A Florida teenager with apparent ties to the MAGA movement has been taken into custody after allegedly orchestrating a kidnapping hoax that involved shooting himself in the leg. Investigators claim he attempted to pin the blame on four ‘Hispanic men’.
Seventeen-year-old Caden Speight was discovered with a broken leg from what authorities describe as a ‘self-inflicted’ gunshot wound, a day after he was reported missing on September 25.
The alarm was raised when Speight’s mother received a text from his phone, claiming that he had been shot and kidnapped by four Hispanic men who supposedly forced him into a white van.
Local reports indicate that prior to his disappearance, Speight was seen wearing a MAGA hat, which added a layer of intrigue to the unfolding story.
An intensive search operation was launched by the police, involving helicopters and an Amber Alert, ultimately locating the teenager ‘alive and well’ the following day.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office reported that upon reaching Speight’s last known location, they discovered his truck along with suspicious bike tracks departing from the area.
Crime scene technicians also found a bullet hole through the windshield of Speight’s vehicle, suspected blood and the teen’s severely damaged cellphone.
‘Further investigation and testing revealed that Speight had fired the shot through the windshield, splattered a mixture of blood in the truck and destroyed his cell phone,’ a statement from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
Caden Speight, 17, was arrested on Tuesday after he allegedly staged his own kidnapping and claimed he was shot in the leg by four Hispanic men
Police believed the entire ordeal was a ‘hoax’ Speight planned after discovering he purchased supplies at a Walmart (pictured) before reporting the incident
‘Speight then fled the area on a bicycle with camping supplies he purchased at Walmart just before reporting this incident. An eyewitness also advised that he saw Speight leaving the area on a bicycle.’
Additionally, investigators discovered that Speight had mentioned running away before, and they located ChatGPT searches on his laptop about collecting his blood without causing pain and Mexican cartels.
‘Speight was found with a handgun and the bicycle still in his possession. He attempted to continue the ruse and had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his leg, which shattered his femur and required medical treatment,’ the sheriff’s office said.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said there were ‘red flags’ very early into the investigation and that officers now believe Speight ‘simply rode away towards Williston, while the rest of us were left to think the worst’.
‘To continue the ruse, Caden, who had a handgun with him since the beginning of all of this, chose to shoot himself in the leg,’ he added.
‘There is zero chance that Caden’s gunshot wound came from any type of assailant.’
Speight was seen wearing a MAGA hat prior to his disappearance, according to local reports from the time
He was reported missing on September 25, after his mother received a text message from his phone alleging four Hispanic men had shot him, bundled him into a white van and taken him hostage
Crime scene technicians found a bullet hole through the windshield of Speight’s vehicle, suspected blood, the teen’s severely damaged cellphone, drag marks in the dirt and bicycle tracks leading away from his truck
‘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.’
Speight is charged with presenting false evidence, shooting into a conveyance, making a false report and possession of a firearm by a minor on Tuesday over the alleged hoax.
In Florida, knowingly filing a false report can be a first-degree misdemeanor or a second or third degree felony.
Woods said Speight’s parents have ‘refused to allow my detectives to speak with him’ since he returned home.
Amidst the search, Speight’s family issued an urgent plea to find him.
His sister wrote in a since deleted Facebook post: ‘God I just want him home. I can’t sleep eat or do anything not knowing where he is and if he is safe. Please don’t stop searching or looking.
‘There is still little to no information on what happened or where he could be. I don’t understand why this has happened. Just bring him home.’
