The Guardians Who Didn’t Give Him Back: The Disappearance of Jasper Michael Spears
The Hospital Visit That Started Everything
Jasper Michael Spears was born on November 6, 2023, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His birth required an emergency cesarean section, but according to his parents, both mother and baby recovered without medical complications.
Shortly after Jasper’s birth, while Tabitha Spears was still hospitalized, a CPS worker visited her room following an anonymous report alleging the parents were unfit. According to Tabitha and her husband, Jon Spears, the visit came without warning and immediately instilled fear. They state neither of them has a history of violence, substance abuse, or criminal behavior, and that they had stable housing and income at the time. However, Tabitha was struggling with severe postpartum depression and describes feeling terrified that any perceived misstep could result in losing her child.
Ten days after giving birth, Tabitha voluntarily entered a mental health facility to receive treatment for postpartum depression. According to both parents, this decision was made to protect Jasper and demonstrate responsibility, not because Jasper had been harmed or neglected.
During this period, Tabitha and Jon agreed to grant temporary guardianship of Jasper to Tabitha’s father, Timothy James Young, and his wife, Kendra LeAnne Young. The parents state this guardianship was never intended to be permanent and that they did not sign away their parental rights. They say the arrangement was meant to allow the Youngs to take Jasper to medical appointments and provide short-term care while Tabitha received treatment and Jon worked.
What the parents believed would be temporary would later become the central conflict of Jasper’s life.
When Help Turned Into Control
According to Tabitha and Jon, once Tabitha returned home from treatment, the dynamic surrounding Jasper changed quickly. They say the Youngs began controlling access to their son, setting strict schedules and limiting visits. Jon states he was excluded from some visits entirely. The parents describe feeling monitored and scrutinized rather than supported.
During the CPS process, and shortly before the CPS case was formally closed, the parents say the Youngs began requiring supervised visitation. According to Tabitha and Jon, this supervision was not ordered by CPS or imposed due to a finding of abuse, but rather insisted upon by the Youngs as a condition for seeing Jasper. They state that professional supervisors were required and that failure to comply meant no access at all.
Tabitha and Jon describe this period as one where every action was interpreted against them. Jon says he was portrayed as disinterested in his son, while Tabitha says her postpartum mental health treatment was reframed as proof she could not safely parent. They state that even after complying with all requests and requirements, the goalposts continued to move.
Despite the strain, the parents say they deliberately followed the legal process, believing that patience and compliance would ultimately allow them to regain full custody of Jasper.
The Court Finally Intervenes
In December 2024, the case reached a critical point. According to Tabitha and Jon, a court hearing on December 13 resulted in the court granting unsupervised visitation. A written order followed on December 18, stating that unsupervised visitation could begin that weekend and that Jasper would spend Christmas with his parents.
Tabitha states she notified the Youngs that they would arrive as ordered to pick Jasper up. She says the Youngs responded that they were out of town.
The parents still showed up, as the order required.
What they found was not a child waiting to go home, but an empty house.
According to Tabitha and Jon, the residence appeared cleared out and listed for sale. During this first visit, they arrived with video cameras and documented that no one was there.
The Weekend Jasper Didn’t Come Home
An emergency court hearing was held on December 27, 2024, conducted via Zoom. According to the parents, Timothy and Kendra Young appeared remotely and claimed they were on vacation in Wheeling, West Virginia. Tabitha and Jon state that the address provided during the hearing was false.
During this hearing, the judge ordered the Youngs to return Jasper and comply with the custody order within 48 hours.
Tabitha and Jon say they waited.
When the 48-hour window expired, Jasper was not returned.
The parents state they returned to the residence a second time, again documenting that no one was there. They say this visit occurred after the court-ordered deadline had passed and was meant to establish non-compliance.
After this point, communication ceased.
After the Clock Ran Out
On January 6, 2025, Tabitha and Jon state that the court terminated the temporary guardianship and restored full custodial rights to them without restrictions. The following day, January 7, 2025, Jasper was officially reported missing.
According to the parents, law enforcement advised that the situation may involve custodial interference and that the search might need to extend beyond the United States.
Tabitha and Jon state they have reason to believe Timothy and Kendra Young fled to Germany with Jasper and that Savannah Leigh Young is with them. They say extradition orders exist requiring the Youngs to return to Georgia.
The family describes Jasper’s disappearance as a kidnapping.
Where the Case Stands Now
Jasper Michael Spears remains missing.
His parents state they do not know where he is currently living or who is caring for him day to day. They say no verified address has been provided, and no confirmed sighting has been shared with them.
To support the search, Tabitha and Jon have created a GoFundMe to cover legal and investigative expenses, including hiring an attorney in Germany to pursue recovery efforts across international borders.
GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/spears-vs-youngs-find-missing-baby-jasper
The stated purpose of this coverage is clear and urgent:
If anyone has information that could help identify the current location or address of Timothy Young, Kendra Young, or Savannah Young in Germany, they are urged to come forward immediately.
This case is about locating Jasper.
The people in Jasper's life
Jasper Michael Spears – Child – Two-year-old missing child at the center of the custody and kidnapping dispute.
Tabitha Spears – Mother – Sought postpartum mental health treatment; states she followed all legal steps to regain custody and locate her son.
Jon Spears – Father – States he maintained stable housing and employment and worked through the court process to regain custody.
Timothy James Young – Maternal grandfather – Temporary guardian; named by the parents as having taken Jasper and failed to return him.
Kendra LeAnne Young – Step-grandmother – Temporary guardian; named by the parents as having taken Jasper and failed to return him; identified as an author using the names K. L. Young and Meredith Carlisle.
Savannah Leigh Young – Relative – Identified by the family as being with Timothy and Kendra during the alleged relocation.
Tina Beal – Tim’s sister
Rob Beal – Tina Beal’s husband
Jessica Kennedy – Tim’s niece
Preston Beal – Tim’s nephew
John Young – Tim’s brother
Memorie Morrow – Savannah Young’s best friend
Courtney Barrett – Close family friend
Kara Vazquez – Kendra Young’s sister
Trisha Burton McFarland – Kendra Young’s best friend
Carlee Burton – Trisha McFarland’s niece
Stephanie Burton – Trisha McFarland’s daughter
Chas Barnes – Friend of Kendra Young