Nearly two years after 19-year-old Noah Presgrove was found dead on a deserted Oklahoma highway, his family is still searching for answers—and now, they’ve taken legal action.
Convinced he didn’t just die by accident, they’ve filed a wrongful death lawsuit against seven individuals and a local store, claiming Noah was beaten to death and left to die.
His tragic story, widely followed online by true-crime communities, has left many asking: What really happened on that long Labor Day weekend?
A Party, a Disappearance, and a Body Found
Noah’s body was discovered early on September 4, 2023, on a lonely stretch of US-81 near Terral, Oklahoma.
He was found wearing nothing but shoes. Scattered around him were several of his teeth.
The scene was as disturbing as it was confusing.
He had spent the long weekend at a 22nd birthday bash about a mile from where he was found.
The party, heavily documented on social media, reportedly went on for four days. It’s where Noah was last seen alive.
Despite significant head and upper-body trauma, local authorities haven’t classified his death as a homicide.
But his family believes otherwise—and they’ve had enough of the silence.
The Lawsuit Points Fingers—But Keeps Things Vague
In the lawsuit filed this week, Noah’s family claims he was beaten to death, either on purpose or as the result of reckless behavior.
The legal complaint doesn’t say exactly who delivered the fatal blows but insists that one or more of the seven people named are responsible.
It also doesn’t rule out that others may have been involved—unidentified individuals who have yet to be named.
They argue that even if the killing wasn’t intentional, it happened during a party that was “malicious, reckless, and in total disregard of Noah’s rights.”
Who’s Being Sued and Why?
Several of Noah’s close friends and their parents are named in the lawsuit.
That includes his best friend Jack Newton and his on-again, off-again girlfriend Carter Combs.
Jack is accused of buying the alcohol that contributed to Noah’s intoxication.
He allegedly purchased it from Napoli’s, a convenience store in Marlow, Oklahoma, which is also named in the suit for allegedly selling booze to minors.
Three young women—Carter Combs, Avery Jo Combs, and Logan Jernigan—are accused of throwing the party and providing alcohol to Noah, even after he was clearly drunk.
The lawsuit also calls out Jack’s father, Caleb Newton, for allowing Noah to ride or drive an ATV that allegedly flipped and may have injured him earlier that night.
A Murky Timeline, a Heated Argument, and a Missing Teen
As more details have emerged, a rough timeline has formed—one filled with inconsistencies.
Text messages and leaked interviews revealed a clash between Noah and Avery, possibly over a romantic situation.
He reportedly wanted to sleep in her bed but was turned away, upsetting him enough that he walked off alone into the night.
Another tense moment reportedly occurred between Noah and Jack, though Jack later described it as ending emotionally, with them crying and hugging.
At 3:41 a.m., a partygoer posted a selfie with the caption “well, Noah’s missing.”
Just two hours later, at 5:43 a.m., his body was found by a hauler and an energy supervisor, who both immediately called 911.
Conflicting Accounts and Troubling Clues
Jack told the Daily Mail he stumbled upon the scene around 6 a.m. while heading out to fish with his dad. But another guest, Kaden Pressy, said Jack came bursting into the house at 5:15 a.m. frantically shouting, “Noah is dead.”
Kaden also claims that when he saw Noah’s body, he was wearing black shorts—not the white pair reportedly found nearby.
And like many others, he couldn’t explain the absence of blood at the scene, despite Noah’s severe injuries.
Expert Opinion Supports the Beating Theory
Last year, internist Dr. Stuart Fischer reviewed Noah’s autopsy report for Daily Mail and came to a chilling conclusion: the injuries were too extensive and varied to be the result of a simple fall or accident.
He believes a violent beating is the most likely explanation, supporting what Noah’s family has said all along.
Noah’s blood alcohol level was measured at 0.14, and while that’s over the legal limit, it doesn’t explain how he ended up dead on the road, surrounded by his own teeth.
Online Sleuths Demand Justice
Since news of Noah’s death first broke, thousands have joined online communities—Reddit threads and Facebook groups—to try to piece together what really happened.
The general consensus among many is clear: Noah didn’t just wander off and die.
The lawsuit, though thin on hard evidence, is seen as a crucial step by those who have followed the case closely.
They’re hoping it will finally bring new attention, answers—and maybe even justice.
The Road Ahead
The Presgrove family is seeking at least $75,000 in damages, not just for funeral costs and emotional pain, but also punitive damages to hold the accused accountable.
Whether the case ever makes it to trial remains to be seen.
For now, the lawsuit is their latest—and perhaps most powerful—attempt to force action in a case that has gone unsolved for far too long.