SHOCKING new details have emerged regarding the 17-year-old boy who faked his own kidnapping.
Law enforcement is releasing new information about Caden Speight, 17, who was reported missing last week, sparking an outburst of support from the community.
Caden Speight, 17, was found after allegedly faking his kidnapping[/caption]
Sheriff Billy Woods of the Marion County Sheriff’s office spoke about the fake kidnapping[/caption]
Speight was found buying a bicycle after his alleged kidnapping[/caption]
Sheriff Billy Woods of the Marion County Sheriff’s office in Florida spoke to the public, thanking them for their support, and detailing Speight’s alleged foiled plan to fake his disappearance.
“I want to commend my deputies and detectives that sprang into action and worked through the night and into the next day on this,” Woods started his message.
An Amber Alert was first issued for Speight after police discovered unsettling text messages from him to his mom.
“Mom, I’m shot…4 men…white van,” the teen sent to his mom on September 25, according to WAUC.
Police responded to the scene of the shooting in Dunnellon, Florida, about an hour south of Gainesville, and found Speight’s phone split in half.
At the time, officers asked the public for their help finding the missing teen.
“I appreciate the many citizens who gave us tips and information to help my detectives,” Woods initially said.
“Understand, I will continue to have all of my available resources committed to locating this young man.”
However, Woods claimed in a later press conference that the teen had actually shot himself and his story was completely fabricated.
“Because of their hard work, the initial details that Caden texted to his family, were proven to be false. Completely made up,” Woods said.
“We did find evidence of a single gunshot where Caden left his truck. However, his claims that he had been shot and abducted were quickly disproven.”
Speight was initially reported to have been abducted by four Hispanic men but cops later theorized that the teen fled the scene on a bicycle.
The day after his disappearance, officers found Speight safe in Willston, 30 minutes north of where his car was found.
“We then learned that he had purchased a bicycle, tent and camping supplies just prior to him reporting this,” Woods continued.
Timeline of Caden Speight’s disappearance
CADEN Speight disappeared on Thursday and was found on Friday after an urgent nearly 24 hour search.
Here is a complete timeline of his disappearance and recovery.
- Before Disappearance: Caden Speight reportedly sends his mother “bone-chilling” text messages, including “Mom, I’m shot […[ 4 men […] white van.”
- Around 4 PM, Thursday (Day 1): Cops respond to a shooting scene in Dunnellon, Florida, and find Caden’s car abandoned on the side of a highway. His busted cell phone is found inside.
- Late Thursday/Early Friday: Law enforcement begins combing the surrounding area with helicopters and foot searches.
- Early Friday: It is initially reported that Caden was last seen in a light colored van with four unknown Hispanic men. Officials later stated this information was inaccurate.
- 11:45 AM, Friday (Day 2): The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announces that the initial tip about the four men in a white van was inaccurate. They now believe Caden may have fled the scene on a bicycle, and released surveillance images of a boy matching his description.
- Around 1:30 PM, Friday (Day 2): The Marion County Sheriff’s Office confirms Caden Speight was found safe in Williston, about 30 minutes north of where his car was abandoned.
“To continue the ruse, Caden, who had a handgun with him since the beginning of all of this, chose to shoot himself in the leg, causing a non-life-threatening injury just prior to walking out to the roadway where he would be located by citizens in Williston.
“There is ZERO chance that Caden’s gunshot wound came from any type of assailant.”
The sheriff said that charges against Speight are not off the table, but he has not been arrested yet.
“Right now, we are still processing all of the evidence in this case and I don’t want to make any statements on that until we have fully examined it all,” he told the public.
“Naturally, my detectives had a lot of questions for Caden, however, his parents refuse to allow my detectives to speak with him.”
Woods concluded the conference once again, thanking everyone for their help and promising to keep the public informed about further developments.
