NewsSarasota, Manatee County

Actions

Family of Jabez Spann starts foundation to help families of missing children

Posted at 10:54 AM, Apr 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-11 18:03:54-04

SARASOTA, Fla. — The mother of murdered Sarasota teen Jabez Spann is starting a foundation to help other Florida families of missing children.

“It took money it took gas, it took a lot of resources, I went into a lot of debt, trying to find him,” said Tawana Spann.

RELATED:

She spent eighteen months looking for her missing son until his body was found in February in Manatee County.

“People don’t realize that there is a silent suffering that is happening when you are looking for a missing child,” said Spann.

Spann said other Florida families in a similar situation have already reached out to her for support. She plans to take the foundation nationwide later this month.

"I just want to make it easier for them while they are going through something so traumatic,” said Spann.

She is holding a fundraiser and a blood drive this Saturday at the Truvine Baptist Church in Sarasota starting at 10 a.m. until the afternoon.