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

[CityKid]

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.

Of course. This didn't make sense from the start. I'm not making excuses for him, but whatever he was claiming was easily debunked BS, and MOO the police knew it pretty early. He may be having mental health issues, or the pressure of what to do after senior year in high school, or an unrequited romantic interest, or problems with parents, who knows? Emotions are big when you're a teen. HOWEVER, big emotions don't mean you blame an imaginary ethnicity for your imaginary shooting and kidnapping. Remember Charles Stuart and Susan Smith?

 

[mpnola]

Well. I am glad he is ok. I hope he gets help with whatever stressors in his life felt so heavy that he made up such a crazy story and started his plan in the daylight with cameras and people everywhere. The one guy had the gps timeline that he saw a kid that seemed out of place on a black bike and a backpack that seemed long at the very exact time and same place he went "missing". He couldn't think he would get away long, could he?

Im sure the police will dig and see what was going on and if it deserves charges. But those were some pretty serious allegations!!! It put other people (especially Hispanic men and ex-employees) in very serious danger!

 

[ErinC]

I'm glad he's all right, and I hope he comes to understand the grave danger he could have put local Hispanic men in.

 

[Dre]

I am absolutely hoping for punishment, and therapy. My goodness what a thing to do to your mother…
The Hispanic addition is extremely disgusting to me.

 

[LadyL]

I knew this was a load of crap.

 

[airportwoman]

Of course. This didn't make sense from the start. I'm not making excuses for him, but whatever he was claiming was easily debunked BS, and MOO the police knew it pretty early. He may be having mental health issues, or the pressure of what to do after senior year in high school, or an unrequited romantic interest, or problems with parents, who knows? Emotions are big when you're a teen. HOWEVER, big emotions don't mean you blame an imaginary ethnicity for your imaginary shooting and kidnapping. Remember Charles Stuart and Susan Smith?

I also remember that in the Stuart case, an arrest was made, and the man quite likely would have been convicted had Mr. Stuart not unalived himself, and confessed in his note. He'd done a lot of other things, but he didn't do this.

 

[moniii455]

Is he alive? I saw on facebook that he is found safe? Is this true? Why would he lie about being abducted by 4 men?

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Is he alive? I saw on facebook that he is found safe? Is this true? Why would he lie about being abducted by 4 men?

Yes, he is confirmed safe.

Maybe he just needs some help. I was thinking he may be depressed or otherwise crying out for some help. Because why claim to have been shot? What was he going to do?

At least he didn't end up harming anyone physically, and so I guess it's not really the public's business, since he's a minor.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I think his punishment needs to be community service. Maybe 400 hours of serving others will help him comprehend how good he has it in life. Earn money to reimburse LE and agencies who spent time and money looking for him.

Plus a good couple years with a psychiatrist to get his brain on the right track for adulthood.

 

[Bigditch]

I wonder why they say "if you see him, DO NOT approach".

That jumped out at me.

Same

 

[tara83]

Same

Makes me wonder of he had been in some kind of trouble with the police before this.

 

[Serononin]

I guess if the police suspected that he was the one who shot at the truck, the "do not approach" warning might have been related to the likelihood of him having a gun on him?

 

[Trebor5591]

Well. I am glad he is ok. I hope he gets help with whatever stressors in his life felt so heavy that he made up such a crazy story and started his plan in the daylight with cameras and people everywhere. The one guy had the gps timeline that he saw a kid that seemed out of place on a black bike and a backpack that seemed long at the very exact time and same place he went "missing". He couldn't think he would get away long, could he?

Im sure the police will dig and see what was going on and if it deserves charges. But those were some pretty serious allegations!!! It put other people (especially Hispanic men and ex-employees) in very serious danger!

I disagree, His lies did not put Hispanic men in danger! IMO.

 

[tara83]

I disagree, His lies did not put Hispanic men in danger! IMO.

Yes it did. Innocent men could have become suspects for a crime that never happened.

 

[Bigditch]

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.

C4H indeed

 

[Ontario Mom]

Yes it did. Innocent men could have become suspects for a crime that never happened.

Not to mention contributing to the racial animosity out there in society.

 

[Knox]

I disagree, His lies did not put Hispanic men in danger! IMO.

When I first read your opinion, I agreed. But thinking about it further, if for instance LE within the context of a BOL for four Hispanic men, tried to initiate a traffic stop. The men panicked and either tried to evade or in other ways reacted suspiciously.

I could see how the situation could escalate quickly. LE is looking for four dangerous men who shot and abducted a young man. That puts a whole different spin on the situation.

 

[Deepinthought52]

Agree 100% hope we get to hear what that punishment is - given he's

Hope it’s harsh. He triggered an Amber alert as well. 17 so hope he’ll be treated as an adult criminal. His accusations were serious. Could be a felony. Was he hoping to get on Nancy Grace?

 

[TMich6811]

If the men and white van existed as the UPS driver said they did - it absolutely put those men at risk

 

[Knox]

Hope it’s harsh. He triggered an Amber alert as well. 17 so hope he’ll be treated as an adult criminal. His accusations were serious. Could be a felony. Was he hoping to get on Nancy Grace?

I’m not sure what motivated Caden to do what he did, and hope to find that answer. He absolutely could be treated as an adult, I’ll be following to see how this moves forward legally.

The targeted accusation of four Hispanic men is concerning to me for a different reason. It makes me wonder if there is racial bias in the operation of his family’s farm.