Blake Rogers, a 56-year-old Lennox Head restaurateur associated with Chido Cantina, has died after he was reported missing from East Ballina on September 20, 2026. Local reporting on September 23 said Rogers was found deceased and that police indicated there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. His family and community are mourning, while a fundraiser has been established to support his wife Cilla, their three children and the future of Chido Cantina. The cause of death and funeral arrangements have not been publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Introduction
The Blake Rogers obituary story has emerged from a tragic missing-person case that has deeply affected the Lennox Head and Ballina communities in New South Wales, Australia.
Rogers, 56, was known locally as the owner of Chido Cantina, a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Lennox Head that he ran with his wife, Cilla. He was also a father of three children, identified by the family’s fundraiser as Xanthe, Zane and Ashlee.
NSW Police initially appealed for public assistance after Rogers was reported missing from East Ballina on September 20, 2026. Police said he was last seen on Easter Parade at about 12:30 p.m. and described his disappearance as out of character.
Later local reporting said Rogers was found deceased. Ballina News Daily reported on September 23 that police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. The development has since prompted an outpouring of support for his family and the local business community.
Because the circumstances remain sensitive, it is important to separate what has been confirmed from details that have not been publicly released. There is currently no verified cause of death or confirmed funeral schedule in the sources reviewed.
What Happened to Blake Rogers?
Blake Rogers was reported missing after he could not be located or contacted following his last known sighting in East Ballina.
According to the original NSW Police appeal, Rogers was last seen on Easter Parade, East Ballina, around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Police said officers from the Richmond Police District began inquiries after concerns were raised about his welfare.
The initial police description identified Rogers as approximately 170–175 centimetres tall, with a medium build, grey or blond mid-length hair and a moustache. Police said he was last seen wearing a white shirt, multicoloured board shorts, black thongs, a black cap and black glasses.
The police appeal asked anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact Ballina Police or Crime Stoppers.
The situation later changed from a missing-person search to a death report.
Ballina News Daily reported on September 23 that Rogers had been found deceased soon after the public appeal was circulated and that police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
Key Details About Blake Rogers
The following information is supported by the available police, local news and family fundraising material:
- Name: Blake Rogers
- Age: 56
- Community: Lennox Head and Northern Rivers, New South Wales
- Last confirmed sighting: September 20, 2026
- Last known location: Easter Parade, East Ballina
- Business: Chido Cantina in Lennox Head
- Wife: Cilla
- Children: Xanthe, Zane and Ashlee
- Known locally for: Hospitality, family business and community involvement
- Death: Reported after the missing-person search
- Police assessment: Local reporting says police found no suspicious circumstances
- Cause of death: Not publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed
- Funeral arrangements: Not publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed
Who Was Blake Rogers?
Blake Rogers was a Northern Rivers local who became well known through his involvement with Chido Cantina in Lennox Head.
According to the family fundraiser, Rogers and his wife Cilla were both born and raised in the Northern Rivers region. They had invested their time and energy into their family-owned Mexican restaurant since 2023.
For customers, Rogers was not simply the person behind a local restaurant.
The family described Chido Cantina as a place created for the community, with Rogers playing a central role in its atmosphere and day-to-day presence.
A 2025 review of the restaurant also identified Blake Rogers as its new owner and described Chido Cantina as a popular Mexican dining venue in Lennox Head.
That local connection helps explain why news of his death generated such a strong response across the Northern Rivers.
Blake Rogers and Chido Cantina
Chido Cantina was an important part of Rogers’ public identity in the local community.
The restaurant is located in Lennox Head, in New South Wales’ Northern Rivers region.
A business-directory record identifies Kasey 1 Pty Ltd, trading as Chido Cantina, and lists Blake Rogers as a director. The business is associated with an East Ballina address and the Chido Cantina restaurant operation.
A 2025 local restaurant review described Rogers as the owner and noted that the business had developed from the former Pancho Villa restaurant location.
The family fundraiser says Rogers and Cilla had poured their energy into Chido Cantina since 2023.
Following his death, the restaurant temporarily closed while the family grieves and considers what comes next.
That means Rogers’ death has both a personal and practical impact. His family is grieving while also facing the future of a business that they built together.
Remembering Blake Rogers
The family fundraiser presents Rogers primarily through his relationships with his wife, children, friends and the local community.
It describes him as a devoted husband to Cilla and a proud father to Xanthe, Zane and Ashlee.
The fundraiser also remembers his generosity, kindness and smile, describing him as someone who made people feel welcome and valued.
Those descriptions are important because they come from a fundraising appeal created on behalf of his family rather than from anonymous social-media commentary.
Ballina News Daily similarly reported that the community response had been substantial, with people supporting the family following his sudden death.
The coverage illustrates how a local business can become closely connected to the identity of a community.
For many people, their memories of Rogers are likely tied not only to his family but also to the restaurant where they encountered him.
What Did NSW Police Say?
The original NSW Police statement concerned Rogers’ disappearance.
Police announced on September 21 that they were seeking public assistance to locate the 56-year-old after he was last seen in East Ballina.
The police notice said his disappearance was considered out of character and that there were concerns for his welfare. Officers from the Richmond Police District had begun inquiries into his whereabouts.
