AMBER Alert: Urgent search continues for Sebastian Rogers
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Agencies across Middle Tennessee have been working tirelessly to locate missing Sumner County teen Sebastian Rogers. The search resumed Thursday around 7 a.m.
In the first two days, crews searched 2,000 miles on foot across Hendersonville. Sumner County EMA Director Ken Weidner said Sebastian’s home has been searched at least 10 times, and officials are continuing to expand the search area.
“We’re operating under the assumption that Sebastian walked off. We have no evidence to disprove that. The family has been nothing but cooperative with law enforcement and our investigation. We are truly operating under the assumption that there’s a child missing that needs our help,” said Chief Deputy Eric Craddock with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office.
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The search has primarily been limited to law enforcement agencies, but during a Thursday press conference, Craddock said they are encouraging community members to search their own property with a partner at least twice a day and check their trail cameras.
“We need you to search your properties every day. Morning and night,” he said. “If there’s a shed or a crawl space, or up under your mobile home, or a tarp that’s in your yard, check it every morning and every night. Look for any details that something has been disturbed.”
Residents are asked to search in pairs because a single person could be mistaken for Sebastian. “If we have aerial assets up and they see someone walking alone in a field we’re going to deploy resources to see if that is not Sebastian,” Craddock said.
Weidner is asking residents to check any creeks, streams or bodies of water that may be on their property and to check for footprints, too. Investigators have reason to believe Sebastian may have traveled as far as Clarksville, so they are also checking that route.
PREVIOUS: Day 3 of search for missing Sumner County teen
In addition, residents in neighboring counties should check their properties as Weidner said its possible Sebastian could have made it that far by now. The public is still asked to avoid the official command post for now. The sheriff’s office said community members should “stay tuned” for more organized search efforts.
“We have begun the conversation of coordinating with local volunteer groups should we need them, there’s a plan in place,” Craddock said. “What I don’t want is to have 1,000 people out in the woods, someone get injured and now we have to deploy resources to them that should be deployed to get Sebastian home safely.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation put out a statement Wednesday to explain Sebastian’s family is unable to share more details about the missing teen.
“Understandably, there is interest in hearing from friends and family to help provide more of a personal context about Sebastian. However, we have been requested by the family to let local media know that they are not in a position to speak to or be available to the media at this time. We have told them that while we would relay their message, it would be the decision of the individual media outlets and reporters to proceed as they see fit.”
TBI spokesperson
Officials put out a call Wednesday for as many mounted patrols as possible, with Hendersonville police and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office sending extra horses to help. Weidner said they have also been using drones, K-9 teams, ATVs and “anything at our disposal to get Sebastian located.”
6 unsolved AMBER alerts in Tennessee
However, as the search continued Thursday in 40-degree temperatures, there was still no sign of Sebastian.
Officials have received several tips amid calls for people in the area to check their surveillance cameras, but so far none have turned out to be credible. According to Weidner, the K-9 teams have not been able to find any scents leading to Sebastian either.
Several community members and organizations have coordinated donations of water, Gatorade, food, snacks and other supplies to help support those searching for Sebastian. Officials are asking anyone who wants to donate to drop items off at the Premier Event Centre at 90 Volunteer Drive in Hendersonville to avoid traffic around headquarters.
No further information has been released.
Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)
Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, 15, was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 26 from the Beech area in Hendersonville.
Sebastian Rogers: Description
Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen on Monday, Feb. 26 near Stafford Court wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants, said the TBI.
AMBER Alert Issued
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) originally issued an Endangered Child Alert for Sebastian on the morning of Feb. 26 as multiple agencies took to the area to look for him.
Based on additional investigative information developed during the search, the TBI issued an AMBER Alert for Sebastian on the afternoon of Feb. 27. An AMBER Alert is issued when there is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred and the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, per the DOJ.
Multiple agencies including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville Fire Department, City of Hendersonville’s first responders, Sumner County Sheriff’s Office and Shackle Island Volunteer Fire have assisted in the search for Sebastian.
Who to Contact
If you have seen Sebastian or have info about his whereabouts, call the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office at (615) 451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
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