Sebastian Rogers: Mystery deepens as tipster shares photos claiming missing teen was seen at NC rest stop
HENDERSONVILLE, TENNESSEE: More than two months after Sebastian Rogers went missing, a potential photo of the missing autistic teen has been making the rounds on social media.
According to reports, the photo was taken at a visitors' center in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. A woman at the rest stop took the picture, which strikingly resembles the 15-year-old missing autistic boy who vanished from his Hendersonville home on February 26 while wearing only a flashlight and bare feet.
Investigators haven't confirmed if teen in picture is Sebastian Rogers
The woman later gave the photo to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, and her friend uploaded it to the internet. In the wee hours of February 26, Rogers is thought to have taken a flashlight and left his family's house. His parents reported him missing at 6.30 in the morning.
On the day the teenager vanished, the State Bureau of Investigation issued an endangered child alert. Officials then launched a massive hunt for the teen. Since Rogers vanished almost ten weeks ago, journalist Nick Beres has been following his case closely. He claims that investigators currently lack solid evidence that would indicate where this case is headed.
During a recent Facebook livestream discussing the mysterious photo, Beres said he finds it interesting that seven days after the rest stop photo went viral, investigators still haven't ruled out the possibility that the teenager in the picture is Sebastian, the Daily Mail reported.
About a month ago, the search for Rogers was called off due to concerns for the safety of the Cajun Navy members who had been dispatched to aid in his search. Sebastian's mother Katie Proudfoot and her husband Chris left Hendersonville at the end of March so that Chris could return to Memphis for his job.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a non-profit organization called the Cajun Navy was established by volunteers with boats to aid in the search for survivors. In March, the group took over the search and rescue operations for Rogers, having previously assisted with them.
Seth Rogers tirelessly looking for his son
According to Beres, Rogers' father, Seth Rogers, a correctional officer, has been ruthlessly looking for his son perhaps full-time. Unsettling video from the backside of the home where Rogers vanished was made public in March.
It showed two light sources that were located far away and one that was closer to the house. Although investigators are still unable to identify whether Rogers was one of the light sources, they do think that the sources point to the possibility that someone else was outside the house that evening.
According to Seth Rogers, "unless he knew them," his son would not have entered a stranger's car.
Additionally, he stated that Sebastian was not one to stray and that he would never go far without shoes on because of an incident he had as a young child.
Police are still looking into the disappearance and are "working" any new evidence they come across, but in the weeks since the search was lowered, no solid leads have emerged.
