
Loading summary
A
Hi, it's Katie. I'm excited to let you know that you can watch video episodes of Crime House Daily Night Watch on Spotify. It's the same gripping true crime stories you've been getting here now with added videos and photos that give you even more depth and detail into each case. Search Night Watch on Spotify and hit follow so you never miss an episode.
B
This is Crime House.
A
Our first story this morning is the case of Cadence Bait, a Florida teen who claimed to be violently kidnapped on September 25. But when police found him the very next day, they realized it was all an elaborate hoax staged by Caden himself. Our second story is the case of Jennifer Castro, the woman who went viral on social media for refusing to give up her seat to a crying child on a plane. The video and the resulting notoriety completely changed Jennifer's life. Now she's suing both the woman who filmed it and the airline for damages. Let's get into it. A 17 year old is shot, then goes missing. An Amber Alert was just issued for this teen. His name is Kaden Speight.
C
He wasn't kidnapped.
A
That came from a text that he sent his mother. There was no van filled with Hispanic.
B
Men and investigators are now trying to.
A
Figure out why he said that to her. The arrest report details how Spate used ChatGPT, an AI program to learn about collecting blood without pain, and Mexican cartels, all to try and make investigators believe his story. Hi, I'm Katie Ring, a true crime analyst, self defense instructor and fierce advocate for victims. And this is Crime House Daily, your essential true crime companion. Every weekday morning and night here at Crime House Daily, we dig into the true crime stories making headlines right now, where justice is unfolding, arrests are happening, and new evidence is emerging. Every morning, First Watch gets you up to speed on today's biggest cases. Every night, Night Watch takes you deeper. If you want to follow a case from the first 911 call to the final verdict, this is the place for you. Follow Crime House Daily Wherever you get your podcasts, leave a review and for ad free listening, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. For video, check out our YouTube channel, Rimehouse Daily. This episode discusses active criminal cases and breaking news. The information we share is based on what's publicly available at the time of recording and may change as new evidence comes to light. We aim to inform, not to decide guilt or innocence. So everyone mentioned is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
C
With TikTok ads, our revenue went up.
A
$10 million year over year. During back to school season. Penn Foster is online education. TikTok is great because the reach is incredible for finding a lot of different types of audiences on the platform. Creator scale allowed us to easily develop and distribute creator led ads. Our return on ad spend for TikTok is 21% higher than the next best channel. Start growing your business today.
B
Head over to get started.TikTok.com TikTok ads.
A
Our first case today is about Kaden Spate, the 17 year old whose disappearance led authorities to send out an Amber Alert and launch an extensive search that involved helicopters, ground search teams, officers on horseback, and help from multiple agencies including the FBI. On September 25, Caden texted his family, I need help being shot at. Four Hispanics, armed white van, one driver. I'm hit. It's giving a little bit of a Rebecca and Jay Caro saying he came up behind me and said ola a lesson in that racism will expose you. One day later, Kaden was found about 25 miles from his house with what authorities believe was a self inflicted gunshot wound to his leg. Soon after, they discovered some highly suspicious Internet searches on Kayden's computer. And on October 23, Kayden pleaded no contest to making a false report of a crime, possessing a firearm as a minor, presenting false evidence, and shooting into a conveyance. There are still some unanswered questions in this case, like why the hell would someone go as far as to shoot themselves in the leg? But we will dive into what we know so far. Caden is from Citrus Springs, Florida. He's homeschooled but is also dual enrolled at the College of Central Florida, so he does have to commute to class sometimes. On September 25, Caden drives the family truck to the college campus like he normally does, and after class he calls his family to let them know he's on his way home. But Caden never makes it home. Instead, around 4pm he sends a frantic text to his family's group chat. He says that he needs help and that four Hispanics hopped out of a white van and began shooting at him. He then says he's been hit and wounded and his family is frantic. As someone whose brother was actually shot at and carjacked when he was at the University of Arizona. I know the fear and the pit in your stomach when you get a call like this. His family holds up his last known location in