Baton Rouge man arrested in Mississippi linked to stepfather’s disappearance

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A man from Baton Rouge was arrested in Mississippi over the weekend in connection with the disappearance of his stepfather.

Ian Seghers, 34, was wanted by the Baton Rouge Police Department on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was arrested and booked on the warrant into the Jackson County Adult Detention Center in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He will be extradited to Louisiana.

Police said Seghers’ stepfather Keith Rowland was reported missing earlier this month, but they believe he may have been missing for some time before that. A welfare check was conducted on March 9. Police documents noted that Seghers and Rowland did not have a good relationship.

According to an arrest warrant, Seghers lived in a camper on Rowland’s property. At the property, officers found Rowland and the van missing. Authorities later learned Rowland’s cell phone hadn’t shown activity since March 1.

Rowland’s white Ford van was seen in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on March 10 and was not seen again until authorities received a call from a family friend. The friend told St. Tammany Parish deputies they had seen Seghers driving the van in Pearl River. The affidavit states the friend also told deputies that Seghers asked for a shovel “so he could bury a dog” before walking into the woods.

A spokesperson for BRPD said the case remains a missing persons investigation but has evidence that raises concerns about possible foul play.

Seghers’ brother Sean Crawford has started a GoFundMe. The fundraiser’s description said the family is still searching for Rowland’s body and has started making funeral arrangements.

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