Mother charged after body of missing 10-year-old Jayden Spicer found in Breathitt County
DEVELOPING INFORMATION:
BREATHITT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky State Police say the week-long search for 10-year-old Jayden Spicer of Jackson ended Tuesday with the discovery of his body in a wooded area of Breathitt County.
Trooper Matt Gayheart said detectives from KSP Post 13 in Hazard received new information related to Spicer’s disappearance, which led investigators to a heavily wooded area along Canoe Road in the Jackson community. Around 3 p.m., search crews located the boy’s remains buried in the area.
“The remains will be transported to the medical examiner’s office in Frankfort for an autopsy,” Gayheart said.
Authorities say Spicer’s mother, 33-year-old Felicia Gross of Jackson, has been arrested and charged in connection to his death. She faces charges of second-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and falsely reporting an incident. Gross was booked into the Kentucky River Regional Jail.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Miranda King, who prosecutes in Breathitt, Wolfe, and Powell counties, said, “While this is not the outcome that we had hoped for, we certainly are grateful that we were able to bring him out of the woods today. I would like to assure the public that now, thanks to these guys, Jayden is now in good hands, and we’re gonna take care of him.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
UPDATE:
BREATHITT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Kentucky State Police say the body of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer was found Tuesday afternoon in some woods off Canoe Road in Breathitt County. The child’s body was discovered in a shallow grave a little after 3 p.m.
Investigators have arrested Jayden’s mother, 33-year-old Felicia Gross of Jackson. She is charged with manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and falsely reporting an incident. Gross was taken to the Kentucky River Regional Jail.
Police say the investigation began after Jayden was reported missing last Tuesday, prompting search efforts involving state police and local authorities. The child’s body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.
KSP says the investigation is ongoing.
ORIGINAL STORY:
BREATHITT COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — The family of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer says his body has been found in Breathitt County. Spicer had been missing for a week, and there is still no official confirmation from authorities at this time.
New: Jayden’s aunt, Samantha Brunty, tells ABC 36 that the boy’s body was discovered Tuesday in Breathitt County after an extensive search.
Now: Authorities have not confirmed the discovery, and no official details have been released about where or how the boy was found.
Next: Investigators are expected to release more information once the coroner’s office confirms the discovery and the cause of death.
This is a developing story, which we’ll update when more information is released.