the Life360 app. As they dial 911, they are able to tell the dispatcher that the phone stopped transmitting on a rural wooded stretch of Highway 484 and Police Head there immediately. And when they arrive, they find some extremely troubling things. There's a bullet hole in the windshield of Caden's truck with what appears to be blood spatter inside the vehicle. Caden's cell phone is also inside the truck, but is completely crushed. And finally, there are drag marks and bicycle tire marks on the dirt. But there's no sign of Kayden. Officers begin to fear that he's been kidnapped, and they have no time to waste. The Marion County Sheriff's Office quickly enlists the help of state police, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and even the FBI. Because of Kayden's age, they also issue a statewide amber alert. Around 8pm including information that four Hispanic men in a white van may have kidnapped him. A few calls come in from people who saw four Hispanic men. One caller said that a group of men looked at them weird. To think innocent people could have gone down or had been harmed for this makes me extremely mad. Since Kaden vanished near a wooded area, police immediately begin a ground search, with searchers on horseback combing through the dense, swampy woods. They even use helicopters. Finally, they find their first clue. And it changes everything. Not far from Cadence, truck search team members find a discarded Gatorade bottle with blood inside of it. This is puzzling on its own. But soon authorities hear from two eyewitnesses whose stories create even more suspicion. One person says that they saw Kayden in his truck pulled over on the side of the road around the same time. He texted his parents and and he seemed fine. However, the second person describes him as somewhat frantic, not because he was shot, but because he was speeding away on a bicycle. Now, authorities are starting to wonder if Caden made the whole thing up. But they don't want to jump to conclusions. If they're wrong, a boy's life could be at risk. So they search for evidence. Like any good investigation, they first visit a church that's located near the scene where Caden disappeared, and they ask for surveillance footage. But when they look at the footage, they don't see any sign of Caden or a white van on the road at any time. Now they know something is up. So they obtain access to the Life360 app data that Caden's family used to locate him. And that's how investigators learn that he wasn't on his way home from class that day. Shortly before Caden texted his family, he'd stopped at a local Walmart. Investigators visit the Walmart and also pull their footage. Pretty soon, they see Caden using cash to buy a sleeping bag. A tent and a bicycle, it's becoming clear that Caden likely wasn't attacked at all. The more likely answer is that he simply ran away. So police go to the Speight household to see if they can figure out where Kayden might have gone. And when they talk to the family, they learn that Kayden had talked about running away a few months earlier, but they said that there were no recent signs of him being upset and they're not sure where he could be. Police haven't found Caden yet, but they're becoming more certain that he staged his own kidnapping. But this doesn't put them at ease, and they continue working throughout the night on September 25th. By the next morning, they at least feel confident enough in their theory to inform the public that they don't believe a kidnapping had occurred. They also say they think Caden left the scene on a bicycle with camping supplies and asked the public to be on the lookout for him. Tips flood in and one witness says they spotted Caden in Williston, which is a City about 25 miles north of the Dunilin area. Police head to the scene expecting to find someone who's only pretending to be a victim. But when they get there a little before 1:45pm Officers are stunned. They find Kaden in a shopping center parking lot with a fresh gunshot wound to his leg.
B
It's okay not to be perfect with Finances Experian is your big financial friend and here to help. Did you know you can get matched with credit cards on the app? Some cards are labeled no Ding Decline, which means if you're not approved, they won't hurt your credit scores. Download the Experian app for free today. Applying for no Ding decline cards won't hurt your credit scores if you aren't initially approved. Initial approval will result in a hard inquiry which may impact your credit scores.
C
Experian VRBO Last minute deals make chasing fresh mountain powder incredibly easy. With thousands of homes close to the slopes, you can easily get epic Pow freshies, first tracks and more. No need for months of planning. In fact, you can't even plan Pow Pow is on its own schedule. Thankfully, somewhere in the world it's always snowing. All you have to do is use the last minute filter on the app to book a last minute deal on a slope private rental home.
