Jackson mother accused of burying son, faking disappearance pleads not guilty

JACKSON, Ky. (FOX 56) — The mother accused of faking her son’s disappearance after his death appeared before a Breathitt County judge on Thursday morning.

Felicia Gross, 33, is facing several charges in connection with her 10-year-old son’s death. Gross reported Jayden Spicer missing on Aug. 6, claiming that he must have left home overnight.

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After a widespread and exhaustive search for the boy, court documents show that Gross allegedly came forward on Aug. 12 and led authorities to his remains. She claimed that she gave Spicer a sleeping medication that induced a “medical emergency” and believed he had passed away, and allegedly coached his siblings on what to tell police.

Kentucky State Police troopers said they found the boy buried in a plastic tote off of Canoe Road, around 19 miles from their Panbowl Branch home.

Gross was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter, falsely reporting an incident to law enforcement, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and two counts of tampering with a witness.

Court officials told FOX 56 that Gross was appointed a public defender on Thursday morning. She entered a not-guilty plea.

She remains in the Kentucky River Regional Jail, where she’s being held on a $1 million bond.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug 18.