The 13-year-old was recovered after deputies stopped a fleeing vehicle on U.S. Highway 441 near Belleview.
BELLEVIEW, FL — A 13-year-old Ocala girl was found safe Monday after a Florida Amber Alert, while the man accused of abducting her died at a hospital following a pursuit and deputy-involved shooting, authorities said.
Juliet Arioso was recovered after Marion County sheriff’s deputies located a vehicle connected to the alert at about 5:20 p.m. July 27. Authorities identified the driver as Jason Castillo, 45, who they said refused to stop and fled. Deputies used a pursuit intervention technique, commonly called a PIT maneuver, to disable the vehicle on U.S. Highway 441 near County Road 25A.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said shots were fired as deputies attempted to apprehend Castillo. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and was pronounced dead later Monday night. Authorities had not released a detailed account of who fired, how many deputies were involved or what led directly to the gunfire as of Tuesday.
Arioso was inside the vehicle during the confrontation but was not injured, according to information provided by the Sheriff’s Office to local news organizations. Deputies removed her from the scene and took her to safety. Officials did not release further information about her condition or where she was taken.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued the Amber Alert after Arioso was reported missing from the area of the 9100 block of Southwest 27th Avenue in Ocala. Investigators said they believed she had been abducted from her home in the Shady Road Villas community sometime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday.
The alert identified Castillo as the suspected abductor and said Arioso might be traveling with him in a red 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The Sheriff’s Office later said Castillo was the former boyfriend of the girl’s mother. Officials had not publicly explained the circumstances leading to the alleged abduction or provided additional details about Castillo’s relationship with the family.
A large law enforcement presence gathered along U.S. Highway 441 after the pursuit ended. Southbound lanes near County Road 25A were closed while investigators processed the scene, and drivers were asked to avoid the area. Images from the scene showed a red sport utility vehicle off the roadway.
The Amber Alert was canceled after authorities confirmed that Arioso had been found. The alert had asked the public to watch for the teenager, Castillo and the red Hyundai while investigators searched for them across the region.
The Sheriff’s Office described the shooting and the events surrounding the pursuit as an active investigation. Authorities said additional information would be released as it became available, including details about the confrontation and the deputies’ actions.
Author note: Last updated July 28, 2026.