Crime
Missing 10-year-old Jayden Spicer found dead, mother confessed to killing him
BREATHITT COUNTY, Ky. — Authorities have confirmed the tragic discovery of the body of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer, bringing a heartbreaking end to the days-long search in Jackson, Kentucky.
Jayden body was recovered in a shallow grave.
Kentucky State Police troopers confirmed at a press conference that Jayden Spicer’s mom, Felicia Gross, was charged with manslaughter, abuse of corpse, tampering with evidence and falsely reporting.
Gross was lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail.
KSP confirmed that the body was sent to the state Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.
Jayden was reported missing on the morning of Wednesday, August 6, after he was last seen at his mother’s residence on Panbowl Branch Road around 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Kentucky State Police (KSP) said they received the call at 9:23 a.m. Wednesday, prompting an immediate large-scale search effort involving KSP, Breathitt County Emergency Management, and multiple rescue crews. Teams utilized drones, ATVs, sonar equipment, and extensive ground searches over a 20-mile radius, with plans to expand operations if necessary.
The search was complicated by the region’s rugged, mountainous terrain and the proximity to waterways, including Panbowl Lake. “In this situation, we want to keep hope alive, but we are racing against the clock,” Trooper Gayheart stated during the search.
“Unfortunately, the more time someone spends exposed to the elements, the chances of finding them safely diminish.”
Jayden’s family had issued a public plea for information, urging anyone with tips to contact authorities.
Locals also joined the effort, reviewing home surveillance footage and checking surrounding wooded areas, which are known for hazards such as coyotes and snakes.
Sources within the community have made unconfirmed claims that Jayden’s mother, Felicia Spicer—also known as Felicia Gross—may have confessed to involvement in his death.
While these statements have circulated widely online, law enforcement has not yet confirmed this information. Public records indicate that Felicia Spicer has a prior arrest for child endangerment.
Neighbors expressed deep concern over the boy’s disappearance and the dangers posed by the environment. “There are a lot of coyotes, you’ve got snakes at night,” said resident Mildred Shannon. “A child, even a young adult, probably isn’t safe out in the woods. Everybody cares—you wouldn’t want your son or grandson lost out there.”
Jayden was described as a white male, approximately 5’1” tall with a slim build, blonde hair, and blue eyes. At the time he went missing, he was wearing blue Sonic the Hedgehog pajama pants and a matching shirt.
Authorities are expected to release further details regarding the discovery of Jayden’s body and the ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Kentucky State Police Post 13 at 606-435-6069.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.