A
Book now@verbo.com On September 26, 2025, authorities in Marion County, Florida finally locate 17 year old cadence Fate. He's sitting in a parking lot about 25 miles from his home with a bicycle next to him and a Bullet wound to his right leg. But that's not all. Kayden is also in possession of his dad's firearm. Authorities are more suspicious of the teenager than ever, but the wound is serious. Kayden's femur is completely shattered, so police rush him to the nearby hospital. While he's awaiting treatment, Caden tells them his side of the story. He says he was driving home from school the day before when a white van pulls up beside him and forces him off of the road. Then four Hispanics hop out of the van, pull Caden out of his truck, and shoot him with his dad's gun before leaving him on the side of the road. Investigators had expected Caden to tell them a story like this, and they aren't buying it. They ask him where he got his bicycle, and Caden says the men dumped it next to him on the road and that they left his father's gun behind as well. Police press for more details, but they're unable to get all of the information they want. Kayden just keeps repeating the phrase, they dumped me, shot me, and left. That's all they can get out of him. And shortly after Caden is admitted to the hospital, his parents stop letting police speak to him. But that doesn't mean they stop investigating. Detectives return to the shopping center where Caden was found and talk with employees at the stores. There, they quickly learn that Caden had recently tried to sell the bike to an employee at an auto shop. Not only that, but when they look inside a clothing donation bin, they. They find all of the camping supplies. They might not be able to talk to Kayden anymore, but they have all of the evidence they need. On September 29th, the Marion County Sheriff's Office tells the public that Kayden has been found and that they believe he staged his own kidnapping. They say there were red flags in Kayden's story from the very beginning, but to be safe, they investigated as if his life was in danger. Authorities also say there is, quote, zero chance that Cadence gunshot wound came from any type of assailant. They believe Caden shot himself in the leg to try and add credibility to his story, which is absolutely wild. While police are putting everything together, they consider criminal charges. And as the days pass, police only find more evidence to support their theory. They obtain a warrant to search Cadence Internet history and discover some recent interactions with chat GPT. Caden had been asking for information about the Mexican cartels. He also asked, quote, how to take blood out of myself for medical purposes without it hurting. Now authorities have a clearer picture of what they think actually happened the day Caden went missing. It Appears that Caden planned this elaborate hoax in advance. He managed to draw blood from himself and store it in the Gatorade bottle. Then Caden grabbed his dad's gun and went to Walmart, where he bought the camping supplies and the bike. Once he had everything, he drove out to the quiet stretch of Highway 484, pulled over, put scuff marks in the dirt, shot through his truck's windshield and sprayed his own blood from the Gatorade bottle around the bullet hole. And as of this recording, we still don't know why he did it. I think they might have to do some mental checks on him and I hope he can get help. But through all of the confusion, it's clear that Kayden was not in danger. So Sheriff Billy woods considers having Kayden reimburse the department for the costly investigation. But before that can happen, they'll need to prove he's guilty. On October 14, 2025, police finally have enough evidence to arrest Caden. He's brought to a juvenile detention center and charged with making a false report of a crime, possessing a firearm as a minor, presenting false evidence and shooting into a conveyance. The courts quickly determine that Caden will be charged as a juvenile and he's granted bail, which his parents pay immediately. His most recent court appearance was on October 23, where he entered a plea of no contest. Kayden's sentencing date has yet to be scheduled, but as always, we'll be sure to bring you all of the major updates as they occur. Our second case today is about Jennifer Castro, a 29 year old Brazilian woman who became Internet famous against her will when someone filmed her refusing to give up her airplane seat to a crying child. The media frenzy was so intense, Jennifer feared for her safety. Now she's suing the woman who filmed her, 54 year old, Luciana Cardoza, as well as Gol, the local Brazilian airline company she was traveling with that day. So what happened that day? Let's take a look. Jennifer Castro is a banker from Bello Horizonte in southeastern Brazil. On December 4, 2024, Jennifer's Day starts out relatively normal. She's got short travel plans and she heads to the airport for her flight. It's only supposed to take about an hour, but she pays