Who Is Felicia Gross? Mother of Deceased Kentucky Boy Jayden Spicer Charged With Manslaughter

A heartbreaking case has shaken Breathitt County, Kentucky, after the body of 10-year-old Jayden Spicer was found a week after he went missing. His mother, 33-year-old Felicia Gross, is now facing serious charges, including manslaughter.

The Discovery of Jayden’s Body

Kentucky State Police confirmed that Jayden’s buried remains were discovered around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12. His body was located in a heavily wooded area along Canoe Road in Jackson, about a week after his disappearance was reported.

The location was remote and covered with thick trees, making the search challenging. Officials have not yet shared exactly how the boy died, but his remains have been sent to the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.

Who Is Felicia Gross? Charges Against the Mother

Police have charged Felicia Gross with:

• First-degree manslaughter

• Abuse of a corpse

• Tampering with physical evidence

• Falsely reporting an incident

She is currently being held at Kentucky River Regional Jail and is awaiting arraignment. Authorities have not released further details about the evidence that led to her arrest, but the case is still active.

The Search Effort

The search for Jayden involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including Kentucky State Police, local sheriff’s offices, and rescue teams. Officers used drones, K9 units, sonar equipment, and on-foot search teams.

Dozens of volunteers joined in, spending hours in the hot summer weather looking for the boy.
KSP Trooper Matt Gayheart publicly thanked everyone: “We are grateful to every organization, volunteer, and individual who helped in the search. Thank you for the tips, social media shares, and the prayers. We ask everyone to keep praying for our community as we grieve this loss.”

Community in Shock

The death of such a young child has devastated Breathitt County.
Miranda King from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office said: “Jayden is now in good hands, and we are going to take care of him.”

Local residents have held small vigils and prayer circles in his memory. Social media is flooded with tributes to the boy, with many calling for justice.

Family’s Concerns

Some family members are questioning the official timeline and certain details released about the case.
Jayden’s aunt, Chyy Salyers, told reporters: “There’s some stuff that just doesn’t add up in this case.”

Another aunt, Samantha Bunty, shared memories of her nephew: “He’s a good boy. Very sweet, loving, and full of energy. He likes to be on the go, but he’s scared of bugs and the dark.”

What Happens Next

The autopsy results will be key to understanding how Jayden died. Investigators are continuing to collect evidence, and more charges could be filed depending on what they find.

For now, the community is left in mourning while awaiting answers in this deeply tragic case.