YouTuber appears in court after missing Sumner County teen’s stepfather filed order of protection

GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — The mother and stepfather of a missing boy just won a legal battle against a YouTuber who covered the case.

Everything started when 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers disappeared on February 26.

A month later, true crime social media influencer, “Bullhorn Betty” began posting videos about the case. In July, Sebastian’s mother filed an order of protection against the YouTuber. The following month, “Bullhorn Betty,” whose real name is Andrea Griffin, was arrested for violating that order.

Griffin was back in court Thursday for another hearing on a protection order filed by Sebastian’s stepfather, Christopher Proudfoot. He joined the growing list of parties worried for their safety.

Griffin’s defense argued for the YouTuber’s First Amendment rights, explaining that she expresses only her own opinion and has covered multiple missing persons cases in a similar manner.

“I have been covering this case for seven months, several videos a day,” Griffin testified.

Griffin also testified that she had never initiated direct contact with Christopher or met him, stating that she recognized him only through media interviews and alternative media. However, Griffin added that she would visit his neighborhood to allegedly get a better understanding of the layout and put up missing persons fliers for Sebastian.

At one point, she also confirmed that she visited Proudfoot’s place of work. In response, the prosecution submitted a nine-minute video as evidence. In one of the clips, Griffin insinuated that Sebastian’s mother and stepfather knew how to dispose of a body.

“Katie and Chris are trained to kill, period,” Griffin was quoted saying in the video submitted for evidence. “They are trained not only how to kill, but how to handle that.”

Griffin added that she believes they may have had something to do with Sebastian’s disappearance.

“I feel that she got rid of her defective child for one that wasn’t, if you want my truth,” Griffin said in the video.

Law enforcement has said there’s no evidence the family has anything to do with Sebastian’s disappearance. Christopher also took the stand, saying he felt threatened by Griffin.

“When your client goes to my job, my house, my campsites, yes, that is stalking,” Christopher said while on the stand.

The judge determined she was harassing Christopher and granted the order of protection, citing the creation and distribution of a t-shirt with Christopher’s face on it and the posting of fliers with the alleged intention of gaining attention from Christopher as the reasoning.

“She states that she is an investigative journalist and that she reports on news commentary,” Judge Rob Blanton said in the general session court. “Somewhere along the lines, this turned not into the pursuit to find Sebastian Rogers. It turned into a personal vendetta.”

Seth Rogers, Sebastian’s biological father and advocate for Griffin, said the judge’s decision hinders the voices helping to search for his son.

“What I heard today is: you’re not allowed to have free speech,” Seth said. “You’re not allowed to sit there and ask…the hard questions and get an answer. Those are two or four scared cowards, in my opinion, and if they’re going to try to take away one of my voices. They’re going to have to get ready for my voice.”

News 2 spoke with Christopher after the hearing ended. He did not want to go on camera, but said that he hopes the focus remains on the search for Sebastian.

“The goal is still the same: find Sebastian,” Seth added. “He needs to be found and brought home that loves him.”

Griffin’s next court appearance will be on November 20 for six counts of a protection order violation.

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