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.
United Cajun Navy ends search for Sebastian Rogers after death threats
A group organising searches for missing teenager Sebastian Rogers in Tennessee say they’ve called off an event planned for today, 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.
Read the full story:
United Cajun Navy ends search for Sebastian Rogers after death threats
The organisation said the safety of its volunteers was its priority
Dad says he is a ‘walking handout'
Seth Rogers has been frequently interviewed wearing a t-shirt with his son’s face on it.
“This right here is my own billboard to find my son,” Mr Rogers said of his clothing in an interview with Fox 17 Nashville. “People notice what people are wearing, so I am a walking handout.”
Sebastian Rogers’ parents meet with investigators as questions mount five weeks into search for missing teen
The parents of Sebastian Rogers met with investigators on Thursday, as the search for the missing Tennessee teenager is now in its fifth week.
The 15-year-old, who has autism, vanished overnight on 25 February and has not been seen since.
As the search rumbles on, his 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.
Read the full story:
Sebastian Rogers’ parents meet with police as questions mount over missing teen
Seth Rogers said he came away from the meeting feeling positive as the search for missing Sebastian is now in its fifth week
Sebastian Rogers’ parents confronted by Nancy Grace for leaving home
Sebastian’s mother Katie Proudfoot and stepfather Chris Proudfoot have faced criticism for leaving their home in their RV, while the missing teen’s whereabouts remain unknown.
They told Nancy Grace last week that they did so in order for Mr Proudfoot to return to work.
However they also said they had to leave due to threats being made against them.
Mr Rogers was asked if he believed the pair were suspects at all in Sebastian’s disappearance.
“I have no idea,” he said, after a pause.
None of the parents have been accused by law enforcement of having any involvement in Sebastian’s disappearance and no charges have been filed.
Investigators say they have no updates
It has been over a week since law enforcement looking for Sebastian issued any updates.
Today, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which has been the lead agency alongside Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, told The Independent that nothing has changed, despite reports of searchers being attacked and threatened.
“We do not have anything additional we are able to provide at this stage,” a spokesperson said. “Special agents and intelligence analysts continue to work with investigators with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office in pursuing tips and leads.”
Anyone with information should contact the tip line at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov.
Day 36 of searching
The search for Sebastian has reached day 36, with no sign still of the teen.
The 15-year-old vanished overnight, having last been seen when he went to bed on 25 February.
Police have shared no evidence of his whereabouts or movements since.
Thousands of miles searched
From ponds to homes to woodland, hundreds of people have been scouring the area around where the 15-year-old vanished from five weeks ago.
In a report for News Channel 5, Ken Weidner, the director of Sumner County’s Emergency Operations Centre, showed a map of the areas searched so far.
“We’ve had close to 1,500 searchers,” Mr Weidner told reporter Nick Beres. “We’ve got 1,350 documented and then we have additional people, I’m sure we have got more on the public safety side.
“The first two days, we logged 2,000 search miles and we haven’t had enough time to extrapolate all of this,” he said, referring to the data on a huge screen.
Read more here:
Hunt for missing Sebastian Rogers has covered over 10,000 miles, say investigators
So far, there has been no sign of the 15-year-old who vanished on 26 February
WATCH: Teachers are ‘putting out prayers every day'
How many more Tennessee children are missing?
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, there are eight other active missing children alerts.
Alongside Sebastian are children who have been missing for over a decade, including 4-month-old Zaylee Grace Fryer last seen in May 2011 and Gage Daniel, 7, who disappeared in September 2012.
Amber Alerts are only issued for the most serious cases.
With between 500 and 600 missing children reports each month in the state, the TBI says the status is given to cases where the child is in imminent danger of bodily injury or death, or there is greater urgency in the case needing wider involvement of other agencies.
United Cajun Navy says its committed to finding answers
In an interview with The Independent on Monday, United Cajun Navy spokesperson Kevin LaFond said the group was now working “privately” on the case.
More to follow from the interview shortly.
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