In the quiet, wooded hills of Breathitt County, Kentucky, a devastating story has unfolded, leaving a community in mourning and a family shattered. Ten-year-old Jayden Spicer, a boy known for his bright spirit and love for Sonic the Hedgehog, met a tragic end that has gripped the hearts of many. The events leading to his death, as revealed through court documents and police investigations, paint a chilling picture of a mother’s desperate actions and a child’s life cut far too short.
On August 6, 2025, 33-year-old Felicia Gross, Jayden’s mother, contacted Kentucky State Police with a frantic report: her son had vanished overnight. She described Jayden as last seen wearing his favorite blue Sonic the Hedgehog pajamas, sparking an immediate and exhaustive search that stretched nearly a week. Volunteers, law enforcement, and community members combed the area, hoping to bring the boy home safely. But behind the scenes, a darker truth was unraveling.
As the investigation deepened, authorities turned their attention to Jayden’s siblings, who were interviewed at a daycare in Hazard. It was there that police uncovered a troubling detail: Gross had allegedly coached the children on what to say, instructing them to stick to a specific story about their brother’s disappearance. This revelation raised red flags, prompting investigators to bring Gross in for questioning at the Jackson Police Department on August 12.
During that interview, Gross’s story began to crumble. She confessed to police that she had given Jayden a dose of sleeping medication, believing it would help him rest. Instead, the medication triggered what she described as a “medical emergency.” Court documents reveal the heartbreaking reality: Gross believed her son had died as a result. Overwhelmed and panicked, she made a fateful decision. Instead of seeking help, she took Jayden’s lifeless body to a remote wooded area on Canoe Road, near the mouth of Joe Little Fork. There, in a shallow grave, she placed her son inside a plastic tote, concealing him beneath the earth.
On August 12, Kentucky State Police followed Gross’s account to the wooded location. Their search led them to the grim discovery of Jayden’s remains, exactly where his mother had described. The sight of the young boy, buried in such a manner, sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Jackson, Kentucky.
Felicia Gross now faces a litany of charges that reflect the gravity of her actions: second-degree manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting an incident, and tampering with a witness for allegedly coaching her other children. Her bond has been set, but the weight of her decisions looms large as she awaits further legal proceedings.
The loss of Jayden Spicer has left an indelible mark on Breathitt County. A young boy, full of promise and clad in his beloved Sonic pajamas, was taken too soon in a tragedy that defies comprehension. As the community grapples with grief, they hold tight to memories of a child whose light was extinguished far too early. Rest in peace, little guy—your story will not be forgotten.
