LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A grieving Kentucky mother has filed a lawsuit against Meade County officials after spending seven months in jail, accused of causing her son’s death.
The charges were later dropped, but the emotional toll on Kayla Irwin, who was also denied the chance to attend her son’s funeral, remains.
On Jan. 10, 2022, Kayla Irwin received a devastating phone call from her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Clemens, claiming her 5-year-old son Braydon had been rushed to the hospital after an apparent accident.
Braydon later died from blunt force trauma to the abdomen, and Irwin, despite being out of state at the time, was arrested on suspicion of murder.
In an interview with WDRB, Irwin detailed her ordeal.
“I really didn’t get to grieve,” she said. “They immediately arrested me and took me to jail. I didn’t get to go to his funeral and lay him to rest.”
Daniel Clemens.
Irwin’s bond was initially set at $250,000, later reduced to 10%, allowing her parents to post $25,000 to secure her release.
Afterward, she was placed under home incarceration for over a year. Despite her eventual release and the charges being dropped, Irwin said she faced public scrutiny and struggled to rebuild her life.
“I was plastered all over the news,” she said. “Even though I wasn’t convicted, the charges were still in my background, so it prevented me from getting a job.”
This week, Irwin’s attorney, John Friend, filed a lawsuit accusing several Meade County officials—including Sheriff Phillip Wimpee, a deputy, and a prosecutor—of mishandling the investigation and unfairly keeping her incarcerated. The lawsuit claims that Irwin was denied the opportunity to attend her son’s funeral and was held without sufficient evidence to support the charges.
“There was zero evidence to support the murder charge,” Friend said. “But they decided to charge her anyway, without considering the facts or conducting a proper investigation.”
The lawsuit also includes a personal element: it alleges Wimpee’s own history with losing a son affected his decision to arrest Irwin. Friend argues that such personal biases should not influence law enforcement actions.
While the sheriff and prosecutor have not responded to requests for comment, Irwin says she did receive an apology from Wimpee.
“He said he was just following orders from higher-ups,” she recalled.
Clemens, who initially claimed Braydon’s death was the result of a dirt bike accident, was eventually convicted in the child’s death. Irwin said she saw him after the sentencing.
“He walked by and apologized to all of us. But it didn’t mean anything.”
Despite everything, Irwin has remained focused on her future. While under home incarceration, she completed a degree in criminal justice, hoping to help other families who might face similar injustices.
“I’m doing this for myself, but also for others who have been treated the same way,” she said.
Irwin hopes her lawsuit will not only bring justice for her family but also prevent others from going through what she endured.
“I’m really trying to make a statement, to advocate for myself and those who’ve been in the same situation,” she said.
The lawsuit could include additional names as the legal process continues.
Related Stories:
- Lawsuit claims Meade County officials denied mother from attending son's funeral after wrongful arrest
- Couple charged in connection with 5-year-old's death in Meade County
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