by Jackson, Kentucky – The heartbreaking disappearance and death of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer has led to serious charges against his mother and stepfather, who now stand indicted for their alleged roles in the boy’s death and cover-up.
Authorities say Jayden’s mother, Felicia Gross, 33, admitted to giving her son sleeping medication that ultimately caused his death. Her husband, Joshua Gross, has also been charged for allegedly helping conceal the crime.
The Indictment
On Friday, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for the 39th Judicial Circuit announced that both parents had been indicted.
- Felicia Gross faces charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, falsely reporting an incident, and tampering with a witness.
- Joshua Gross was indicted on charges of complicity to murder, complicity to tampering with evidence, complicity to falsely reporting an incident, and abuse of a corpse.
Both are being held at the Three Forks Regional Jail on $1 million bonds each.
“This was a job no one should ever have to do,” said Commonwealth Attorney Miranda King, praising the investigators who worked tirelessly on the case. “While this is not the outcome we hoped for, Jayden is now in good hands, and we will take care of him.”
The Disappearance and Search
Jayden was reported missing on August 6 in Jackson, Kentucky, a small town about 100 miles southeast of Lexington. His parents initially told police that he had gone to sleep on the evening of August 5 and was gone by the following morning.
The case sparked a large-scale search effort, with state troopers, volunteers, and local agencies scouring the area. Flyers described Jayden as 5-foot-1, slim, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing blue Sonic the Hedgehog pajamas.
Troopers said they would “continue to search until our resources are exhausted,” but within a week, the investigation took a devastating turn.
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A Chilling Confession
During a Mirandized interview at Jackson Police Department headquarters, Felicia Gross allegedly confessed to giving Jayden sleeping medication that caused a “medical emergency.” She admitted she believed the boy died as a result.
Gross also admitted to transporting Jayden’s body and burying him in a shallow grave inside a plastic tote box, concealed in a wooded area on Canoe Road, about 19 miles from the family’s home.
Authorities later confirmed Jayden’s remains were discovered around 3 p.m. on August 12.
Cover-Up and Coached Lies
According to Kentucky State Police, Felicia Gross went to great lengths to cover up her son’s death:
- She allegedly coached her other children to lie about Jayden’s whereabouts when questioned by child advocates.
- She even wrote a handwritten plea note asking the public to help find Jayden, despite already knowing what had happened.
Prosecutors also allege that Joshua Gross assisted in moving evidence and participated in the false reporting.
Family and Community in Shock
Jayden’s aunts publicly questioned the narrative early in the search, expressing doubts that he would have wandered off into the hills.
“He’s a good boy. Very sweet, very loving, very hyperactive,” one aunt told WKYT. “He doesn’t like the dark or insects at all. It just seems so unreal he would go up there alone.”
Their fears were confirmed when Jayden’s remains were found days later.
Next Steps in the Case
An autopsy is pending to determine Jayden’s exact cause of death, though prosecutors are already moving forward with murder charges based on Felicia Gross’s alleged confession.
The indictment represents only the next phase in what officials call a tragic and disturbing case of parental betrayal.
While the community continues to grieve, the prosecution has promised to pursue justice for Jayden.
What are your thoughts on this case? Should prosecutors pursue the maximum sentence? Share your opinions with us at ibwhsmag.com.
