Found Safe 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

[NervousNellie]

Thing is that his short message to mom did not include his "kidnappers" being Hispanic. ( at least that I saw, only read about the one help message stating 4 men, being shot, light colored van). I wonder where that actually came from.

The Sheriff's Department reported it on their FB page. They took this very seriously.

https://www.facebook.com/mcsoflorida/posts/pfbid0NGqcEgS4UifCUiBjfWrDCvBcXkabPfXDkSBhzti1TZCcnDqSsmdk7PCxQjowSofNl

Edited to add the text of the Sheriff's post in case others can't see it:

Caden Speight was last seen on September 25, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., in the 12800 block of SW Highway 484, in Dunnellon. He was wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans. Law enforcement believes he may be with four unknown men, possibly Hispanic, who are driving a light-colored van. If you have any information about his whereabouts, or if you see him, please do NOT approach and call 911 immediately.

 

[whitelilac]

^ how did LE then come up with "possibly Hispanic" I wonder.
I did see that on the alerts.

 

[ch_13]

I am assuming the public came up with the racist rumor, it was repeated, and people eagerly believed it. My opinion and observation.

From what I can tell, the hoaxer texted "four men," but the whole thing has been a mess from the start so who knows.

jmopinion

The mention of four Hispanic men was in the original Amber alert. It's the very first post in this thread.

• Issued for: Florida
• AMBER Alert: 31588

Caden Speight​

• • Missing Since
  • Sep 25, 2025
• • Missing From
  • Dunnellon, FL
• • Age Now
  • 17 years
• • Sex
  • Male
• • Race
  • White
• • Hair Color
  • Brown
• • Eye Color
  • Brown
• • Height
  • 6'0"
• • Weight
  • 150 lbs
• • Description
  • last seen wearing an unknown colored t-shirt and blue jeans

Vehicle Information​

• • Description:
  • Light colored

A Florida AMBER Alert has been issued for Caden Speight, a white male, 17 years old, 6 feet tall, 150 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes, last seen in the area of the 12800 block of SW Highway 484 in Dunnellon, Florida, who was last seen wearing an unknown colored t-shirt and blue jeans. Caden may be in the company of four unknown males, possibly Hispanic. They may be traveling in a light-colored van. If located, DO NOT APPROACH. Contact law enforcement immediately. If you have any information on the whereabouts of this child please contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 352-732-9111 or 911. #FLAMBER.

Have you seen this child? Caden Speight

Missing From: Dunnellon, FL. Missing Date: Thu, Sep 25 2025. A Florida AMBER Alert has been issued for Caden Speight, a white male, 17 years old, 6 feet tall, 150 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes, last seen in the area of the 12800 block of SW Highway 484 in Dunnellon, Florida, who was last...

www.missingkids.org

https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/florida/fdle-amber-alert-issued-for-kidnapped-seventeen-year-old-out-of-marion-county/

A Florida Amber Alert has been issued for a kidnapped 17-year-old out of Marion County.


View attachment 616497

 

[teeby]

I assumed (moo) that he texted Hispanic but they hedged on the official announcement in case he was wrong. I've seen people misidentify eg biracial Filipino/white people as Hispanic. You wouldn't want someone who had noticed that "So-and-so has been acting weird since yesterday and he has a white van that he usually never cares about, but today he took it to be detailed inside and out" not to turn the tip in because they're looking for Hispanic men and So-and-so is Native American.

 

[Leilei]

Kid was found…he’s got problems and now a criminal record. To put your family and entire community and use up resources is criminal. Still glad to see this instead of alternative outcome but I hope he gets sufficient punishment. What a shame.

The entire state was looking for him! Like I said earlier, there needs to be some answers at some point.
IMO.

 

[CityKid]

As European i found this horrific… sorry. Like why would young boy need guns in his life?

