A California man living in Brazil has been charged with putting his 13-year-old son in imminent danger after authorities say he secretly took the boy into a forest near Balneário Camboriú for a self-styled "digital detox" and a reenactment of the television program "Naked and Afraid."
Mark Alexander Cummings Rogers, 48, and the 13-year-old boy, both reported to have lived in Brazil for about six years, were first reported missing on Aug. 28 after the child failed to appear at school for several days, local media reported. The disappearance prompted a wide search that included missing-person posters and drone scans of the surrounding area.
Police investigators found the pair's cellphones abandoned at a construction site and discovered Cummings Rogers's Jeep, bearing U.S. license plates, nearby, according to Brazilian outlets. Authorities searched the man's apartment as part of the inquiry, and prosecutors later filed charges alleging he placed the child in imminent danger by taking him into the wilderness without informing family members or local officials.
The charge carries potential criminal penalties under Brazilian law for adults who expose minors to hazardous situations. Local authorities described the father as "unstable" in initial reports, though court filings and detailed accusations have not been released publicly. Media accounts say the father's stated aim was to go off the grid and emulate the format of the Survival Channel program "Naked and Afraid," which challenges adult contestants to survive extended periods in the wild without supplies.
Officials began the search after the boy missed school and relatives reported the pair missing, prompting local police to coordinate aerial and ground efforts. The discovery of abandoned electronic devices and a vehicle in the vicinity helped focus investigators' efforts, and the case drew attention in the community and national media because of the child's age and the apparent stunt-like motive.
Brazilian prosecutors moved to press charges after investigators concluded the father's actions created a real risk to the child's safety. Court dates and further procedural details were not immediately available in initial reports. Law enforcement and child protection authorities often cite the welfare of the minor as the primary concern in such cases and may pursue additional measures, including temporary protective custody, while criminal proceedings continue.
The case underscores growing concerns about parents engaging in extreme recreational or publicity-driven behavior that places children at risk. It also highlights challenges for foreign nationals living in Brazil when domestic authorities must weigh criminal liability alongside child welfare protections.
Local officials did not immediately provide further comment to international media. The father and boy's wider family in the United States have not issued public statements, according to available reports.
Prosecutors must now prove in court that Cummings Rogers's conduct met the legal standard for endangering a minor. The outcome will depend on evidence gathered during the police investigation, witness statements, and any forensic findings from the recovered devices and vehicle. The case will proceed through the Brazilian justice system, where pretrial hearings and determinations about potential penalties will be scheduled according to local procedure.