The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has arrested the 17-year-old boy who was at the center of what authorities have called an Amber Alert hoax.
Deputies said they arrested the teen on charges of presenting false evidence, shooting into a conveyance, making a false report of a crime, and possession of a firearm by a minor.
The 17-year-old was taken into custody and transported to a juvenile facility for processing.
The sheriff’s office said it is still tallying the resources used to investigate the Sept. 25 case. The early estimate: more than $14,000 spent and more than 50 law officers involved.
According to a sheriff’s office news release, the teen, who is from Citrus County, sent a text message to his family saying he had been kidnapped. Deputies found his damaged cellphone; his pickup truck, with a gunshot through the windshield; and blood in the 12800 block of Southwest County Road 484 in Dunnellon.
An Amber Alert was issued and a search continued through the night.
Deputies now allege that the teen fired the gunshot himself, spread the blood mixture and damaged the phone. He then fled on a bicycle with camping supplies.
According to the news release, detectives said the teen had talked about running away and had conducted a ChatGPT search “about collecting his blood without causing pain and Mexican cartels.”
He was found the next day in Williston. The sheriff’s office said he shot himself in the leg, shattering his femur, in an effort to perpetuate the kidnapping ruse.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Remember the Sept. 25 Amber Alert in Marion County? The teen has been arrested.
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
