SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Authorities in Tennessee announced Monday they are scaling back the search for 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers and transitioning to an investigation after a week of intensive efforts.
Hundreds of crews have searched thousands of miles around the Beech area in Hendersonville where Sebastian was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 26, but more than a week later, officials said there still have been no sightings of the teen.
According to Deputy Chief Eric Craddock with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, the decision to scale back efforts does not “come lightly.”
“This does not diminish our commitment to finding Sebastian,” Craddock said. “This is simply us transitioning from the ground search to the investigative side.”
Despite no sightings of the teen, Craddock said officials have “no leads, no details to indicate that Sebastian is not alive.” Sumner County EMA Director Ken Weidner said officials will continue to man a command post in the area, with teams ready to go if they get any leads.
The search has included drones, helicopters, horses, search dogs and dive teams, with searchers coming from as far as Knox County. Mountainous experts have also been searching in caves and members of the TN National Guard have been walking from door to door.
“If there was a resource we thought we could utilize to help locate Sebastian, we’ve used it and we will continue to do so based on the leads that come in,” Craddock said. “The sheriff’s office continues to urge families to check your properties… no detail is too small.”
An anonymous group of Nashville business owners have pledged a minimum $3,500 reward for information leading to Sebastian’s whereabouts.
No further information has been released.