A 13-year-old girl abducted from her Ocala, Florida, home was recovered unharmed, after an AMBER Alert, license plate reader information, and a citizen’s call helped Marion County deputies locate the suspect’s vehicle. Authorities said the girl returned home after the rescue.
Investigators identified the suspect as Jason Castillo, 45, the former boyfriend of the girl’s mother. The search focused on a red Hyundai Santa Fe. Sheriff Billy Woods said the agency’s license plate reader cameras helped identify and track the vehicle, while the citizen’s report provided the information that ultimately enabled deputies to find it.
The caller, Daniel Cosby, told WCJB he received the alert while getting gas along U.S. 441 in Belleview. He reviewed the photographs and later noticed an SUV matching the description while stopped at a traffic light. He checked its license plate against the alert and called authorities.
Cosby said he kept his distance until deputies intercepted the vehicle. His account highlights two contributions: verifying the plate before reporting the sighting and leaving the intervention to law enforcement. The sheriff credited the citizen’s decision to make the call.
Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but Castillo fled. A pursuit intervention technique, or PIT maneuver, disabled the vehicle near U.S. 441 and County Road 25A. Authorities said Castillo presented a threat during the confrontation; officers shot him, and he later died at a hospital. The girl was inside the vehicle but was not injured, according to a sheriff’s office spokesperson.
Dashboard camera footage documented the vehicle stop and confrontation. The reported response included Marion County deputies and a Belleview police officer.
Key Findings
- License plate reader cameras helped investigators identify and track the suspect’s vehicle.
- A citizen matched the SUV’s license plate to the AMBER Alert and contacted authorities.
- The sheriff credited the citizen’s call with enabling deputies to locate the vehicle.
Sources
- OFFICER.com (July 31, 2026): Watch: Fla. Deputies Save Kidnapped Teen After 911 Tip (Link)
- WCJB (July 28, 2026): Ocala man credited with helping deputies locate SUV during Amber Alert search in Belleview (Link)
- WKMG News 6 (July 28, 2026): Florida AMBER Alert leads to fatal deputy-involved shooting in Marion County (Link)