LITHIA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office recovered a body in Lithia on April 24. The department has not confirmed the identity of the person, but family believes it’s their missing teen, 13-year-old Zayden Jay.
Family said the teen went missing April 21.
At the FishHawk Skate Park, family and friends are sharing stories of what they loved the most about Zayden Jay.
“I mean he would come here like everyday he would come here like three hours a day,” Jared Kent said.
Jared Kent was his next-door neighbor. He brought flowers to a memorial at the skate park where he spent a lot of his time with his Zayden.
“Zayden was a really good friend, he always boosted people’s confidence. I’m pretty sure the last thing he texted me before he died is 'Never back down never give up,'” Kent said.
Zayden’s joyful spirit stretched beyond this skate park. His family said many didn’t understand Zayden at his school.
“The kid that didn’t dress like anyone because he wasn’t like anyone else,” Zach Jay, Zayden's father, said.
That doesn’t mean his community didn’t love him.
“Everything we’ve ever prayed for. Down to his freckles, curls, talents, and personality,” Jay said.
Neighbors along with search teams like We Are the Essentials who helped find Zayden’s body attended this vigil to hear how the community hopes to move forward. They hope when people think of Zayden, they remember to be kind to one another.
“Stop, listen, communicate to see the signs before it's too late,” Jay said.
Zayden's family is starting a movement called Drop in with Zayden. Drop in was Zayden's favorite skate trick. His family wants that term to be a code word people use when they need a listening ear without any judgement.