SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — The United Cajun Navy called off its search for 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers on Friday, saying it's become too dangerous.
The nonprofit organization, which reportedly specializes in missing person cases and rescue operations, joined the search for the teen missing out of Hendersonville last weekend in response to several calls for more attention to the case.
At the time, volunteers with the United Cajun Navy were already in the Nashville area assisting in the search for 22-year-old Riley Strain, who went missing on March 8 during a fraternity trip. They turned their attention to Sebastian's disappearance after Strain was found on March 22.
“We normally do not deploy twice in the same area, but the outpouring was so strong for us to stay and look for Sebastian (that) we said, ‘You know what? Since we are here, let’s do it,'” Kevin LaFond, Press and Communications Officer with the UCN, told News 2.
The organization, which is working independently from the Sumner County Sheriff's Office, began setting up headquarters at 90 Volunteer Drive in Hendersonville on Monday, March 25. However, the first search slated for Tuesday, March 26 was postponed due to "unsafe weather conditions."
Volunteer search crews made it out for the first time on Wednesday, March 27, with efforts lasting until around 3 p.m. that day. Crews planned to head out again on Friday, March 29 until the United Cajun Navy announced it was calling off the search about 20 minutes before volunteers were set to meet.
In a statement on social media, the organization said the decision to "regroup and pull back" was made due to "increasing safety concerns" and the "upcoming Easter holiday."
"This decision was not taken lightly [and] is made with the safety of all volunteers in mind," the United Cajun Navy wrote. "We want to thank all the volunteers that planned to be out searching today."
They continued by emphasizing that this does not mean the search is over. Sebastian disappeared from his home on Stafford Court more than a month ago on Monday, Feb. 26. Despite massive searches in the first few days, there still has been no sign of the teen.
Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants. 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.
from WKRN News 2 https://ift.tt/DLfbQIG
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