A Florida teenager faces multiple felony charges after authorities discovered he faked his own shooting and abduction, sparking a massive manhunt and investigation.
On October 14, 2025, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Major Crimes Detective Jason Williams arrested 17-year-old Caden Speight for staging the elaborate hoax on September 25. Speight faces charges of Presenting False Evidence, Shooting into a Conveyance, Making a False Report of a Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor.
The Hoax Unfolds
The bizarre incident began on September 25, when deputies responded to the 12800 block of SW Highway 484 in Dunnellon. Speight had texted his family claiming he’d been shot, and his Life360 app showed his last location in the area.
When deputies arrived, they found the truck Speight had been driving but no sign of him. The scene appeared to indicate foul play — investigators found what looked like a bullet hole in the windshield, blood splatters, a destroyed cellphone, drag marks, and bicycle tracks leading away. Multiple agencies immediately launched a large-scale search.
Detectives Uncover the Truth
Detectives soon realized the scene had been staged. The investigation revealed that Speight had fired a gun into his own truck, used collected blood to create fake evidence, and destroyed his phone to sell the story. His laptop history showed searches for “how to collect blood without causing pain.”
Speight then fled the area on a bicycle loaded with camping gear he had recently bought from Walmart. A witness later confirmed seeing him riding away from the area.
Further investigation showed Speight had previously talked about running away and had searched online for topics related to Mexican cartels.
The Search Ends
On September 26, officers with the Williston Police Department found Speight at a home on West Noble Avenue in Williston. They recovered the bicycle and a handgun in his possession. He was also suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his leg, which shattered his femur. Even while seeking medical treatment, authorities said Speight continued lying about what happened.
After completing the investigation, MCSO detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody and transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The motive behind the elaborate hoax remains under investigation.
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