NEW DETAILS: Missing Breathitt County child found buried, mother arrested

UPDATE (August 13, 2025 10 am): New details have emerged in the disappearance and death of Jayden Spicer.

According to a uniform citation, Spicer’s mother, Felicia Gross, told police Spicer went missing the night of August 5 into the morning of August 6.

Police say Gross confessed to providing Spicer a sleeping medication on August 12 at the Jackson Police Department. Gross told police Spicer had what she believed was a fatal medical emergency and passed away.

According to the citation, Gross told police she transported Spicer’s body to a wooded area on Canoe Road near the Mouth of Little Fork.

Police say two of Spicer’s siblings were interviewed at Care Cottage in Hazard in the days leading up to the discovery of Spicer’s body.

Gross allegedly admitted to “coaching” the siblings on what to say during interviews.

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JACKSON, Ky. – The Kentucky State Police has recovered the remains of a missing child and charged his mother in his death.

A release Tuesday evening states KSP detectives received new information this afternoon related to the disappearance of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer.

As a result, authorities say they identified a new search area along Canoe Road in the Jackson community of Breathitt County.

Detectives responded to the location and initiated a search. Shortly thereafter, authorities say they discovered the remains of Spicer buried at the scene. The Breathitt County Coroner’s Office responded and pronounced the child dead. The remains will be transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.

Spicer’s mother, Felicia A. Gross, 33, of Jackson, was taken into custody and transported to the Kentucky River Regional Jail. She is charged with manslaughter in the second degree, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

This investigation remains ongoing.

This incident has now transitioned from a missing person investigation into an active and ongoing criminal investigation. With that, authorities say they advise that specific details regarding this investigation cannot be released at this time.

“I would like to take a moment to thank the many different organizations that assisted in the search efforts for Jaden. All of the volunteers that spent numerous hours and days trying to locate him. Thank you to every person that sent tips or even shared a social media post. Thank you for the many prayers that were prayed, and we ask that you continue to pray for a community that grieves during this tragic loss,” said KSP Post 13 public affairs officer trooper Matt Gayheart.