extra for a window seat anyways. As Jennifer waits to board, airline staff let a family onto the plane first because they have a child who's using a wheelchair. The mother, Aline Rizzo, quickly has to sort out a seating mishap for her child. Once it's settled, she realizes that another one of her children, a four year old who we'll call AR is now sitting in the wrong seat. AR wants to sit next to his grandparents and when Aline sees him there, she tells her mother in law that if the seat is reserved for someone else, AR has to move. It turns out the seat is reserved for a woman named Jennifer. When she spots AR, she politely asks him to move. Before the boy's grandparents can respond, another passenger interjects and tells Jennifer to let the boy sit there. Aline hears what's happening and promptly moves AR to his assigned seat and Jennifer sits down. But AR is not happy and as toddlers are known to do on airplanes, he throws a complete tantrum. His grandmother switches seats with someone so that she can be next to him and he can have one window seat. But AR is in meltdown mode and wants the seat he was in before. He starts crying loudly saying that a woman stole his seat. It is such a scene that other passengers start getting involved and tell Jennifer to give up her seat. But Jennifer says no, it's her seat and she paid for it. She doesn't move and AR keeps crying. Passengers start getting annoyed and while one woman, a 54 year old nutritionist and lawyer named Eluciana Cardoza, takes matters into her own hands. Eluciana is not related to the Rizzo family. She is just a passenger on the plane. But she pulls out her phone, hits record and approaches Jennifer. She's polite at first, but when Jennifer doesn't give in, Elusiana won't let up. Jennifer keeps her head down and her earphones in as Eluciana starts with berating her, calling her disgusting and saying she has no empathy. Jennifer still doesn't respond and eventually Elusiana stops recording. It seems like the situation has blown over. The plane lands and everyone goes on about their day. But soon Jennifer will realize that the ordeal is far from over. In fact, it's only just the beginning. In December of 2024, Eluciana Cardoza films Jennifer Castro on an airplane after Jennifer refuses to give up her seat to a child. Even after everyone gets off the plane, Eluciana still worked up over the incident. So she sends the video to her 23 year old daughter Mariana and tells her to post it online. She wants people to be on her side and shame Jennifer, but she does tell Mariana not to show Jennifer's face in the video. Mariana uploads the video to TikTok and covers Jennifer's face with an emoji. But once she posts it, something goes wrong. The emoji's not there, and Jennifer's face is totally visible. However, Mariana doesn't seem to notice, and the video stays up. Personally, that seems like a pretty convenient story. Hours later, Mariana's phone won't stop buzzing, and she sees that she has countless notifications on TikTok. And that's when she says she realizes she shared Jennifer's face accidentally. But it's too late. People all over the world have seen the video already. It has gone viral, just like Luciano wanted. However, Mariana's mistake has some serious consequences. Internet sleuths incorrectly assume that the mom, Aline, filmed the video and sent it to her daughter to post. And Aline's daughter, who is only 11, starts getting harassed online. Fortunately, people realize this mistake. But that's not the end of the drama. The press traces the video back to Eluciana, and now she and Mariana start getting harassed. It's so bad, Mariana deletes her TikTok. At the same time, Aline is still being bullied online, too. She speaks up and says she didn't even see Eluciana filming because she was distracted by her crying son. But then Jennifer tells her side of the story, and according to her, Aline isn't so innocent. Jennifer says Aline also insulted and berated her during the flight. And then when she stood up to grab her luggage, Aline called her an imbecile. Jennifer also says the airline staff never stepped in. Throughout all of this, people online are eating up every new development in the drama, and everyone agrees that Eluciana never should have asked her daughter to post the video. Soon, Luciana responds with a public apology to both Jennifer and Aline. She says she wishes she could have, quote, been strong in that moment instead of getting involved. But Eluciana's apology doesn't put a stop to things like she had hoped. Instead, over the next few weeks, Jennifer's Instagram following, which had mostly been friends and family, balloons to 2 million followers, and it's ruining her life. Everywhere she goes, she can't escape the story. The media craze is so bad, she can't even leave her house without feeling like someone is going to harass her. By early 2025, Jennifer even changes jobs. But then she finds a way to turn a bad situation into something good. Travel and lifestyle brands start approaching her with deals as an