SARASOTA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Another birthday has come for a missing Sarasota teenager, who vanished more than a year ago. Detectives and federal agents believe someone knows what happened, but they are not any closer in finding an answer.
Thursday marks the 16th birthday of Jabez Spann. He was 14 when he disappeared in September 2017 following a Labor Day barbecue. Ever since, Sarasota police said it’s been more than a year of false leads and dead ends.
Spann is listed as a missing, endangered child. It’s believed he had witnessed the murder of 31-year-old Travis Combs on August 28, according to the FBI. Combs was found with a gunshot wound to his upper body in a grassy lot near 22nd Street and North Orange Avenue. There is still no word on whether it is connected to Spann’s disappearance.
The day before Spann’s birthday, Sarasota police reminded the public through its Facebook page that they are still searching for him.
“As the holidays approach, we're still continuing to work with the FBI Tampa Field Office and FDLE on the disappearance of #JabezSpann,” the agency wrote on its Facebook page. “We believe SOMEONE in our community knows SOMETHING! Please come forward.”
There’s a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department at 941-316-1201 or 911. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 941-366-8477.