In the spring of 1983, a one-year-old boy named Jayson Pearce disappeared from his home in Phoenix, Arizona. The last confirmed sighting of Jayson was on April 15, 1983. His disappearance was orchestrated by his non-custodial stepfather, John David Grooms. The boy's mother, Napolean Pearce, had a tumultuous and brief relationship with Grooms, having married him only three days after they met in January of that same year.
She later described him as physically abusive towards both her and her two sons, and admitted to being 'deathly afraid' of him. The circumstances leading to Jayson's disappearance were complicated by his mother's legal troubles; she was arrested twice for driving while intoxicated in the months leading up to his disappearance, and on the second occasion, she was sentenced to ten days in jail.
Upon her release from jail, Napolean Pearce returned home to find both her young son and her husband gone. Grooms had left behind a disturbing note, in which he accused her of being an unfit parent. He wrote, 'You are an unfit parent. is only 6 years old and he is lying just like you. If it is possible, I will see that Jayson doesn't turn out like that.' He also claimed that Jayson was safe and being well cared for. In other communications with friends, Grooms elaborated on his intentions, stating that he planned to give Jayson to a Quaker family so that the boy could be raised in a 'healthy, normal environment.' He insisted that Jayson would be 'safe and happy' with his new caregivers.
In June 1983, John Grooms was indicted for felony custodial interference. He was eventually located and arrested in Durango, Colorado, in January 1984, but Jayson was not with him. Grooms refused to disclose Jayson's whereabouts, and for his crime, he was sentenced to 1.8 years in prison, a sentence that was later reduced to 1.5 years on appeal. He ultimately served only eight months. Throughout the investigation and even after his release, Grooms remained uncooperative, refusing to admit he had taken Jayson or provide any information that could lead to the boy's recovery. The case of Jayson Pearce remains an unsolved and heart-wrenching mystery, a story of a young life interrupted and a family left with unanswered questions for decades.Last Seen: Apr 15, 1983
