Sebastian Rogers: Search for missing autistic teen called off by Cajun Navy amid threats
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: United Cajun Navy, a non-profit search and rescue group leading the search for missing Tennessee teenager Sebastian Rogers were forced to scale down their efforts on Friday, March 29, after their members claimed to have received threats.
Rogers, a 15-year-old boy with autism, has been missing since February 26 after he left his bedroom barefoot with a flashlight.
United Cajun Navy calls off search for missing Sebastian Rogers
Taking to Facebook, the group posted, "Today's search for Sebastian Rogers has been called off. Due to increasing security concerns and with the upcoming Easter holiday, the decision has been made as of this morning to pull back and regroup."
"This decision was not taken lightly (and was) made with the safety of all volunteers in mind. We want to thank all the volunteers that planned to be out searching today," they added.
The threats were not detailed in the post. However, Vice President of the Cajun Navy Brian Trascher shared the instances with Fox News.
A male volunteer of the group was confronted by a man and intimidated in a hotel parking lot, while a female volunteer was threatened over the phone, claimed Trascher. He further shared a recording of the latter telephonic conversation, where a man was heard saying, "We are letting the community know about you ... You guys are just out of control and we as a community are going to make sure you guys get out of here."
While the public search has been called off, Trascher assured that the group will continue to search for Rogers privately in undisclosed locations.
Sebastian Rogers' mother received hateful messages
"Honestly, we don't know where he is… We haven't found any substantial evidence to locate where he's been or where we went. That's why we're pleading for help," Katie Proudfoot, Rogers' mother, told 'Fox & Friends' on Thursday, March 28.
"We are posting fliers (in) every direction we can. But at the same time, there were quite a bit of people that were sending some very threatening and hateful messages to us. They're following us. They're driving past our house at all hours of the day or night, disturbing the neighborhood, and the neighborhood is very upset and concerned. They're worried about their safety at this point," she added.
The missing teen is described as a white male, standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 120 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants and glasses.
Anyone with relevant information is requested to contact authorities at the Sumner County Emergency Communications Center at 615-451-3838 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
