The latest details in Jayden Spicer’s disappearance and death in Kentucky
A Kentucky mother is charged in the death of her 10-year-old son after officials spent a week searching for the boy, who was presumed missing.
Jayden Spicer was reported missing by Felicia and Josh Gross on Aug. 6. Officials combed the area near his home on Panbowl Branch Road in Jackson for seven days and didn’t find anything until Felicia Gross, Jayden’s mother, confessed to giving the boy sleeping medication and burying him.
Felicia Gross was charged Tuesday with second-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting an incident and two counts of witness tampering, according to court records.
Here is everything we know about the investigation:
Aug. 6: Jayden is reported missing to Kentucky State Police around 9:30 a.m. State police, local search and rescue teams and other agencies respond to the Panbowl Branch Road area and immediately begin searching for the 10-year-old boy, using an all-terrain vehicle, dogs, drone, sonar and helicopter to look for him. People were encouraged to avoid the search area but report information to police.
Aug. 7: Felicia Gross, Jayden’s mother, provides a statement to police to share with media about the search for him, according to WYMT. In the statement, Gross said she wanted her son to return home safely and asked people who may have spotted him to report it to police.
Aug. 8: The search for Jayden broadens after days of unsuccessful searching. State police expand their efforts to new areas.
Aug. 12: Jayden is found dead around 3 p.m. in a wooded area near Canoe Road in Breathitt County. Officials locate the boy after Felicia Gross admits to giving him sleeping medication and burying him underground in a plastic tote. She is arrested and booked into the Kentucky River Regional Jail.
Aug. 13: Felicia Gross’ arrest citation is released, revealing the details of her confession. She told police she thought Jayden had died from a medical emergency after taking the sleeping medication. She then took the boy’s body to the Canoe Road area, where he was ultimately found. She also admitted to “coaching” two of the boy’s siblings before they were interviewed by police, according to court documents.
Aug. 16: A candlelight vigil is planned for 8:30 p.m. at Douthitt Park in Jackson to honor Jayden. The Breathitt Regional Juvenile Detention Center will provide the candles.
