‘Sweet and precious baby’ dies months after alleged abuse in Wichita
A Wichita infant who is the alleged victim of child abuse has died, three months after prosecutors charged his father with harming him and his twin brother in January when they were 2 months old.
An obituary published on Downing & Lahey’s website says 5-month-old Grayson Matthew Bemis died on April 26.
“Grayson brought so much love and light to everyone around him. Though his life was brief, he was deeply cherished and will always be remembered,” the obituary says.
The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office in January charged Devin K. Bemis with two counts of child abuse, alleging the 33-year-old caused “great bodily harm, abusive head trauma, permanent disability or disfigurement” to Grayson and tortured, cruelly beat, struck or kicked his other infant son on Jan. 21.
Asked whether prosecutors intend to amend the charges against Bemis in light of the child’s death, DA spokeswoman Lyndsee Stover said the office is “waiting on a final coroner’s report. Once we receive that, a decision will be made on amending charges.”
Bemis’ lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.
Details about exactly what the children endured has not been disclosed publicly by authorities. In March, a Sedgwick County judge sealed a probable cause affidavit that contains that information after media requests to release it, saying that public disclosure of the document could negatively impact child welfare cases involving the twins.
Court documents filed last week temporarily lifted a previous no-contact order to allow Bemis “one last visit” with his dying son at the hospital. It’s unclear from the record whether that visit took place.
Bemis is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail in lieu of $400,000 bond. His next court date is May 7.
Grayson’s obituary describes him as “a sweet and precious baby” who was “often wrapped in his favorite Spider-Man blanket, bringing comfort and smiles to those who held him.”
“He filled hearts with a kind of joy that will never fade. He even had his own little personality — especially how much he HATED having his feet touched, a memory that will always bring a soft smile to those who knew and loved him,” the obituary says.
“Grayson is now at peace ... and will be surrounded by love as he watches over those he leaves behind.”
