(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — A teen committed to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Youth Services (DYS) custody left a court facility in Hempstead County without authorization Thursday afternoon. Local law enforcement have been notified and are looking for the youth.

Arkansas Code Annotated 9-28-215 requires DYS to provide the public identifying information about youth who leave DYS custody without authorization if the youth “is committed to the Division of Youth Services for an offense that would be a felony if the offense were committed by an adult.” 

Jayden Nelson, 16, is a male with black hair and brown eyes who stands 5 foot 1 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. He has been in DYS custody since January 2022 on charges of revocation of probation, residential burglary, and theft of a firearm.

Nelson left the Hempstead County Courthouse at approximately 12:15 p.m.

Anyone with information on Nelson’s location is asked to contact local authorities.

Jayden Nelson