Timeline sheds light on events with missing interim clerk
Feb. 23, 2020 — Clayton hired by Department of Commerce.
July 15, 2022 — Mullinville Community Foundation receives a $425,398 Building a Stronger Economy grant from the Department of Commerce. The grant was targeted to repair recreation equipment damaged by a storm. Clayton was a foundation board member.
Aug. 15, 2022 — Clayton and Commerce coworker Braxton Hutchinson registered a grant consulting business with the secretary of state’s office.
April 25, 2023 — Peabody Main Street Association receives a $1.5 million BASE grant to restore historic downtown buildings.
Nov. 20 — Clayton quits his employment with Commerce.
April 15 — Clayton’s business listing with the secretary of state’s office expires for failure to send reports.
June 3 — Clayton, who had been working as dog catcher and safety officer, was promoted to interim city clerk after a spate of Peabody resignations and firings.
June 30, July 2, July 8, and July 16 — Commerce notified Mullinville Community Foundation that it was not in compliance with Commerce requirements on its grant. Documentation had not been submitted. The community foundation was told it would have time to cure defaults.
July 24 — Newton Healthcare Corp. files suit against Clayton and his husband, Christopher King, for $335.95 in unpaid medical bills.
July 25 — Commerce sends Peabody Main Street a letter warning that required paperwork was not filed and that its grant needed to be brought into compliance. Clayton was responsible for sending in the paperwork. Main Street board members begin working to bring the grant into compliance but failed to notify affected businesses.
Aug. 3 — Clayton disappears and is reported missing.
Aug. 5 — Commerce sends letter demanding that a $740,000 first installment of grant money to Peabody must be repaid by today.
Two weeks ago — Mullinville Cemetery Board discovers $70,000 had been removed from its bank accounts since 2021. Clayton was a board member.
Aug. 7 — Department of Commerce files suit against Mullinville Community Foundation seeking return of grant money in full.
Aug. 8 — An email purporting to be arranged in advance by Clayton if anything ever happened to him was sent to townsfolk saying that if he disappeared or was found dead, people including Lieutenant Governor Dave Toland, director of Commerce, “should be looked at.” Peabody Police Chief Philip Crom says Clayton’s disappearance is under investigation by Kansas Highway Patrol.
Aug. 12 — Main Street notifies business owners by email that a second installment of grant money might not be sent.
Last week — Commerce extends its deadline for Main Street to return grant money until Sept. 4 and sends staff to Peabody to assist with required paperwork.
Monday — Commerce releases information that it is investigating Mullinville and Peabody grants in conjunction with Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Office of the Inspector General.
