The death of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer has affected the Breathitt County community and beyond. He had been living with his great-grandmother, referred to as "Mamaw," until her recent death. After her passing, he was returned to the care of his biological mother, Felicia Gross, who had a previous conviction for child endangerment and had been incarcerated.
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On August 6, 2025, Jayden was reported missing. Six days later, his body was discovered in a shallow grave inside a plastic tote, approximately 20 miles from his home. His mother has been arrested and faces multiple charges, including second-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and falsely reporting an incident.
According to police documents, Gross admitted to administering a type of sleeping medication to Jayden, which led to a medical emergency and his death. Instead of seeking assistance, she allegedly hid his death and buried the body.
This case has been compared to the situation of Harmony Montgomery, a young girl placed in the custody of a parent with a known history of abuse. Like Jayden, Harmony's death has raised significant concerns about systemic failures in the protection of vulnerable children.
As the legal proceedings progress, there are calls for accountability, not just for those directly involved, but also for the systems that failed to prevent this tragedy.