The father of a Tennessee teen who disappeared more than two years ago has filed a blistering lawsuit, alleging authorities mishandled the search for his son from the start.
Seth Rogers, whose son Sebastian Rogers was 15 when he vanished on February 25, 2024, broke down this week as he described the ordeal as a continuing “nightmare.”
“The weight of the world that I feel on my shoulders every day, unless you’ve been in the situation of your child missing and not knowing where he’s at, you don’t have a clue,” the grieving father told WSMV. “He’s alive… he’s just lost.”
Sebastian’s case triggered one of the largest search efforts in Tennessee history. But his father says investigators moved on too soon, claiming the hunt for the missing teenager faded once public attention shifted elsewhere.
Sebastian had significant disabilities and had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and a rare chromosomal genetic condition that caused learning challenges.
In a federal lawsuit, Seth Rogers accuses the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office of failing to follow up on crucial leads. He says that, years after Sebastian vanished, there have been no arrests, no named suspects and no persons of interest publicly identified.
At the time he disappeared, the 15-year-old was living in Henderson, Tennessee, with his mother, Katie Proudfoot, and stepfather, Christopher Proudfoot. Authorities have said they believe Sebastian may have suddenly run out of the home and into the streets.
Seth Rogers rejects that explanation, saying it does not fit the son he knew. He said Sebastian never left the house on his own and depended on extensive support because of his disabilities.
Seth Rogers, the father of missing Sebastian Rogers, 15, sobbed as he said this week that he has been living a ‘nightmare’ ever since his son disappeared on February 25, 2024
Sebastian Rogers, who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and a rare chromosomal genetic disorder, has been missing for over two years with no suspects or persons of interest named in his disappearance
The father said he does not believe his son would have ran away out of the blue, and speculated that he may have been fleeing the home to get away from someone.
‘For him to leave that house without his shoes, without a coat, without his backpack, without Legos in his pocket, taking his [Nintendo] Switch or grabbing his phone, he would have had to be running,’ he said.
‘Somebody’s in the house and he’s trying to get away.’
He alleged that investigators did not obtain home security surveillance footage from the day Sebastian disappeared that would have shown the front of the home, an oversight that has never been explained.
Alongside his lawsuit against the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, Seth Rogers has also filed a lawsuit against the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (TDCS), alleging the agency failed to protect his son from abuse allegations.
He alleges that the TDCS opened an abuse investigation into Sebastian’s stepfather Christopher Proudfoot over allegations that he struck the disabled teenager, but never informed him before it was closed.
The lawsuit also alleges that investigators never followed up on tips related to the Proudfoots, including not checking Christopher’s alibi, or why Katie cancelled a doctors appointment days before Sebastian vanished.
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Christopher and Katie Proudfoot have previously denied any wrongdoing or role in Sebastian’s disappearance, and they have never been accused or charged with a crime related to the incident.
Sebastian’s mother and stepfather, Christopher and Katie Proudfoot, have denied any wrongdoing or role in Sebastian’s disappearance, and they have never been accused or charged with a crime related to the incident
Authorities believe Sebastian may have ran out of his home without warning, but his father said he has never believed that theory and says he still has hope his son is alive
Sebastian’s disappearance sparked one of the largest searches in Tennessee history, but his father claims that investigators gave up quickly and stopped hunting for Sebastian as soon as the spotlight shifted
Seth Rogers said he has been left in limbo with no answers over his son’s whereabouts, and claimed that investigators have not communicated with him for over a year.
‘People say I’m strong and I’ve got a lot of patience… but they have no idea,’ he told WSMV.
‘Being strong? I’m not strong. I’m just determined to find my son.’
Sebastian’s disappearance sparked a wave of scrutiny as social media sleuths dived into the case.
But Sebastian’s loved ones said that the fascination around his disappearance forced them to sue three YouTubers who shared lurid theories about their son’s case.
In August 2024, Katie filed an order of protection against Andra Griffin, also known as ‘Bullhorn Betty’ on YouTube and TikTok, alleging that her large social media following aided her in stalking her and her family.
Katie also alleged that Griffin accused her and Chris of harming Sebastian and called the YouTuber ‘dangerous,’ the filing, obtained by WKRN, said.
A grand jury in Sumner County ultimately decided not to indict Griffin, citing lack of evidence in the case.
Months later in October 2024, Sebastian’s father Seth, Dog The Bounty Hunter, and seven others sued two others, Stephanie Trude and Jessica Seng, and filed injunctions against 50 unnamed people for harassment and endangering their safety, records showed.
Seng run’s the YouTube channel ‘Granny’s Watching’, while Trude is known online as ‘BBQ Lady.’
A judge later dismissed the case against them, stating that there is a higher bar for them to reach in defamation cases as public figures, according to legal documents.
The Daily Mail has contacted Katie Proudfoot, the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for comment.
