Reward for information about missing teenager reaches $25,000

The reward for information pertaining to the disappearance of Jabez Spann has increased to $25,000.

Spann, 14, is a 5-foot-9 black male with black hair and brown eyes. He weighs about 120 pounds and was last seen in a turquoise shirt on Sept. 4 in the 1500 block of 23rd Street South in Sarasota. He was attending a Labor Day barbecue with his family. Spann’s mother reported him missing the next day.

A missing child alert was issued on Sept. 18 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The information reward jumps from the initial $6,000 offered Sept. 29.

Police have searched areas in Sarasota and northern Manatee County for Spann.

Prior to Hurricane Irma, a reverse 911 call was also conducted in northern Sarasota to elicit information.

Police searched a wooded area where Spann’s cell phone last pinged with K-9’s and helicopter support but found no evidence to help find the boy. There have been no traces of the teen on social media either, which concerns police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sarasota Crime Stoppers at 941-361-8477 or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.

This story was originally published October 10, 2017 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Reward for information about missing teenager reaches $25,000."