Remains of missing 10-year-old child discovered in shallow grave several days post-disappearance; mother faces charges
In a shocking turn of events, Felicia Gross, the mother of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer, has been indicted for murder following the discovery of Jayden's body buried in a shallow grave in a wooded area off Canoe Road.
The initial manslaughter charge against Gross has been upgraded to murder by a grand jury, as reported on August 19, 2025[1]. She now faces multiple charges, including second-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, tampering with witnesses, and filing a false report to law enforcement[1][2].
The extensive search for Jayden, which involved drones, K-9 units, sonar, and community volunteers, resulted in the tragic discovery of his remains buried in a remote area approximately 19 miles from his home[2]. Although the specific details of the autopsy findings have not been disclosed publicly, the escalation of charges from manslaughter to murder suggests that the investigation found evidence of a criminal cause of death[1].
Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart announced that search crews were expanding their efforts to find Jayden after his disappearance[3]. Last week, Jayden's two aunts, Chyy Salyers and Samantha Bunty, expressed doubts about certain information in the case[4]. Officials had previously stated that they had no immediate leads in the investigation[4].
Felicia Gross has been taken into custody and was booked into the Kentucky River Regional Jail. The autopsy of Jayden's body has been sent to the state medical examiner's office in Frankfort for further analysis.
Jayden, described by his aunt Samantha Bunty as a sweet, loving, and hyperactive boy who dislikes insects and the dark, went missing the morning after going to bed last Tuesday night[5].
This article is based on official police statements and grand jury indictments reported in August 2025[1][2][4].
[1] - https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Jayden-Spicers-mother-indicted-for-murder-572273401.html [2] - https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Jayden-Spicers-body-found-in-Breathitt-County-572290091.html [3] - https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Search-crews-expanding-efforts-to-find-missing-10-year-old-Jayden-Spicer-572273401.html [4] - https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Jayden-Spicers-family-doubts-certain-information-in-case-572343061.html [5] - https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Missing-10-year-old-Jayden-Spicer-last-seen-in-Breathitt-County-572273401.html
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