Sebastian Rogers: United Cajun Navy search called off after parents meet investigators
The 15-year-old disappeared from his Sumner County, Tennessee, home on 26 February
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After members received death threats, a non-profit organisation helping in the search for Sebastian Rogers in Tennessee said on Monday that it was now working privately with his family.
In an interview with The Independent, United Cajun Navy spokesperson Kevin LaFond also addressed rumours that the group was a “scam”.
“The word hurtful comes up. The other is uninformed,” Mr LaFond said of those accusations. “Folks that know the United Cajun Navy know that there’s proof in our words everywhere and it’s not hard to find it.”
The group was called in by the 15-year-old’s father and other members of the community, after the search for him stretched over a month.
Sebastian disappeared overnight on 25 February, with his mother Katie Proudfoot finding his bed empty the following morning.
Sebastian’s parents met with law enforcement on Thursday, as the search for him neared five weeks.
His dad said he could not discuss what the meeting was about, but insisted that he still has hope that his son is out there somewhere.
“I don’t know if he’s been abducted or if he’s just over at a friend’s house, but I’ll know when I find him exactly what has happened to him,” Seth Rogers told Fox 17.
After over a week without any law enforcement update, Sumner County Sheriff’s Office is expected to hold a media briefing on Tuesday morning.
Watch: Seth Rogers’ plea for help
Dad went weeks without speaking to Sebastian’s mother
Father of missing teenager Sebastian Rogers says he has not spoken to mother in weeks
Seth Rogers wiped away tears as he spoke of the desperate search for his son
Search called off over security concerns
The United Cajun Navy announced last weekend that it was getting involved in the search for the 15-year-old boy, who was reported missing on 26 February.
However, the group has come under criticism from some on social media for its delayed start to searches after asking for donations of equipment and other supplies.
On Friday, the UCN said on Facebook that it was pulling back and regrouping “due to increasing security concerns”.
“This decision was not taken lightly [and] is made with the safety of all volunteers in mind. We want to thank all the volunteers that planned to be out searching today,” the group’s Facebook post said.
WSMV 4 reported that the group had received “death threats” online and in person.
Stepfather asked about belt incident
During their interview with Crime Stories with Nancy Grace on Monday, Sebastian’s mother and stepfather were asked about an incident involving Chris Proudfoot hitting the missing boy with a belt.
Seth Rogers is hoping for a miracle today
All we know so far
What we know about disappearance of Sebastian Rogers in Tennessee
The autistic teenager has now been gone for a month, with his mother now saying she believes someone took her son. Andrea Cavallier and Dan Gooding explain what we know so far
Have you seen Sebastian?
This Amber Alert poster has been shared far and wide as the search rumbles on for Sebastian Rogers.
Investigators promise to keep going
In a peek behind-the-scenes in Sumner County earlier in the week, investigators said they would keep going.
“We’re not stopping, we’re working on leads and information from TBI and the sheriff’s office and we’ve got teams on standby ready to go right now,” Ken Weidner, the director of Sumner County’s Emergency Operations Centre, said.
Unclear what investigators told parents
As the search rumbles on, Sebastian’s father Seth Rogers, mother Katie Proudfoot and stepfather Chris Proudfoot all met with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on Thursday.
Mr Rogers told a local reporter that he could not share what was discussed but that he came away from the meeting feeling positive.
Fox 17 reporter Kaitlin Miller had asked him if the meeting had given him hope.
“Oh I always have hope. Can’t take that away from me,” Mr Rogers said.
If Sebastian has not been found, someone has him
That’s the belief of his mother, Katie Proudfoot, who spoke with Crime Stories with Nancy Grace last week:
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