OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Marion County Sheriff’s Office officials are calling the disappearance of Caden Speight , 17, last week a “hoax” in response to questions from TV20.

A Florida Amber Alert was issued for the 17-year-old on Thursday evening, shortly after reports of a shooting in Dunnellon off Highway 484.

Many of the details initially released about his disappearance were based on a text message Caden sent to his mom. He told her that he’d been shot and kidnapped by four Hispanic men in a light-colored van.

RELATED: Missing 17-year-old from Marion County found safe; no abduction occurred

Investigators have since learned those details were made up by Caden. Deputies say the teen simply left the area on a bicycle he’d purchased earlier in the day.

He was found on Friday around no

See Full Page