influencer. It's completely unexpected, but Jennifer decides to embrace it. At the same time, now that she's feeling more empowered, she realizes how unfair the situation has been. So in the spring of 2025, she begins pursuing legal action against both Eluciana and Gol Airlines seeking compensation for financial distress. She hasn't disclosed the amounts she's suing for, but it seems like she has a good case. According to at least one Brazilian law firm, the country's constitution protects a person's right to privacy, which includes their image. And although an airplane is considered a semi public space, Jennifer should have a right to seek damages in this situation, considering how much this blew up and affected her life. In fact, if the damage is bad enough, the person filming could even receive criminal sanctions, including fines or even imprisonment. Regardless of what happens, Jennifer says she hopes the lawsuits will help set precedents for other people who might experience similar harassment. And however you feel about the situation itself, it's undeniable that, especially with social media, the lines for personal boundaries have become blurred with how easy it is to take out your phone and post a video online that millions of people can see. It's important to remember that it can have real world ramifications, for good and bad. As the one year anniversary of the incident approaches and the case moves through the Brazilian courts, many are waiting to see what updates there may be. And as always, we'll bring you all of the latest developments as they unfold. Fold what did you think of today's cases? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments. See you next time. If you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube channel @Crime House Daily and follow us on social media rimehouse24.7 for real time updates. Because the pursuit of justice never stops.
C
Foreign.
A
Looking for your next Crime House listen? Don't miss Crimes of with Sabrina Diana Roga and Corinne Vien. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season from Crimes of the Paranormal, unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and more. Their first season is Crimes of Infamy, the true stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains. And coming up next is Crimes of the Paranormal, real life cases where the line between the living and the dead gets seriously blurry. Listen to Crimes of every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Host: Katie Ring
Date: November 12, 2025
In this First Watch episode, host Katie Ring recaps two headline-grabbing cases:
Both stories underline how quickly incidents can spiral in the age of social media and highlight questions of personal privacy, motive, and the responsibility of both individuals and authorities in response to emerging crises.
“It’s giving a little bit of a Rebecca and Jay Caro saying he came up behind me and said ola… a lesson in that racism will expose you.” (03:50)
“They dumped me, shot me, and left.” (12:30)
His parents quickly stopped further police interviews.
“how to take blood out of myself for medical purposes without it hurting.” (13:17)
“There are still some unanswered questions in this case, like why the hell would someone go as far as to shoot themselves in the leg?” (05:14)
“I think they might have to do some mental checks on him and I hope he can get help.” (14:41)
“Eluciana is not related to the Rizzo family. She is just a passenger on the plane. But she pulls out her phone, hits record and approaches Jennifer… berating her, calling her disgusting and saying she has no empathy.” (18:33)
“Her Instagram following, which had mostly been friends and family, balloons to 2 million followers, and it’s ruining her life. Everywhere she goes, she can’t escape the story.” (22:22)
“With social media, the lines for personal boundaries have become blurred with how easy it is to take out your phone and post a video online that millions of people can see. It’s important to remember that it can have real world ramifications, for good and bad.” (24:10)
Katie Ring presents both stories with characteristic empathy, balancing analytical rigor with personal insight. She maintains respectful skepticism, particularly concerning police and public reaction to unverified reports, but also calls for compassion for those struggling with mental health or media-fueled harassment. Her conversational yet precise style makes complex situations accessible and thought-provoking for Crime House Daily listeners.
This episode of Crime House Daily highlights how misinformation—whether intentional or viral—can impact lives on both a personal and a society-wide scale. From emergency responses to viral outrage, the line between “victim” and “culprit” can be blurred, and both law enforcement and the public need to be vigilant, compassionate, and judicious in their responses. Katie underscores the crucial lesson: in our digital era, the consequences of both panic and viral exposure are real, far-reaching, and often unexpected.