AMBER ALERT FL - Caden Speight, 17, kidnapped by 4 unknown men in light-colored van, do not approach, last seen 12800 block SW Hwy 484, Dunellon, 25 Sep 2025

[layer]

I'm annoyed at myself for spending 20 minutes thinking of how to send a text message in an emergency with a broken phone.

That seems like it could come in handy sometime. Did you have any epiphanies?

 

[whitelilac]

Why on earth did the kid set this up if so? If he wanted to run away, why this elaborate scheme that would have police all over it ? Misplaced attention ala Papini, payback to his family for whatever reason in order to put them through hell? Is he bipolar or in in the midst of a crisis, or has issues against Hispanic people? Very odd.
So the kid is camping somewhere? Then what?

 

[KBlackRabbit]

The purchase of a tent makes me think this is an elaborate run-away scenario.

Or he was retaliating against the workers that allegedly had friction with the family. Or it’s a grift and setting up a minority to be the target of hate crimes. Possibly both. Let’s just say, based on a conveniently deleted detail, I’m not surprised.

Stage a kidnapping, get attention, come back days later with some heroic escape story or being “let go,” rake in the G-F-M money and blame hispanics.

 

[adot0902]

That seems like it could come in handy sometime. Did you have any epiphanies?

Haha! I did, and so my time doesn't feel completely wasted I will share again

#1: regular text message from my phone by typing
#2: regular text message from my phone by asking siri from my phone
#3: regular text message from my phone sent by my car pushing "assistant button" and her typing and sending it hands free for me
#4: regular text message from my phone sent by my cars entertainment system, I type and send from "Car Play"
#5: I send it from my watch by typing
#6: I send it from my watch by asking siri to send it

Very rarely do I actually have my phone physically in my hands when I send a text.
Additional Note: I have a very old iPhone SE (I couldn't get rid of the bottom button so the poor sales guy had to go digging through boxes to find the last one in existence for me) and a new car but a very standard affordable Toyota so nothing fancy. I'm sure the more expensive your phone, watches, and cars are the more options you have.

 

[anneoakley63]

Nothing else about the case, but just the abandoned car with butt holes, brings back that case to mine in Oklahoma, where the mother and her friend were shot and taken somewhere else to be buried and it turned out to be a custody issue with the grandma and gang

Yes, the Veronica Butler case.
EBM

 

[whitelilac]

WESH 2 spoke with a witness named Jackson McClure on Friday morning.

"I passed by here around 4 o'clock and there was a boy, young man believed to be the guy they're looking for, getting something out of the truck and shoving it into a bookbag and then bout 10-15 mins later I believe he drove by my house on a bicycle," McClure said. "I called Marion County non-emergency line and told them what I had seen, and they said, 'thank you very much, that's very helpful'"

McClure went on to say:

"The police did ask me if he was bleeding as he went by, and i told them no, he looked normal, and he wasn't struggling to ride his bicycle."

Central Florida teen found safe after reports he was taken by group of men were unfounded

Caden Speight was last seen in Dunnellon.

www.wesh.com

 

[Emerald1328]

Why on earth did the kid set this up if so? If he wanted to run away, why this elaborate scheme that would have police all over it ? Misplaced attention ala Papini, payback to his family for whatever reason in order to put them through hell? Is he bipolar or in in the midst of a crisis, or has issues against Hispanic people? Very odd.
So the kid is camping somewhere? Then what?

Trying to get attention? He previously made a mistake/did something wrong and trying to get sympathy instead of get in trouble? Mental health issues? Self-harm?

 

[vls12345]

It is possible that he left the incident location on a black bicycle with a red and grey tent, which he purchased at Walmart on SW 19th Avenue Road, in Ocala.

Rsbm.

Walmart. Always a Walmart.

 

[MassGuy]

WESH 2 spoke with a witness named Jackson McClure on Friday morning.

"I passed by here around 4 o'clock and there was a boy, young man believed to be the guy they're looking for, getting something out of the truck and shoving it into a bookbag and then bout 10-15 mins later I believe he drove by my house on a bicycle," McClure said. "I called Marion County non-emergency line and told them what I had seen, and they said, 'thank you very much, that's very helpful'"

McClure went on to say:

"The police did ask me if he was bleeding as he went by, and i told them no, he looked normal, and he wasn't struggling to ride his bicycle."

