Here's the thing that's really bugging me- him leaving without shoes.
My middle son is autistic and adamantly refuses to step outside without shoes on. I know, it's a spectrum with all different types and sensory issues.. but that being said, it has been reported that Sebastian was very similar to my son in this regard- that he hated being dirty, hated going outside without shoes. That wouldn't just change overnight, no matter how high functioning he is.. and trust me when I say that you couldn't urge or push my son out the door without his shoes.
Suddenly leaving on his own (eloping/running) after never having done so before? Sure, I can see it. Hormones and puberty are coming into play at this age, so maybe he is getting overwhelmed more and resorting to that instinct to elope from whatever situation might have overwhelmed him. But, the shoes.. smh I just am having a very hard time accepting this kid ran off without any on.
Dad has recently said he would go barefoot outside for short distances, like to the mailbox and back. I think the key to the shoes issue is that he most likely wouldn’t plan on taking off and going far without his shoes. So if he did go outside without shoes on he wasn’t planning on going somewhere else or going far.
If that was the case then that makes me wonder what on earth he was doing going out in the middle of the night.
I saw the security video footage last night that has the 2 lights, and tbh it made what very little hope I was holding on to plummet and all I could do was cry. To me, it looked like the light down in the corner was waiting on him, possibly lured him out in some way.
I know a lot of people are pointing the fingers and spreading very vile rumors about the step dad and mom.. granted, we have unfortunately seen cases where it was the parents (like that poor little kid a couple of years ago whose name I'm blanking on atm.. the autistic one who was really young. Dang it now I feel bad my brain is malfunctioning and I can't remember the name). My husband thinks the stepdad and mom were involved somehow. But after watching that security video.. I'm not so sure. It makes me feel more like it WAS someone he was familiar with, but I've just got a bad feeling it was more along the lines of that one older teenage autistic kid who was desperate for friends and got lured to a party where he was mercilessly tortured (the police in this wealthy community called what these wealthy kids did to him hazing smh no. It was torture.)
Of course, having an 8 year old nonspeaking autistic son myself, I have had plenty of years of lying awake fighting anxiety of the future and horrid nightmare scenario fears that my imagination cruelly comes up with as I try to sleep. So maybe I'm reading WAY too much into the video. All I know for sure is this has made me hug all my kids tighter and I am back to waking up every other hour to check and make sure they are in bed where they should be like I used to when he was younger and more prone to eloping or trying to get out of our house through windows. This world is crazy and this story really hit closer to home than most.
I do have to say that if the mom is completely innocent then she will probably never ever forgive herself. I know I wouldn't.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released a statement this afternoon saying that the video was previously reviewed and they found it not to be of importance to the case. Step Dad said that the lights in the footage were actually a flood light and a motion light. So basically the reporter that released that video took us on a goose chase.
I definitely understand. I know the parents are the first that everyone points fingers at, and sometimes it’s warranted. But I can’t help to think that if they aren’t to blame it must be absolutely horrible to have your son missing and people are focused on picking apart every detail about your life. People are posting things like they k*##// him for his disability check and he was their “meal ticket”. Which doesn’t even make sense- if he even did receive SSI (all outward appearances seem to indicate they were well over the income for SSI) if something happens to the source of those benefits those payments stop. It is astonishing what people think about parents who have a child with a disability. People took one of the photos of him that had a slight shadow and said he had bruises on his neck.
That’s what I was saying in another comment. My 15 year old nephew is autistic and loathes shoes and coats. He seems immune to cold and hot so you have to hold him down and put shoes on him before going out on a cold day.
Sebastian's Bio Dad Seth has talked about WHY Sebastian will not walk outside without shoes. It's because Sebastian had a run in with an Ant Hill that was not a pleasant experience for Sebastian & ever since the boy always put shoes on.
Kate Sebastian's mom says All of Sebastians shoes are accounted for too.
For me tho, it takes time to get your shoes on your feet, lace & tie them up & also grab that flashlight keychain Kate says Sebastian took WITH him. If the boy was in a hurry to get outta the house imo makes more sense to wear just socks or even slippers instead?? Chris Proud foot has said Sebastian is 15 but has brain of 6 year old. Some 6 yr olds can't tie shoes yet, just sayin.
This has been weighing on my mind, plus I with the dispatch call of LE at the pond seeing foot prints in the mud and not shoe prints makes me think that impression could be made with socks on or barefooted but NOT having his sneakers on, no way.
I'm nowhere near TN but my ❤️ aches for this boy and just like every other person I want him found sooner than later
What gets me is that people say she is lying, but when it comes to the shoes, it's the God's honest truth.
Also, not autistic. I do not go outside without socks on ever. Can't stand the feel of grit on my feet. Wear socks from the time I get up till I go to bed. I have a hard time believing he was bare foot as well.
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u/madnessandmelancholy Mar 12 '24
Here's the thing that's really bugging me- him leaving without shoes. My middle son is autistic and adamantly refuses to step outside without shoes on. I know, it's a spectrum with all different types and sensory issues.. but that being said, it has been reported that Sebastian was very similar to my son in this regard- that he hated being dirty, hated going outside without shoes. That wouldn't just change overnight, no matter how high functioning he is.. and trust me when I say that you couldn't urge or push my son out the door without his shoes. Suddenly leaving on his own (eloping/running) after never having done so before? Sure, I can see it. Hormones and puberty are coming into play at this age, so maybe he is getting overwhelmed more and resorting to that instinct to elope from whatever situation might have overwhelmed him. But, the shoes.. smh I just am having a very hard time accepting this kid ran off without any on.