WHAT HAPPENED TO NOAH PRESGROVE?
COMANCHE — Today, we're stepping outside of Caddo County because there's another Oklahoma case that has stayed with us ever since it happened and continues to weigh heavy on our hearts. Every time we happen to drive through Stephens County, we pass those signs by the side of the road asking, "What happened to Noah?" And every time, they always stop us in our tracks. Because to us, they're more than just signs along the highway. They're a constant reminder that a family is still out there waiting for answers, waiting for justice for their beloved Noah.
So, that's why we're sharing Noah's story. We want to remember who Noah was, honor the life he lived, and continue bringing awareness to what happened to him in hopes that someone, somewhere, finally finds the courage to come forward. As you'll see throughout this case, many of the witness statements don't line up. Different people have told different versions of what happened, making it incredibly difficult to piece together exactly what took place during Noah's final hours. We are hopeful that maybe one day, that will change.
According to Yahoo! News, Noah was a very talented athlete who loved sports. He played football, ran track and cross country, and wrestled during high school. His friends and family remember him as selfless, kind, and the type of person who could make just about anyone laugh. After graduating from high school, Noah planned to take a year to figure out what direction he wanted his life to go, and he had even considered joining the military. Like many young kids, he had his whole future ahead of him and countless possibilities waiting. Sadly, he never got the chance to live out those dreams.
According to publicly available records, at approximately 5:53 a.m., two separate truck drivers traveling along Highway 81 each noticed something unusual lying in the roadway. Both pulled over to investigate, and when they realized it was a person, they positioned their trucks to block traffic and protect the scene until authorities arrived. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation all responded to the scene.
The records state that Noah was found in the fetal position, unclothed except for two mismatched shoes. He was wearing an Adidas shoe on his left foot and a Hey Dude shoe on his right, with both shoes reportedly having grass, dirt, and other debris tangled in their laces. Investigators also found several items near where Noah was found. According to the records, they found a pair of white shorts, part of a tooth, fragments of a white metal chain, and two clumps of hair. One clump was found on Noah's backside, while the other was located nearby in the road.
At first, the authorities may have thought it might have been a hit-and-run. However, the scene didn't show any signs of vehicle debris anywhere. Noah's shoes were also still on, and some have questioned whether the Hey Dude shoe, being a slip-on style, would have remained on his foot if he had been struck by a vehicle. That said, whether a shoe stays on or comes off during a collision depends on many factors, so that detail alone doesn't determine what happened.
During their investigation, the authorities learned that a Labor Day weekend and birthday celebration was held over several days, from Sept. 1st through Sept. 4th. Noah attended the party on Sept. 1st and later returned home on Sept. 2nd to check in on his grandmother, whom he lived with, before eventually going back to the party later that weekend.
After Noah came back to the party, the exact timeline of what happened next becomes unclear. According to publicly available reports, Noah was involved in an ATV rollover at some point during the night. After the rollover occurred, it's been reported that he was placed in a shower to clean off. It's also been alleged that Noah may have gotten into an argument sometime later that night. However, accounts differ on who the argument may have been with. Some reports suggest it involved his girlfriend, while others indicate it may have been with other partygoers. Because the witness accounts are inconsistent, it's been very hard to determine exactly what happened during Noah's final hours and what may have led up to his tragic death.
According to witness accounts, Noah was last seen around 3:30 a.m. After that, nearly two hours passed before he was found along Highway 81. Because many of the witness statements don't match, investigators have been unable to establish a clear timeline of what happened during those final hours.
And before we continue, we do want to give everyone a heads-up. The next part of this story discusses the findings of Noah's autopsy report. We know those details aren't easy to read, and they aren’t easy for us to write about either. If you'd rather not continue, please stop reading now.
According to the medical examiner's report, Noah suffered devastating blunt force injuries to his head and neck. The report documents numerous cuts and abrasions, broken teeth, extensive bleeding beneath the scalp, multiple skull fractures, bleeding and swelling around the brain, severe brain injuries, and multiple fractures in his neck. It also notes that portions of his skull and upper spine were no longer properly aligned because of the force involved.
Reading through those findings is difficult. Behind every medical term is a 19-year-old young man whose life ended far too soon. A son. A grandson. A friend. Someone who should have had decades of life ahead of him.
Now, we do want to make it clear that this next part has not been officially confirmed by investigators. However, several forensic experts and commentators who have publicly discussed Noah's case have said they don't believe his injuries appear to be consistent with a typical pedestrian hit-and-run.
According to those experts, Noah's most significant injuries were from the waist up, and there were no reported fractures to his arms or legs. They have explained that, in many pedestrian vehicle collisions, the most significant impact injuries are often seen in the lower portions of the body. Based on that, some have questioned whether Noah's injuries fit the pattern of a typical vehicle strike. Of course, these are opinions based on publicly available information and are not official conclusions from investigators or the medical examiner. They don't tell us exactly what happened to Noah, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain unresolved.
What started as a tragic case in Oklahoma has grown into one that people across the nation continue to follow to this day. National news outlets have covered it. Forensic experts have discussed it. Podcasters have spent countless hours trying to understand what happened. Most recently, Nancy Grace featured Noah's case on one of her nationally recognized programs, bringing his story to an even larger audience.
And most importantly, Noah's family continues searching for answers to this day. They've spoken publicly, worked with investigators, and refused to let Noah's name and story be forgotten. Noah's estate has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several individuals connected to the Labor Day weekend party. The lawsuit alleges negligence and wrongful conduct surrounding Noah's death. Those allegations are part of an ongoing civil case.
Since Noah's death, countless theories have circulated, but the criminal investigation remains unresolved to this day. Investigators have not officially ruled Noah's death a homicide, and no criminal suspect has been identified. Exactly how Noah suffered the injuries that took his life remains unknown to this day.
That means that nearly three years later, many of the same questions still haven't been answered. No one has publicly explained what happened during those missing hours before Noah was found. No one has publicly explained how he suffered such devastating injuries or why he was discovered the way he was.
Someone out there may know what happened. Whether it's one person or several, someone may hold information that could help investigators better understand Noah's final hours. We hope that whoever they may be, they take a moment to put themselves in Noah's family's shoes. Imagine not knowing what happened to your son, your grandson, your brother, or your best friend. Imagine waking up every single day hoping today will finally be the day someone comes forward with the truth.
No family should have to live with that kind of uncertainty. If you know something, no matter how small you think it may be, we hope you'll do the right thing and share that information with investigators.
Noah's family deserves answers. And Noah deserves the truth.
Until his family gets the answers they deserve, we will keep Noah's story alive.
