Kentucky State Police have charged the mother of a missing 10-year-old boy after his body was found in a shallow grave nearly a week after he was reported missing, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The remains of Jayden Spicer were located Tuesday afternoon in a heavily wooded area of rural Breathitt County, Kentucky, six days after he was first reported missing. Authorities said the discovery followed a tip received late Monday night that led investigators to the site.
Jayden Spicer’s obituary. I will never understand how a mother can kill her own child. 😢 #jaydenspicer [2] pic.twitter.com/xsp3eGZzRz [3]
— Rose (@901Lulu) August 13, 2025 [4]
Trooper Matt Gayheart confirmed that Jayden’s mother, 33-year-old Felicia Gross of Jackson, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and falsely reporting an incident.
UPDATE: 33-year-old Felicia Gross has confessed to burying her son, 10-year-old Jayden Spicer’s body.
She told detectives she gave Jayden a sleeping medication and believed he died from a medical emergency.
She is being held at the Kentucky River Regional Jail.@LEX18News [5] pic.twitter.com/hCBXNXopA5 [6]— Annie Brown (@AnnieBrownNews) August 13, 2025 [7]
Police said Gross had publicly pleaded for help in finding her son days earlier, providing a handwritten note to local media.
“We love Jayden and we want him safe at home please if anybody see my son Jayden Spicer please report it to the Jackson police department,” the note read. “Thank you we love him very much please do the right thing call the police please pray for us and my son Jayden thank you.”
The mother of missing child, Jayden Spicer, provided a handwritten statement to the press this afternoon. #kentucky [8] #breathittcounty [9] pic.twitter.com/N15aBEq045 [10]
— Rose (@901Lulu) August 7, 2025 [11]
Investigators now believe Gross wrote the message knowing what had happened to the boy.
According to initial reports provided to police, Gross claimed Jayden went to bed on the night of Tuesday, Aug. 5, but was gone the following morning. His disappearance triggered an extensive search in the surrounding area, involving multiple agencies and local volunteers.
A look at the scene on Canoe Road on Tuesday, August 12, where troopers would discover the body of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer. It’s around 19 miles from his Panbowl Branch home, where he was said to have disappeared overnight nearly a week ago. https://t.co/kdwDFbGEfq [12] pic.twitter.com/kStxeybnUV [13]
— FOX 56 News (WDKY) (@FOX56News) August 12, 2025 [14]
Jayden’s remains have been transported to the state Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy. Kentucky State Police have not released further details on the manner of death or what led to the charges, citing an ongoing investigation.
Here is my coverage from this morning covering Jayden Spicer’s death. @FOX56News [15] https://t.co/6rZBNfZIkc [16] pic.twitter.com/l2my5nOUYS [17]
— Tyler Melito FOX 56 News (@TylerMelito) August 13, 2025 [18]
Court records show Gross previously served one year in jail for endangering the welfare of a minor. She is currently being held at the Kentucky River Regional Jail.