Noah Presgrove Update: Family Files $75K Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Seven Individuals

The family of 19‑year‑old Noah Presgrove has launched a wrongful death lawsuit, seeking $75,000 (approx. £55,000), after what they describe as a tragic and mysterious incident that left the teen found dead along an Oklahoma highway in September 2023.

The civil complaint names seven individuals—four teenage partygoers, two property owners, and one adult supervisor—charging them with providing alcohol to minors, negligence, and contributing to his death.

A Night That Ended in Tragedy

On 4 September 2023, Noah's body was discovered under the pre-dawn sky on US Highway 81, near Terral, Oklahoma. Witnesses say he was naked except for mismatched slip-on shoes, with a pair of his shorts found some distance away, and no vehicle debris was present at the scene, despite suffering catastrophic head and spinal injuries. One witness described the scene as 'awful odd'.

The medical examiner's autopsy found fractures to the skull base, multiple neck breaks, brain lacerations, broken ribs and internal bleeding, ultimately ruling the cause of death as 'multiple blunt force injuries.' However, the manner of death remains officially classified as 'undetermined', with authorities ruling out a hit-and-run after finding no vehicle-related debris.

Recreating the Final Hours

Investigators and family members have pieced together fragments of Noah's last night. Court records and interviews reveal that on 3 September 2023, Noah attended a four‑day 22nd birthday party, drank alcohol, and was involved in an ATV rollover, after which he returned home alive. He later argued with a girlfriend and left the house alone at around 3:30 am.

Jack Newton, a close friend, recalls that Noah walked off from the party on foot. Hours later, he discovered Noah's body, describing how his friend had collapsed near the white line of the road, kneeling slightly and with a cracked skull and fractured spine.

Family Seeks Accountability

In their lawsuit filed in the Stephens County District Court on 23 June 2025, Noah's family allege that several individuals provided him with excessive alcohol despite his obvious inebriation. The complaint also accuses some participants of acting in a civil conspiracy, recklessly offering alcohol to minors and contributing to circumstances leading to his injuries.

They are seeking damages for funeral and medical costs, pain and suffering, lost companionship, and punitive damages, and are demanding a jury trial.

Legal Context

This is a civil lawsuit, meaning the estate must prove its case using the 'preponderance of the evidence' standard, lower than the criminal threshold of 'beyond reasonable doubt.' No criminal charges have been filed, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the State Bureau of Investigation currently classify the matter as suspicious but not a homicide.

Community in Shock and Grief

The local community has rallied to honour Noah's memory. A banner reading 'YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, SO WHY DON'T YOU HELP?' hangs outside a shop in Duncan, Oklahoma, urging anyone with information to come forward.

Noah's family also launched a GoFundMe in March 2024 to hire a private investigator, raising nearly $17,000 (approx. £12,500) to pursue independent leads.

Speculation vs Evidence

Uncertainties persist over how Noah sustained his injuries. With no vehicle parts at the scene, some forensic experts suggest he may have been thrown from a moving vehicle, while others point to the severity of his injuries as consistent with high-impact trauma, perhaps during an ATV crash or fight.

His siblings said his autopsy leaves 'a lot of things up in the air,' and that further investigation is essential to discovering the truth.

What Happens Next

The outcome of this civil suit could carry major consequences. If the court rules in favour of the estate, it would hold the defendants legally responsible and may encourage stricter enforcement of laws around underage drinking and party safety.

For Noah's family, a positive verdict could provide closure, or at least accountability, in a case that has left them grasping for answers. Even without criminal charges, this lawsuit represents their last legal avenue to understand exactly what happened that fateful early morning, and perhaps help prevent similar tragedies in the future.