I'm American and live in a city so I have no desire for a gun, but in rural areas where people hunt or there are gators, I think it's better that children learn about gun safety when they're young.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

“‘Mom, I need help. Four Hispanics in a white van — one driver. I’m shot.’ Those were the chilling final words 17-year-old Caden Speight sent in a text message to his mother, [AS], on the afternoon of Thursday, September 25, 2025.”
BBM

https://twitter.com/x/status/1971516660076191891

 

[TMich6811]

“‘Mom, I need help. Four Hispanics in a white van — one driver. I’m shot.’ Those were the chilling final words 17-year-old Caden Speight sent in a text message to his mother, [AS], on the afternoon of Thursday, September 25, 2025.”
BBM

https://twitter.com/x/status/1971516660076191891

The ups driver reports seeing these describe men and van nearby working on a roof - so they existed? Did he see them and use them in his plan? Or did something happen perhaps

 

[tara83]

“‘Mom, I need help. Four Hispanics in a white van — one driver. I’m shot.’ Those were the chilling final words 17-year-old Caden Speight sent in a text message to his mother, [AS], on the afternoon of Thursday, September 25, 2025.”
BBM

https://twitter.com/x/status/1971516660076191891

That's when I suspected a hoax. He's supposed to have been shot and scared for his life but wastes time calling mom and giving details when calling 911 and getting them faster to save his life would be the obvious thing to do.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

That's when I suspected a hoax. He's supposed to have been shot and scared for his life but wastes time calling mom and giving details when calling 911 and getting them faster to save his life would be the obvious thing to do.

Yep!

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

The ups driver reports seeing these describe men and van nearby working on a roof - so they existed? Did he see them and use them in his plan? Or did something happen perhaps

Possibly, but according to the sheriff’s office:
“Primarily, at this time, there is no evidence to indicate that he was taken by 4 Hispanic men in a light-colored van. 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, just prior to this incident being reported.

Since Caden is still a missing endangered juvenile, MSCO is asking anyone who may have seen a male matching his description with a dark-colored mountain bike and a tent to call 911.”

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[TMich6811]

Possibly, but according to the sheriff’s office:
“Primarily, at this time, there is no evidence to indicate that he was taken by 4 Hispanic men in a light-colored van. 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, just prior to this incident being reported.

Since Caden is still a missing endangered juvenile, MSCO is asking anyone who may have seen a male matching his description with a dark-colored mountain bike and a tent to call 911.”

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No, I don’t believe he was taken by the men. That’s not what I was saying.

 

[airportwoman]

Thinking about how you could even do that without a tool of some sort, that’s alot of time and effort at a shooting/abduction crime scene?

I use a burner phone, which folds in the middle. It wouldn't be that hard to do.

I'm also glad this young man was found safe.

 

[airportwoman]

Personally, I think his actions were a cry for help. Who knows what was going on in his life, but I'm guessing some real pressure....school, bullying, parental control, girlfriend breakup, whatever. At 17 years old pressures can be devastating to the point of acting out.
I hope Caden has help and support and can get back on his feet.

Now that I'm seeing these details, ITA.

 

[airportwoman]

One word came to mind yesterday but I didn't want to post it and risk a TO, but I'll say it now:

Papini.

jmopinion

Or Susan Smith, or, for that matter, Joseph Glinewicz (sp?).

There's a "cold case" from my region (eastern Iowa). In the early 1990s, a woman ran naked to a neighbor's house, and claimed that a man that she didn't know had walked into their house, shot and killed her husband, and then raped her. A rape kit did reveal DNA - her husband's - and people who knew them personally said she was having an affair. At least no children were involved. However, there's never been enough evidence to arrest her, or anyone else.

In a TV re-enactment, the actress wore a white unitard.

 

[wendybtn]

As European i found this horrific… sorry. Like why would young boy need guns in his life?

Hunting, hobby.

 

[Chimera]

I use a burner phone, which folds in the middle. It wouldn't be that hard to do.

I'm also glad this young man was found safe.

Pbm.
Great news !
Hope C. S. can get the help he needs !
Thankful his family doesn't have to worry.
Imo.

 

[Chimera]

The entire state was looking for him! Like I said earlier, there needs to be some answers at some point.
IMO.

There is a significant cost involved in such a search correct ?
Omo.

 

[Quill]

One word came to mind yesterday but I didn't want to post it and risk a TO, but I'll say it now:

Papini.

jmopinion

Carlee Russell.

 

[Quill]

And as someone who grew up in rural America, if find this quite normal. When I was in school other kids drove to school in pickup trucks with gun racks (often containing shotguns or rifles) in the back window.

Same here and we never had a single issue. Society and values were different.