'Monster on the run'; police looking for man convicted of sex crimes against children

William Carter was set to be sentenced Tuesday morning but did not show up to court.

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A Grayson County Judge has issued a warrant for William Carter's arrest after he failed to appear at his sentencing hearing set for Tuesday morning in Grayson County. In July, Carter pleaded guilty to multiple crimes against children, including rape and sexual abuse.

Now, the mother of the victim in the case is speaking out, raising awareness for a man she's calling "a monster on the run."

"Our family has endured the unthinkable", Chelsea Baird said, "the system has failed to protect our daughter or deliver real justice."

According to his indictment, Carter was accused of having sexual relations with a girl who was less than 14 years old when the relationship started in June of 2023. The relationship continued for about eight months, according to court records.

Baird said Carter manipulated her daughter, promising "vacations, gifts, and convincing her she was in a “relationship” with him."

She said it came to a head in February of 2024, when the child disclosed what had been happening at a school conference. "She said she was “in love” with her grandfather and that he was planning to run away with her," Baird explained.

Baird said she immediately reported the abuse to Kentucky State Police and Carter was indicted on multiple charges three months later.

But Baird said the judicial process since then has been tiring and traumatic.

Carter was released from custody on bail shortly after his arrest. Baird said this forced her family to take their daughter's protection into their own hands, even pulling her from school, where she had been communicating with him through school technology.

The case worked through the court system for more than a year before the family was encouraged to engage in mediation.

She said the July 2025 mediation session resulted in a sentence that was lower than what she thinks the crime deserved, but the only option was to give her daughter some freedoms back, as the offender was out on bail.

He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in a plea agreement that followed.

Now, Carter is considered 'on the run', after failing to show up to sentencing, where he would have been taken into custody to begin his prison time.

"He could be anywhere by now, and we aren't just fearful for ours, we are fearful for the other little girls out here who may not know what kind of monster they are dealing with," Baird said.

If you know anything about the whereabouts of William Carter, you can call your local police department or Kentucky State Police Post 4 at 270-766-5078.

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