PD: Paternal grandmother of kidnapped child played bigger role in crime

PHOENIX - The one-year old boy who police say was kidnapped by his father earlier in the week is still in the custody of the state.

Thursday morning, his grandmother told ABC15 her daughter was meeting with officials at Child Protective Services with the hopes he would be returned to her custody.

Christopher Ayers was taking into the custody of the state Wednesday night after his father, also named Christopher Ayers, was arrested at a church on Van Buren and 21st Avenue.

Ayers, the father, was supposed to meet his son's mother.

It is customary for the state to get involved when a child is involved in an incident, police said.

It was the state's decision to take the child and the child's maternal mother told ABC15 they would keep him for 72 or until the child's mother could prove she can provide a safe home environment.

"He don't even realize what's happening," said the boy's grandmother, Tyrell Gray.

Gray is worried the little boy may be missing his family while he is with temporary foster parents.

"Tylisha is a very good parent. She takes very good care of her kids," Gray said. "I know she's going to do everything in power to get her baby."

The child's father, Christopher Ayers, was charged with aggravated assault and criminal damage.

On June 24, court documents show Ayers kicked in the front door and walked into a West Phoenix apartment where the mother of his son lived.

Investigators go on to say Ayers used a fire extinguisher and sprayed his son's mother and two other women.

Two days later, investigators said Ayers kidnapped two women, eventually setting them free, but took off with his son.

He made several threats to harm himself and the child, police said.

Ayer's mother, Vickie Ayers, was arrested and charged with hindering prosecution of a crime because she allegedly had the baby the whole time but initially didn't tell police.

She eventually told police she had the baby and was going to have her son turn himself in, but she never did, police said.

"I think that she was trying to buy Chris sometime," said maternal grandmother Tyrell Gray. "I know people do things to defend their children, but when the kid is in the wrong then you tried to get him to the do the right thing."