Crime
Amber Alert Canceled: Missing 17-year-old Caden Speight Found Safe
UPDATE: The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has confirmed that 17-year-old Caden Rex Speight has been located safe in Williston.
Authorities state that this remains an active and ongoing investigation, and additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Earlier, MCSO reported that deputies, along with the Aviation Unit, Field Force Unit, and Mounted Unit, had been actively searching for Caden, who was considered missing and endangered following an incident reported around 4:10 p.m. on September 25 in the 12800 block of SW Highway 484.
During the initial stages of the investigation, Caden’s disappearance was linked to reports of a shooting and a possible abduction involving four Hispanic males in a light-colored van.
However, detectives later determined that the evidence did not support those claims. Instead, investigators developed information indicating that Caden may have left the area on a dark-colored mountain bike, carrying a red and gray tent that he had purchased earlier the same day at a Walmart on SW 19th Avenue Road in Ocala.
Sheriff Billy Woods emphasized the agency’s continued commitment to uncovering the facts and ensuring Caden’s safety:
“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 in a different direction. I appreciate the many citizens who provided tips and information to assist my detectives. Please know, I will continue to have all of my available resources committed to ensuring this young man’s safety.”
The Sheriff’s Office has thanked the public for their assistance and stressed that while Caden has been found safe, the circumstances surrounding the case remain under investigation.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
“Mom, I need help. Four Hispanics in a white van — one driver. I’m shot.” Those were the chilling final words 17-year-old Caden Speight sent in a text message to his mother, Annie Speight, on the afternoon of Thursday, September 25, 2025.
Moments later, Caden’s phone was discovered broken in half.
Since then, he has not been seen or heard from, and authorities say this is not a case of a runaway but an active abduction and Amber Alert that has triggered an intensive multi-agency search effort.
Last Known Location: 12800 block of SW Highway 484, east of Dunnellon, Florida
Last Seen: September 25, 2025, around 4:00 p.m.
Clothing Description: T-shirt and blue jeans
Suspects: Four unidentified Hispanic males traveling in a light-colored van
Final Text: “I need help. Four Hispanics in a white van — one driver. I’m shot.”
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, deputies believe Caden was shot and abducted by the suspects after he was last seen driving his truck in the area.
Authorities told Channel2 NOW that the truck was hit with a bullet.
Joshua Vowinkel told Channel2 NOW that he is the UPS driver who serviced the area earlier today. He reported making a delivery at 11795 SW Highway 484 around 1 p.m. During his stop, he observed four Hispanic men working on a roofing job at the property, along with a white van present at the scene.
According to Vo, the men were on a lunch break at the time and responded to his greeting with aggressive remarks in Spanish while giving him hostile looks. He stated he did not think much of the interaction until learning about the ongoing investigation.
Vo added that the homeowner’s name is Nika and hopes this information will assist authorities.
A large crime scene has been established near 128th Avenue and SW 484, where investigators recovered the damaged phone and are processing evidence connected to the abduction.
Law enforcement agencies have launched a massive search operation spanning multiple counties.
Both Marion County and Citrus County Sheriff’s Office aviation units are conducting aerial sweeps using grid-search patterns — slow, overlapping flight paths about one mile apart — covering a 30-mile radius.
Marion County has deployed its Bell 206A Jet Ranger helicopter, specifically equipped for search-and-rescue missions. On the ground, search teams with K-9 units are combing through wooded areas, rivers, and ditches.
Authorities emphasize that this is a critical stage of the investigation, and public assistance is urgently needed.
Community members are urged to continue sharing Caden’s missing person flyer and to report any tips or sightings immediately.
If you see Caden Speight, the suspects, or the vehicle believed to be involved, DO NOT APPROACH. Call 911 immediately.
Anyone with information is asked to contact:
- Marion County Sheriff’s Office: (352) 732-9111
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): 1-888-FL-MISSING (1-888-356-4774)
This is an active and ongoing Amber Alert investigation, and authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant.
Crime
Teacher Killed in Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting Identified as 25-Year-Old Megan Lambert
BEND, Oregon — Megan Lambert, a 25-year-old teacher and volleyball coach remembered for her compassion and generosity, has been identified as the adult killed in the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Her death has devastated her family, friends, colleagues, students and the wider community.
