A 17-year-old Florida teen who sparked an AMBER Alert by allegedly faking his own kidnapping has been charged.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, MCSO Major Crimes detectives secure an arrest warrant for Caden Speight on Thursday.
He is facing charges that include making a false report, presenting false evidence, shooting into a conveyor, possession of a firearm by a minor, and making a false crime report.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, law enforcement issued an AMBER Alert last month after Speight’s parents received a text from him, claiming he had been abducted by the four men in a light colored van.
When investigators located Speight’s truck, it had been abandoned with the doors left open, and evidence of a single gunshot. Police then activated a widespread search with air assets, ground searcher, and mounted units.
Investigators later said that the information and evidence collected were “unsupportive of the initially reported facts.”
Speight allegedly bought a bicycle, tent, and camping supplies at Walmart, and then reported that he had been abducted.
“Caden simply rode away towards Williston while the rest of us were left to think the worst and my team was working in overdrive to solve this case,” Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said.
On September 26, police located Speight at 727 W Noble Avenue. Although he allegedly had the bike and gun in his possession, he continued to claim he had been abducted, according to police.
“(Speight) attempted to continue the ruse and had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his leg, which shattered his femur and required medical treatment,” MCSO said.
MCSO, during a media statement, said that Speight “fired the shot through the windshield, splattered a mixture of blood in the truck, and destroyed his cellphone.”
A witness told investigators that they spotted Speight leaving the area on a bicycle.
While searching his laptop, investigators reportedly uncovered incriminating queries, such as “collecting his blood without causing pain. They also learned that Speight has referenced running away before.
“At the conclusion of our investigation, a warrant was obtained for Speight’s arrest. He was ultimately placed under arrest and transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice,” MCSO said.
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[Feature Photo via Marion County Sheriff’s Office]
