Moon said. “He was skin and bones,” Moon said.
Court records state there is no evidence of the child receiving any medical care subsequent to being diagnosed as having multiple congenital disorders.
“I have handled dozens of cases classified as child abuse cases during my career,’’ Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey previously said. “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 is set to be arraigned on Aug. 29.