Jenelle Evans/Instagram
Who Is ‘Teen Mom’ Alum Jenelle Evans’ Oldest Son Jace Vahn? Get to Know the Teen
Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans rose to fame after she joined the season 2 cast of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant in 2010. At the time, she was pregnant with her oldest son, Jace Vahn Evans, whom she gave birth to on the show. Since then, she and Jace have faced many ups and downs in their mother-son relationship, including recent reports of Jace going missing.
Who Is Jace From ‘Teen Mom’?
Jace is the eldest son of Jenelle and her high school boyfriend, Andrew Lewis. As of August 2023, he was a high school student. The teen lived with Jenelle, his siblings Kaiser and Ensley, and Jenelle’s husband, David Eason, at their home in Oak Island, North Carolina, until October 2023.
Who Has Custody of Jace?
After welcoming Jace in August 2009, Jenelle signed over custody of her son to her mother, Barbara Evans, in 2010. In the years that followed, Jenelle fought to regain custody of Jace.
In January 2021, Jenelle revealed on a TikTok video that Jace “lives with [her] now full-time.”
By March 2023, the Teen Mom 2 alum was granted primary custody of her son. That month, Jenelle revealed she and Barbara made the decision “together.”
“We want to build our relationship back as mother and daughter,” Jenelle told Us Weekly. “My mother agrees it’s time for Jace to be back with his siblings and living with a mother and father. She also thinks it’s important for Jace to be around a father figure to learn ‘boy things’ and have ‘men talk.’”
When Was Jace Reported Missing?
Jace was first reported missing by Brunswick Co. Sheriff’s Department on August 15, 2023, after reportedly getting into an argument with his teacher. At the time, Jace was seen leaving school around 2:45 p.m. and was eventually located “in the trees behind the school building.”
On August 28, Jenelle contacted law enforcement to report her son missing again after not hearing from the teen for several hours. Jace was later found at a gas station located about 10 minutes away from his home.
In a TikTok video posted on August 30, claimed she was “getting a lot of hate” and “a lot of comments,” following her son’s disappearances. She claimed that her son’s actions were “being pinned against” her.
The 14-year-old was reported missing for a third time on September 28. Jenelle claimed that her son snuck out of the house through a window and said that he didn’t have his cell phone with him when he left the house.
On September 30, Jenelle posted a video on social media saying, “Jace has been located, he’s safe.”
However, days later, news broke that Jace was checked into the hospital. Soon after, Jenelle was under investigation by Child Protective Services (CPS).
“CPS got involved when Jace was checked into [the] hospital,” Jenelle’s manager exclusively told In Touch. “Jace is still in the hospital yes, they are doing a mental health evaluation.”
On October 24, David was charged with a children abuse misdemeanor after bruises were found on Jace’s neck and arm during his hospitalization, according to TMZ.
Representatives for Jenelle and David did not immediately respond to In Touch’s request for comment, but the Teen Mom alum quickly came to her husband’s defense and confirmed the news, while accusing CPS of conducting a “one-sided investigation.”
“They didn’t conduct interviews. Didn’t ask any information from the parents. This seems like a very bias situation like every time before,” she wrote via Instagram Stories, adding, “I trusted that detective with all my heart. Forgot you can’t trust cops … silly me. I do not trust anyone around me. Going MIA for awhile.”
What Happened in Jenelle Evans’ CPS Case Regarding Jace?
The former reality star told fans via a February 15, 2024, TikTok video that she and husband David Eason had been cleared by Child Protective Services in their abuse and neglect case regarding Jace.
“I have some good news, and I’m kind of shaking right now from anxiety. All allegations against me and my husband have been officially dropped. CPS took a voluntary dismissal, and I wanted to be the first to let you guys know,” Jenelle told fans.
She added, “I’d appreciate it if everyone respects my son’s privacy so he can get his mental health in check.”
Five days later, Jenelle and Jace reunited in a TikTok video, with Jenelle showing the teen enjoying some Ramen noodles with his siblings.
Jace has not been in Jenelle’s care since October 2023. He temporarily moved in with her mother, Barbara Evans, in November 2023, before going to live with one of David’s relatives the following month. In January 2024, The Ashley’s Reality Roundup reported that Jace would be entering a long-term mental health facility once a bed became available.
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