HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Community members, including area leaders and law enforcement officials, as well as the loved ones of Hendersonville teen Sebastian Rogers gathered for a candlelight vigil at Celebration of Life Church Saturday.
Earlier this week, the one-year anniversary of the beloved teen’s disappearance was marked by renewed hope.
“Sebastian means something to other people besides just me,” Sebastian’s father, Seth Rogers, told News 2. “Sebastian will be found. Sebastian’s alive and we will find him and we will bring him home.”
Guests in attendance, also known as “Sebastian’s Army” showed solidarity by wearing green, saying Sebatian’s name and urging anyone who knows where Sebastian is to come forward.
“We are just trusting — we are believing with full faith that Sebastian shall return,” said Joseph Morgan, Senior Pastor at Celebration of Life Church. “It’s so important that we unify. Forget the projecting and the speculation. Let’s just make it about Sebastian.”
“Keep the foot on the gas pedal. Act like this just happened,” Sumner County Commissioner Don Schmit said, addressing the attendees. “Let’s act like this is brand new.”
Sebastian’s loved ones are leaning on their faith to get them through.
“The sleepless nights, the unknown… God will give them peace in their minds and their hearts,” said Yolanda Morgan, co-pastor at Celebration of Life Church.
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.
