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Topics: Florida, Social Media, US News, Crime, Gun Crime
Joe Yates
Police have issued a major update in the case of a 17-year-old who vanished shortly after texting his mom that he had been 'shot', before mentioning 'four men' and a 'white van'.
Caden Speight disappeared on Thursday (September 25) after officers responded to a shooting scene in Dunnellon, Florida. When cops arrived, they discovered his car abandoned on the side of the highway with his cell phone snapped in half inside.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said initial fears were that Caden had been abducted. His mom claimed he sent her chilling messages that read: "Mom, I’m shot ... 4 men ... white van."
Officials never confirmed the texts, but the disturbing details sparked an urgent hunt. Helicopters and ground teams scoured the area while officers pushed out appeals for sightings.
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Now, after just 24 hours, the Marion County Sheriff's Office confirmed yesterday that the teen had been found safe.
"Caden has been located safe in Williston. This investigation is still on-going. More updates will be provided as they become available," the Sheriff's Office wrote on its Facebook.
As the investigation continued on Thursday, detectives discovered that the teen had purchased a bike at a Walmart, as well as a tent, just hours before the police report was filed.
"Through the initial investigation of the shooting reported in the 12800 block of SW Highway 484, around 4:10 p.m. yesterday, and Caden’s disappearance, detectives obtained information and collected evidence that are unsupportive of the initially reported facts," it said in a statement on Thursday.
"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."
Williston, the town where the teen was located, is roughly a two-hour cycle north of Dunnellon - where the shooting allegedly took place.
Speaking about his disappearance, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said: "We respond to every 911 call with a determination to ensure justice is served and the truth revealed.
"But any law-enforcement officer will tell you that when these calls involve juveniles, it takes on an even greater intensity. This case is no different.
"My deputies responded immediately, and I have dedicated all of my available resources to respond to this event. Initial information was later determined to be inaccurate; however, we always give everything we have until the investigation takes us into a different direction."