From Custody Battles to Brave Escapes: Inside the Turbulent Journey of Teen Mom 2 Star Jenelle Evans and Son Jace
Jenelle Evans' tumultuous journey with son Jace, showcased on Teen Mom 2, has captivated audiences for over a decade as they navigate custody battles, runaway attempts, and alarming incidents
Courtesy of Jenelle Evans/Instagram
Jenelle Evans’ rocky relationship with son Jace was often the focal point of her story line on Teen Mom 2.
Jenelle, at the age of 17, became a mother for the first time in August 2009. This momentous occasion was documented on her episode of 16 and Pregnant in 2010. Jace's father, Andrew Lewis, is not actively involved in Jace's life.
Shortly after Jace's birth, Jenelle made the decision to transfer custody to her mother, Barbara Evans. Barbara cared for Jace until March 2023, when it was announced that Jenelle had been granted custody of her teenage son. Apart from Jace, Jenelle is also a mother to her son Kaiser, whom she shares with her ex Nathan Griffith, and her daughter Ensley, whom she shares with her husband David Eason. It is worth noting that Jenelle and Eason's relationship has been notoriously tumultuous since their marriage in 2017.
Scroll down to witness the ups and downs of Jenelle and Jace's relationship throughout the years.
Jace’s Birth (August 2009)
Jenelle experienced the joy of motherhood for the very first time on August 2, 2009, when she welcomed her son, Jace, into the world. This special moment was captured on the second season of the reality television series 16 and Pregnant, which premiered the following year.
Giving Custody to Barbara (2010)
MTV viewers watched as Jenelle gave custody of Jace to mom Barbara in 2010, realizing she was partying too much to fully take care of her child herself.
Courtesy of Jenelle Evans/Instagram
Jace Walks Jenelle Down the Aisle (June 2017)
Though Barbara was not invited to Jenelle’s wedding to Eason, Jace’s grandmother still let him attend their nuptials — where Jace walked his mom down the aisle.
Jenelle Pulls a Gun in a Road Rage Incident — With Jace in the Car (July 2018)
In a 2018 episode of Teen Mom 2, Jenelle, who was later fired from the show, found herself in a road rage altercation with a tailgating driver. Shockingly, she brandished a handgun while seated next to her son, Jace, and proceeded to follow the man to his residence. Jace later recounted the incident to Barbara, explaining that the driver had abruptly collided with their vehicle, prompting his mother to confront him with the gun while he warned her not to escalate the situation further.
Jenelle, meanwhile, disputed her son’s version of events. “No, I didn’t, Jace. Why are you telling her I pulled a gun out on him? I did not do that,” she said.
Jenelle Granted Custody (March 2023)
After years of battling for custody of Jace, Us Magazine revealed that Barbara and Jenelle reached an agreement: Jenelle would now be responsible for Jace's care on a full-time basis.
Jenelle exclusively shared with Us, "My mother and I decided together to grant me full custody as we are determined to rebuild and strengthen our relationship as mother and daughter. Additionally, my mother believes that it is time for Jace to be reunited with his siblings and have the experience of growing up with both a mother and a father. She also recognizes the importance of Jace having a male role model to learn and bond with. She has witnessed David's parenting of my other children and is confident in our ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment for Jace."
Courtesy of Jenelle Evans/Instagram
Jace Runs Away Multiple Times (August 2023)
Five months after Jenelle was awarded custody of her eldest son, Jace ran away twice in one month.
On August 14, Jace was reported as a runaway after leaving school. He was found hours later.
Jenelle previously clarified that she and Eason were facing typical challenges that arise when raising children. She emphasized that Jace's disappearance was unrelated to her relationship with David and stated that they do not argue or fight in front of their kids. According to Jenelle, the incident was simply a result of a teenage boy's frustration after having his phone taken away. It is important to note that Jenelle and Eason's tumultuous relationship has garnered media attention over the years due to social media conflicts, allegations of violence, and other issues. This ultimately led to Jenelle's dismissal from Teen Mom 2 after their dog was fatally shot by Eason, resulting in temporary loss of custody for Kaiser and Ensley.
Jace, who had been missing for a little over a week, prompted Jenelle to contact the police when he disappeared again on their North Carolina property. Several hours later, he was located at a nearby gas station. According to Jenelle's manager, August Keen, Jace frequently wanders around the property but this time he ventured off to the gas station without informing Jenelle. Keen reassured that there was no need to be concerned as Jace, being a teenager, is exploring his independence and seeking more freedom, while Jenelle fulfills her role as an attentive mother.
In the aftermath of Jace's disappearances, Jenelle took to TikTok to provide further details about the situation. She expressed her frustration about her son's actions being blamed on her, and receiving numerous hateful comments. Jenelle explained that her son has been struggling for the past couple of years, but they have kept it private to respect his privacy.
Courtesy of Jenelle Evans/Instagram
Jace Accuses David of Abuse (September 2023)
In September 2023, Jace fled for the third time. The following day, he was discovered and taken to the hospital. While trying to find the teenager, the police reached out to Barbara, who informed them that Jace had accused Eason of abuse as the reason for his escape. The police report mentioned that Barbara had spoken to Jace the previous evening when he called from an unidentified phone number, revealing that he had been assaulted by David Eason and had subsequently run away and gone into hiding.
Jenelle asserted on X (formerly Twitter) that her older son's recent vanishing "has nothing to do with David, regardless of whether you want to hold him responsible or not", while also alleging her mother had deceived the authorities.
In this article
