Anthony Yates
A Marion County teen claimed he was abducted and shot in an incident that shook the neighborhood. However, authorities claim many “red flags” in his story and now believe he faked the entire incident.
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What happened: According to a lengthy news release by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Cayden Speight claimed he was abducted, sparking a mass response from authorities.
- Per FOX News, the 17-year-old texted his family on September 25, saying he had been kidnapped and shot. Authorities later found him safe in Williston.
- Sheriff Billy Woods praised deputies, detectives, and local residents who “joined in to help.” He explained that thanks to combined efforts, investigators discovered details that Speight texted to his family were “Completely made up.”
- “We did find evidence of a single gunshot where Caden left his truck. However, his claims that he had been shot and abducted were quickly disproven,” Woods said. He noted that the teen purchased a bike, a tent, and camping supplies before the alleged abduction.
An “Alarming Amount Of Red Flags”
An elaborate ruse: The sheriff admitted there were an “alarming amount of red flags” at the start of the investigation. He also revealed that witnesses contradicted Speight’s claims.
- The teen allegedly “chose to shoot himself in the leg” to continue his ruse. “There is ZERO chance that Caden’s gunshot wound came from any type of assailant,” Woods claimed. Authorities believe he shot himself in the leg, “causing a non-life-threatening injury.” He then reportedly walked into the road, where a Williston citizen located him.
Potential charges: The news release addresses community questions about the cost of the investigation and whether Speight will face any repercussions.
- The sheriff doesn’t explain what charges the teen may face, but said, “I can tell you those items are not off the table at this point.” He also alleged the teen’s parents are not cooperating. “Naturally, my detectives had a lot of questions for Caden, however, his parents refuse to allow my detectives to speak with him,” he explained.
Woods said he did not want to make further statements until authorities had processed all the evidence.