At that stage, police had not announced his death.
Later local reporting said the search had ended with Rogers being found deceased and that police indicated there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
This distinction is important when reviewing the online record because the original police appeal can still appear in search results even though later local reporting provides an updated account.
What Is Known About the Cause of Death?
A confirmed cause of death has not been publicly established in the sources reviewed for this article.
The statement that police found no suspicious circumstances should not be interpreted as a medical cause of death.
Those are separate issues.
A person can die without police suspecting criminal involvement, while the exact medical cause may still require examination or remain private.
For that reason, claims circulating online about a specific cause should not be repeated as fact unless they are confirmed by police, a medical authority, the family or another reliable source.
The family fundraiser does not provide a medical explanation for Rogers’ death.
Are Blake Rogers’ Funeral Details Available?
At the time of writing, no confirmed funeral date, venue or memorial-service schedule was identified in the reliable sources reviewed.
That information may be released later by the Rogers family, a funeral home or another authorized source.
Because funeral arrangements are personal and can change, readers should be cautious about social-media posts or obituary websites that publish dates without identifying a family or funeral-home source.
A responsible obituary should therefore acknowledge that the arrangements remain unconfirmed rather than filling in missing details.
Support for Blake Rogers’ Family
Following Rogers’ death, a fundraiser was created to support his family and help with financial commitments connected to Chido Cantina.
The GoFundMe campaign was organized by Fabiana Vieira Severino on behalf of Xanthe Rogers, Blake’s daughter. The campaign identifies Cilla as Blake’s wife and Xanthe, Zane and Ashlee as their children.
The fundraiser explains that Chido Cantina has closed while the family takes time to grieve, come together and consider the future of the business.
It also says donations are intended to provide the family with financial breathing room and help address ongoing commitments associated with the restaurant.
A community fundraising campaign is not an official obituary, but in this case it provides first-hand family-associated information about Rogers’ relationships and the immediate impact of his death.
Why Blake Rogers’ Death Matters to the Lennox Head Community
The response to Rogers’ death demonstrates his connection to the Northern Rivers community.
Local reporting described a significant response to the family’s fundraiser, with community members contributing after learning of his death.
Chido Cantina was a family business, meaning Rogers’ death affects more than his immediate relatives.
There are also employees, customers, suppliers and other people connected to the restaurant.
For local customers, the restaurant represented a familiar gathering place. For the family, it was also a business they had built together.
The decision to close temporarily gives the family time to grieve before making decisions about the future.
What Happens Next?
The immediate priority is the Rogers family’s grieving process.
The fundraiser says Chido Cantina has closed while the family comes together and considers its future. No permanent decision about the restaurant was identified in the sources reviewed.
Funeral or memorial arrangements may be announced separately.
There may also be additional information about the circumstances of Rogers’ death if authorities release further details. At present, however, there is no reliable basis for speculating about a cause of death.
For readers following the story, the most reliable sources are NSW Police for official investigative information and the family or an authorized funeral provider for memorial arrangements.
A Note About Online Reports
The Blake Rogers story has generated multiple online pages using terms such as “obituary,” “death,” “found dead” and “cause of death.”
Some of these pages repeat information without providing independent evidence.
The timeline is therefore important.
The official NSW Police appeal confirms the September 20 disappearance and the September 21 public appeal.
Later, Ballina News Daily reported on September 23 that Rogers had been found deceased and that police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
The family fundraiser independently confirms that the family is grieving Rogers’ death and identifies his wife, children and connection to Chido Cantina.
Those sources provide a stronger foundation than repeating unsupported claims about his cause of death or funeral arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Blake Rogers?
Blake Rogers was a 56-year-old Northern Rivers businessman and the owner of Chido Cantina in Lennox Head. He was also a husband and father of three children.
What happened to Blake Rogers?
Rogers was reported missing from East Ballina after he was last seen on September 20, 2026. Later local reporting said he was found deceased.
When was Blake Rogers last seen?
NSW Police said Blake Rogers was last seen on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Easter Parade in East Ballina.
Who was Blake Rogers’ wife?
Blake Rogers’ wife was Cilla Rogers. A family fundraising campaign describes the couple as Northern Rivers locals who built Chido Cantina together.
Did Blake Rogers have children?
Yes. The family fundraiser identifies Blake Rogers as the father of Xanthe, Zane and Ashlee.
Was Blake Rogers the owner of Chido Cantina?
Yes. Rogers was associated with Chido Cantina, a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Lennox Head. Business records identify him as a director of the company trading as Chido Cantina, while local reporting identifies him as the restaurant’s owner.
What was the cause of Blake Rogers’ death?
The cause of death has not been publicly confirmed in the reliable sources reviewed. Local reporting says police indicated there were no suspicious circumstances, but that does not establish a medical cause of death.
Are Blake Rogers’ funeral arrangements available?
No confirmed funeral date, venue or memorial arrangements were found in the sources reviewed. Readers should look for information from the family, an authorized funeral provider or a trusted local notice.
What happened to Chido Cantina after Blake Rogers’ death?
The family fundraiser says Chido Cantina has temporarily closed while the family grieves and considers the future of the restaurant. It does not state that the business is permanently closed.
