Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Sebastian Rogers’ parents meet with investigators as questions mount five weeks into search for 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

Dan Gooding
Friday 29 March 2024 11:09 EDT
Comments
Parents of missing teen Sebastian Rogers speak out

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

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.

“Oh I always have hope. Can’t take that away from me,” Mr Rogers said, adding that he believes his son is playing video games somewhere and has no idea about the ongoing search for him.

“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.”

Sebastian Rogers has been missing for over a month.
Sebastian Rogers has been missing for over a month. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

Wearing a t-shirt with his son’s face on, Mr Rogers said that he is continuing to search day-in, day-out for him.

“This right here is my own billboard to find my son,” Mr Rogers said of his clothing. “People notice what people are wearing, so I am a walking handout.”

Questions have been mounting over the past few weeks as to how Sebastian could have disappeared without a trace from his mother’s home in Hendersonville.

Earlier this week, Ms Proudfoot said she believed someone must be holding her son captive.

She and Mr Proudfoot were criticised for leaving their home in their RV, while his whereabouts remain unknown.

They told Nancy Grace 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.

One of the big talking points around the night of Sebastian’s disappearance has been the appearance of lights on a doorbell camera close to the house, with theories that this was the boy or his abductors leaving.

Mr Rogers said that this is nonsense and the lights were in fact trash collectors.

He also said that there are no signs that the 15-year-old had been speaking to anyone suspicious on his cellphone and no indication that he was planning to run away.

While “keyboard warriors” continue to post online and raise suspicions about him and the Proudfoots, Mr Rogers said he remains focused on searching for his son.

“I’m hoping for an Easter miracle,” he added. “I could definitely use it in my life right now.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in