DUNNELLON, Fla. — A desperate search is underway for 17-year-old Caden Speight, who vanished Thursday afternoon after sending his mother a chilling final text message: “Mom, I need help. Four Hispanics in a white van — one driver. I’m shot.” Moments later, investigators say, his phone was found broken in half. Authorities have since issued an Amber Alert, calling the case a violent abduction rather than a runaway.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Speight was last seen driving his truck near the 12800 block of SW Highway 484, east of Dunnellon, around 4 p.m. on September 25. Deputies later confirmed that his truck had been struck by gunfire. The teen, dressed in a T-shirt and blue jeans, has not been seen since. Authorities believe he was shot and abducted by four unidentified Hispanic males traveling in a light-colored van.
Investigators quickly established a large crime scene near 128th Avenue and SW 484, where Speight’s damaged phone was recovered. Search teams are processing evidence in the area while deploying extensive resources. Aviation units from both Marion and Citrus County are conducting aerial sweeps in overlapping grid patterns, covering a 30-mile radius. On the ground, K-9 units are combing wooded areas, ditches, and waterways in hopes of finding any trace of the missing teen.
A local UPS driver, Shua Vo, told Channel2 NOW he had delivered a package nearby earlier in the day at 11795 SW Highway 484. He reported seeing four Hispanic men at a roofing job with a white van parked on the property. According to Vo, the men gave him hostile looks and responded with aggressive remarks in Spanish when he greeted them. He did not think much of the encounter until learning about Speight’s disappearance. Vo also identified the homeowner as “Nika,” information investigators are now following up on.
Family members are pleading for the community’s help. Speight’s mother, Annie Speight, is devastated but clinging to hope as multiple agencies join the search. Authorities stress that this is a critical stage of the investigation, urging the public to share missing person flyers and remain alert for any suspicious vehicles matching the van’s description.
Officials emphasize that if anyone sees Caden, the suspects, or the vehicle, they should not approach but instead call 911 immediately. Tips can also be directed to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at (352) 732-9111 or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at 1-888-FL-MISSING. For now, the Amber Alert remains active as the search intensifies across North Central Florida.