MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The frantic, 24-hour search for 17-year-old Caden Rex Speight has come to a safe and successful conclusion. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday evening that Caden has been located safe in the nearby city of Williston.
The discovery brings a peaceful end to a dramatic and confusing saga that began Thursday afternoon with a terrifying report of a violent shooting and abduction, which triggered a multi-county AMBER Alert. In a stunning reversal earlier on Friday, the Sheriff’s Office announced that they had found no evidence to support the kidnapping story and that they believed Caden had instead left voluntarily on a mountain bike with camping gear.
He is now being reunited with his family. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the initial false report remains ongoing. Sheriff Billy Woods expressed immense relief at the positive outcome and thanked the public for their crucial assistance in the search.
The Discovery in Williston
Caden Speight was located safe on Friday afternoon in Williston, a city in neighboring Levy County, approximately 20 miles west of where he was last seen in Dunnellon. His discovery is being credited to the updated information released by the Sheriff’s Office and the vigilance of the public.
According to sources close to the investigation, a citizen in Williston spotted a young man matching Caden’s description with a dark-colored mountain bike and a tent. The citizen, who had seen the revised news reports asking the public to look for a teen with camping gear, immediately contacted law enforcement.
Deputies were dispatched to the location and confirmed the young man was indeed Caden Speight. He was found to be physically unharmed and was taken into protective custody. He is being medically evaluated as a precaution and will be interviewed by detectives before being reunited with his family. The focus of authorities at this time is on his health and well-being.
A Dramatic Reversal: How the Investigation Shifted
The successful and safe recovery of Caden Speight marks the final chapter in a bizarre and rapidly evolving case that kept Central Florida on high alert.
Act 1: The Terrifying Report and AMBER Alert The ordeal began around 4:10 p.m. on Thursday, when a 911 call reported a shooting and the disappearance of Caden Speight from the 12800 block of SW Highway 484. Initial information, which is now known to be false, suggested he had been shot and then abducted by four armed Hispanic men in a light-colored van. This terrifying scenario met the criteria for a Florida AMBER Alert, which was immediately issued, sparking a massive manhunt.
Act 2: The Investigation Uncovers Inconsistencies As detectives, forensics teams, and deputies swarmed the scene, they began to collect evidence that was “unsupportive of the initially reported facts.” Investigators found no ballistic evidence of a shooting and no physical evidence of a violent struggle. A major breakthrough came when they discovered that Caden himself had purchased a red and gray tent at a Walmart in Ocala just prior to his disappearance being reported. This key piece of evidence led them to a new theory.
Act 3: The Search Pivots and Succeeds On Friday, the Sheriff’s Office made the crucial decision to cancel the AMBER Alert and issue a new public plea. They informed the community that the abduction story was unfounded and that they were now searching for an endangered juvenile who had likely left on a black mountain bike with a tent. This dramatic shift in focus, from looking for a van of armed criminals to looking for a lone teenager, empowered the public with the correct information and, within hours, led directly to the tip that found him.
Sheriff Billy Woods’ Statement: Transparency in a Complex Case
Sheriff Billy Woods has been praised for his department’s transparency throughout the rapidly changing investigation. In a statement released before Caden was found, he addressed the complexities of the case and reaffirmed his commitment to the search.
“We respond to every 911 call with a determination to ensure justice is served and the truth revealed,” Sheriff Woods stated. “But any law-enforcement officer will tell you that when these calls involve juveniles, it takes on an even greater intensity. This case is no different. My deputies responded immediately, and I have dedicated all of my available resources to respond to this event.”
He directly addressed the false information, stating, “Initial information was later determined to be inaccurate; however, we always give everything we have until the investigation takes us into a different direction. I appreciate the many citizens who gave us tips and information to help my detectives. Understand, I will continue to have all of my available resources committed to locating this young man.”
That commitment has now resulted in the best possible outcome.
The Aftermath: Questions and Overwhelming Relief
While the overwhelming emotion in the community is relief, the case leaves behind many unanswered questions. The primary question is what motivated a 17-year-old to stage such a dramatic and terrifying disappearance, an act that triggered a massive and costly law enforcement response and caused immense panic and fear for his family and the public.
The investigation will now focus on answering that question. Caden Speight will be interviewed by detectives to understand his state of mind and the reasons for his actions. It is unclear at this time if he will face any legal consequences for filing a false report. For now, authorities have stressed that their focus is not on punishment, but on ensuring he receives any psychological or family support he may need.
The case has been a powerful, real-time lesson in the challenges of modern law enforcement. It showed how an initial report can be wrong, how a thorough investigation can uncover the truth, and how a transparent partnership between the police and the public is the most effective tool for bringing a missing child home.
After a whirlwind 24 hours of fear, confusion, and massive effort, the search for Caden Speight is over. He is safe.
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