Central Florida teen found safe after reports he was taken by group of men were unfounded

Caden Speight was last seen in Dunnellon.

www.wesh.com

Absolute dream witness.

 

[TexLil]

The purchase of a tent makes me think this is an elaborate run-away scenario.

Maybe not that elaborate since he bought the tent at Walmart right before 'the incident'. Sounds like it could be a last minute impromptu staged getaway/runaway attempt that was so badly thought out questions rose immediately.

Reference post #105 for link to police update on purchases.

 

[whitelilac]

When did he buy the bicycle and tent? Same day? Or earlier and planned in advance.

eta...I see above same day.

 

[CityKid]

Sigh. So where did the 4 hispanic men story come from? I'm so tred of media getting things wrong. In this climate it could be a very dangerous thing to do. JMO

Sigh. So where did the 4 hispanic men story come from? I'm so tred of media getting things wrong. In this climate it could be a very dangerous thing to do. JMO

The media got it from the sheriff's department statement.

 

[NervousNellie]

They sure found the Walmart purchase quickly. Impressive.

 

[KBlackRabbit]

Rsbm.

Walmart. Always a Walmart.

Walmart jokes aside, they have a sophisticated surveillance system, almost up there with Target’s. You go anywhere near the property you’re on camera and the cameras at checkout are multi-angle and can zoom in quite close. They keep good records of who purchases what and when. You’d be a fool to want to do something shady and get your shady-work supplies at Walmart.

 

[Maat99]

If he made this up I hope he gets the same level of

Yes, the Veronica Butler case. This all sounds very similar.

except in the Veronica Butler case there was a lot of blood, a broken hammer and other evidence of “a severe injury” next to the abandoned car

https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/C.-G.-Twombly-CF-24-73-Info-and-Affidavit.pdf

 

[NervousNellie]

Walmart jokes aside, they have a sophisticated surveillance system, almost up there with Target’s. You go anywhere near the property you’re on camera and the cameras at checkout are multi-angle and can zoom in quite close. They keep good records of who purchases what and when. You’d be a fool to want to do something shady and get your shady-work supplies at Walmart.

I am glad so few people know this!

Now I won't be able to think about anything other than what unflattering angle they might be getting if I ever go into Target again.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

Maybe not that elaborate since he bought the tent at Walmart right before 'the incident'. Sounds like it could be a last minute impromptu staged getaway/runaway attempt that was so badly thought out questions rose immediately.

Reference post #105 for link to police update on purchases.

Im thinking he happened to drive past the 4 guys on the roofing job on his way to wherever he planned to run off to and a crazy idea sprang to mind

Hopefully he is found safe and whatever issues he has he can get help with.

 

[Tutter]

From the missing kid, that’s what he told his mom, I believe.

Why immediately text your mom you need help and were shot? Worst runaway technique ever, imo.

So weird…

 

[CityKid]

WESH 2 spoke with a witness named Jackson McClure on Friday morning.

"I passed by here around 4 o'clock and there was a boy, young man believed to be the guy they're looking for, getting something out of the truck and shoving it into a bookbag and then bout 10-15 mins later I believe he drove by my house on a bicycle," McClure said. "I called Marion County non-emergency line and told them what I had seen, and they said, 'thank you very much, that's very helpful'"

McClure went on to say:

"The police did ask me if he was bleeding as he went by, and i told them no, he looked normal, and he wasn't struggling to ride his bicycle."

Central Florida teen found safe after reports he was taken by group of men were unfounded

Caden Speight was last seen in Dunnellon.

www.wesh.com

What a great witness! And MOO the police already knew this story made no sense, so they asked about the blood.

 

[Eli9]

If he made this up I hope he gets the same level of

except in the Veronica Butler case there was a lot of blood, a broken hammer and other evidence of “a severe injury” next to the abandoned car

https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/C.-G.-Twombly-CF-24-73-Info-and-Affidavit.pdf

Except 2 people were actually murdered in that case.