(NewsNation) — The FBI is once again seeking information about the location of missing autistic teenager Sebastian Rogers.
Rogers, who was 15 at the time of his disappearance, has now been missing from his Tennessee home for 18 months.
The night before his disappearance, his mother, Katie Proudfoot, says she heard a loud bang come from his room. She yelled to check on him, and he responded that he was alright.
Proudfoot woke up on Feb. 26, 2024, to find that her son was not in his bed. She then searched the entire house, the neighborhood and his school to no avail. Rogers was reported missing the same day, marking the beginning of a massive interagency search effort that has so far yielded no results.
The mysterious nature and lack of answers in the case have garnered national attention over the past year and a half, prompting independent investigations and the emergence of various theories on the internet.
Debunking rumors surrounding the case
The FBI has offered official explanations disproving popular rumors surrounding the case:
The flashlight: A neighbor had security footage from the night Rogers disappeared that seemed to show two flashing lights in the yard, leading some to wonder if there was a person of interest sneaking around.
Law enforcement analyzed the footage and found that the lights actually came from a truck’s headlights that flickered through trees from a street atop a nearby hill, effectively disproving the theory.
Green hoodie: A video of Sebastian Rogers and Katie Proudfoot from the night Rogers disappeared shows the two of them in the parking lot of a local restaurant. The footage shows Proudfoot briefly interacting with a person in a green hoodie, leading to speculation that the person in the hoodie could have something to do with Rogers’ disappearance.
Law enforcement spoke to the person, who employees at the restaurant confirmed was a regular customer, and determined that they were not a suspect in the case.
“We can confirm that after a thorough discussion with this individual, there is no evidence linking them to Sebastian’s disappearance,” a letter from the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office said.
FBI offering $50K reward
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Sebastian Rogers. Anyone with information can contact the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office at (615) 451-3838 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Sebastian was 5 feet, 5 inches tall and around 110 to 115 pounds when he was last seen. He has brown hair and eyes that look hazel or brown, according to the FBI.
“Sebastian’s disappearance has deeply affected our community. … Staying united and supportive will bring us closer to the answers that we’re looking for,” Detective Brandon Carter, Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, said.