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.
UCN spokesperson on death threats and scam accusations
In an interview with The Independent on Monday, the United Cajun Navy’s spokesperson Kevin LaFond said the threats made to the organisation’s members were “much louder in volume” than they’d ever known.
“In fact, we’ve never had the situation occur before,” Mr LaFond said after UCN announced it was stopping its search for the 15-year-old in Hendersonville on Friday.
Mr LaFond also addressed accusations that the UCN was a scam, after delays in getting searches going.
“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.”
Read the full story here.
More news tomorrow?
According to local news outlet Fox 17 Nashville, a media briefing on Sebastian’s case is planned for tomorrow.
Sumner County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Craddock told the outlet that the agency did not have any new developments to report “at this time”, but that a press conference was planned for 11am local time Tuesday.
“We understand the importance of keeping the public informed, and we want to assure you that the investigation into Mr. Rogers’ disappearance remains ongoing,” a statement released to Fox 17 said.
The Independent has approached SCSO for further comment.
ICYMI: United Cajun Navy moves to private investigation
United Cajun Navy working privately with Sebastian Rogers’ family after threats
Accusations of the group being a scam were ‘hurtful’, spokesperson Kevin LaFond told The Independent
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