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As it happenedended1712007797

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

Dan Gooding
Monday 01 April 2024 22:43 BST
Comments
Police ‘ready to search’ all leads on disappearance of missing teen Sebastian Rogers

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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.

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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

Rachel Sharp1 April 2024 10:21
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Dad says he is a ‘walking handout'

Seth Rogers has been frequently interviewed wearing a t-shirt with his son’s face on it.

Seth Rogers says he believes his son Sebastian is playing video games somewhere
Seth Rogers says he believes his son Sebastian is playing video games somewhere (Fox 17 Nashville/YouTube)

“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.”

Dan Gooding1 April 2024 11:30
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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

Rachel Sharp1 April 2024 12:30
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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.

Rachel Sharp1 April 2024 13:30
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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.

Dan Gooding1 April 2024 14:40
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Day 36 of searching

The search for Sebastian has reached day 36, with no sign still of the teen.

(Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

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.

Dan Gooding1 April 2024 15:35
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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

Dan Gooding1 April 2024 16:36
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WATCH: Teachers are ‘putting out prayers every day'

Sebastian Rogers' father says he's hoping for Easter miracle as search goes on
Dan Gooding1 April 2024 17:38
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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.

Dan Gooding1 April 2024 18:29
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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.

Dan Gooding1 April 2024 19:32

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