Sumner County residents call on extra resources for missing teen after search for Riley Strain ends
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — As the search for missing Missouri student Riley Strain ends, another family in Sumner County is still left without answers.
Sebastian Rogers, 15, has been missing for almost four weeks.
“I’m calling on the Army, you know, and I thought the resources are here,” TikToker Heather Abbott said.
A mom and TikToker with 92,000 followers took to social media to call for the help of the United Cajun Navy, currently in Nashville, as the search for Riley Strain ends.
“I was like, ‘Hey, don’t leave over here,'” Abbott said. “Like waving the flag.”
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She told News 2 that she watched them search for Strain and believes that if they were helping in continued search efforts for missing Sumner County teen Sebastian Rogers, he could be found.
“Don’t leave,” Abbott exclaimed. “Like y’all come over here to Hendersonville. It is just 20 minutes down the road.”
Sumner County Commissioner Don Schmit said that the community has not forgotten Sebastian. Prayer vigils are held for the teen almost every week.
Drivers in the area drive by posters along the street, and flyers greet them at every door or window.
Even organized search parties by concerned community members and Sebastian’s biological dad, Seth Rogers, remain consistent.
But Schmit said Sebastian’s story needs to be told outside of Middle Tennessee.
“I think we really need to expand the news coverage,” Schmit said. “The local news is doing a great job, but I think if we get this nationwide to other people in other states to see this because honestly, people’s worst fears are really starting to ramp up now.”
‘I’m not going to give up hope’ Sebastian Rogers’ dad searches West TN park for his son
“We are sending emails out hoping that someone like Dan Abrams or Chris Cuomo, Banfield, or any of those on NewsNation hears this because I know they could reach a lot of people, a lot of audience,” Schmit added.
Equusearch, a nonprofit organization that provides search and recovery services through drone technology, is helping in the search efforts in partnership with TBI.
“We can run those images through the locate program, and it will tell us if there is something out there that we need to go check. At that point, we will give those coordinates to law enforcement, and they will send their agencies out to check it,” Twila Sisco, search and drone coordinator for EquuSearch Midwest, said.
She also told News 2 that they have been actively working with law enforcement and their families and will return to assist in a few weeks.
In a statement, Sebastian’s mother, Katie Proudfoot, said: “Unfortunately, with no new legitimate leads, our statement remains the same. We are trying to get his face out there to EVERYONE because I think the more people know and search, the better chance we have of finding him. We do appreciate the support from the neighborhood and community. We want to let the community know that we don’t have words to express our gratitude for the support we have received in searching for our son! And we pray that everyone continues to help search and pray that we find him and bring him home safe. The pain of our son’s absence is beyond words. We ask that everyone everywhere remain aware and continue to look for anything that can help us find Sebastian and bring him home!”
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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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