Known affectionately by many as “Coach Megan,” Lambert was described by her family as a compassionate person with an enormous heart who consistently stood up for people who needed support. She loved Silver Rail Elementary School and considered her teaching position there her dream job, according to a statement shared by her family.
Her death was reported following the October 15, 2026, school shooting that claimed the lives of three children and one adult, according to preliminary information provided for this report. The 16-year-old suspect, identified in the supplied accounts as Griffin J. John II, was also reported dead.
In a statement following her death, Lambert’s family described her as someone who cared deeply about children and advocated for people who were often overlooked.
“She loved Silver Rail. This was her dream job,” the family said, describing Lambert as compassionate and big-hearted. They also emphasized her commitment to supporting people with special needs and standing up for those who needed someone in their corner.
Her family extended its thoughts and prayers to the other families affected by the tragedy, acknowledging the pain being experienced throughout the school community.
“Megan loved those children, and so we will show you love for her,” the family said, expressing solidarity with the families whose lives have also been changed by the shooting.
The statement reflects the deep affection Lambert’s loved ones held for her and the importance she placed on caring for others.
Beyond her work as a teacher, Lambert also coached volleyball at Central Oregon Volleyball Club. Her generosity was evident from her first year as a coach, when she reportedly declined payment and asked that the money instead be directed toward families who could not afford their children’s participation.
Her decision helped create opportunities for young athletes who might otherwise have been unable to play. Those who knew her remembered her as someone who wanted every child to have a chance, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
The gesture reflected the values that reportedly guided Lambert in both her professional and personal life: compassion, inclusion and a determination to help people who needed support.
She was remembered not simply as a teacher or coach, but as a daughter, sister and friend whose kindness made a lasting impression on those around her.
One person who knew Lambert shared an emotional tribute that captured the grief surrounding her death.
“She would have given you the shirt off her back, but you didn’t give her the chance… you didn’t give her the chance to be the great mom that we all knew she would be.”
The words express the heartbreak of losing someone whose life held so much promise. At just 25, Lambert had built meaningful relationships with children, families and colleagues, while continuing to make a difference through teaching and coaching.
Her loved ones are now left to mourn a life cut short and remember the generosity and compassion that defined her.
According to the preliminary accounts supplied for this report, the shooting occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Three children, identified in those accounts as ages 5, 8 and 11, and Lambert, 25, were reported killed.
Two additional people—a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher—were reported injured and transported for medical care. Their current conditions were not provided in the information available for this article.
The suspected shooter was identified in the supplied reports as 16-year-old Griffin J. John II. Accounts attributed to law enforcement sources and reported by the New York Post described an alleged attempt to enter the school through the front before the suspect reportedly gained access through a rear entrance.
Those reports also alleged that the suspect had previously attended a special education classroom at the school. The precise sequence of events, the suspect’s movements inside the building and the circumstances surrounding the reported injuries should be confirmed through official investigative statements.
Kaylub Giamanco was identified in the supplied account as the armed bystander who reportedly shot the suspect. According to the account, Giamanco was returning home during his lunch break when he encountered the emergency near the school, where his two daughters reportedly attended classes. His role and the exact circumstances of the confrontation should be attributed to authorities once officially confirmed.
The supplied information also alleges that the shotgun had been legally purchased by the suspect’s mother around his birthday in August. That claim requires confirmation from investigators and should not be treated as an established finding without an authoritative source.
As Lambert’s family grieves, they have also expressed concern for the other families affected by the shooting. Their statement emphasized that the pain extends beyond one household and that the school community is facing an unimaginable loss.
Lambert’s legacy will be remembered through the children she taught, the athletes she supported and the families she helped. Her decision to forgo coaching pay so that other children could participate in volleyball offers a powerful example of the generosity that her loved ones say defined her.
💔🕊️ Our heartfelt condolences go out to Megan Lambert’s family, friends, students and colleagues. May they find strength and comfort in the memories of her kindness, and may all the families affected by the Silver Rail Elementary School tragedy receive the support they need during this devastating time.
Megan Lambert was only 25. Her life and the compassion she showed others will be remembered by those whose lives she touched.