Okla. Teen Noah Presgrove Survived ATV Accident, Returned to Party Hours Before He Died, Autopsy Reveals (2024)

  • Noah Presgrove, 19, was found dead on the side of the highway in Terral, Oklahoma on Sept. 4, 2023
  • His full autopsy report, which was obtained by PEOPLE, notes brain swelling and a fractured skull among his many injuries
  • "The report answers some questions but also raises many more," Noah’s brother, Dailen Presgrove, tells PEOPLE

The full autopsy report in the bizarre case of an Oklahoma teen found dead on the side of the highway on Sept. 4, 2023, provides new details about Noah Presgrove’s final hours.

According to the nine-page full autopsy report, which was obtained by PEOPLE, authorities said that "further investigation" revealed that Presgrove, 19, "was at a house party and drinking" on Sunday, Sept. 3 — and that after leaving at one point, he “rode an ATV ranger vehicle with several men that had a roll over incident."

Presgrove was still "alive following the incident" and then “returned to the party where he got into an argument," according to the narrative describing the circ*mstances of his death.

He then “left the house party” and was found dead the next morning on the Jefferson County highway by a passing truck driver at 5:53 a.m., per the full autopsy report.

But how he got there remains a mystery.

Okla. Teen Noah Presgrove Survived ATV Accident, Returned to Party Hours Before He Died, Autopsy Reveals (1)

In the full report, the medical examiner said that Noah died of “multiple blunt force injuries” to the head, neck, torso and extremities, enduring among a two-page list of injuries “swelling of the brain,” with multiple brain lacerations including on the cerebellum and temporal lobe, “basal skull fractures splitting the middle base of skull into two” parts and multiple rib fractures.

A molar tooth had broken in half and he had also sustained a “laceration on the left surface of the tongue,” along with four cervical neck fractures.

Okla. Teen Noah Presgrove Survived ATV Accident, Returned to Party Hours Before He Died, Autopsy Reveals (2)

Noah Presgrove’s Siblings Say His Autopsy Report 'Leaves a Lot of Things Up in the Air’

“At this time, what transpired on how the body was found on the road having multiple blunt force injuries is unknown,” medical examiner Leonardo Roquero wrote of his findings, in which the manner of Noah’s death remains “undetermined.” (The report lists Noah by the name Noah Alexander Nichols, using his mother’s maiden name.)

Presgrove, who was naked, was found wearing only mismatched shoes: an Adidas on his left and a Hey Dudes on his right, each with “grass and debris” clumped in the laces, per the autopsy report.

“Three pieces of a white metal chain” and “part of a tooth” were several feet from his body, along with a pair of his white printed shorts, per the autopsy report. A clump of hair was in the highway lane, and another chunk of hair was on his right butt cheek “without blood or tissue.”

“A drawing in black ink of a stick-figure person” was also etched into the side of his right thigh.

Okla. Teen Noah Presgrove Survived ATV Accident, Returned to Party Hours Before He Died, Autopsy Reveals (4)

Cause of Death Revealed for Noah Presgrove, Okla. Teen Found Dead on Highway Wearing Only Shoes

Oklahoma’s Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for an updated comment on May 13, but earlier this month police confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement that they are continuing to investigate the case, but are not investigating his death as a murder.

Noah Presgrove Died of 'Multiple Blunt Force Injuries' — But Authorities Are Not Investigating Death as Murder

A toxicology report included with the autopsy report showed that forensic toxicologist Angelica Harper conducted a panel of drug tests for amphetamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, opiates, PCP, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.

None of those drugs were detected in Noah's system, although alcohol was. Harper went on to note that the tests are not designed to detect oxycodone, methadone, or clonazepam.

Okla. Teen Noah Presgrove Survived ATV Accident, Returned to Party Hours Before He Died, Autopsy Reveals (5)

Noah Presgrove’s Brother Recalls Getting Call That 19-Year-Old Was Found Dead: 'That Drive Felt Like a Year'

Noah’s brother, Dailen Presgrove, tells PEOPLE that "the report answers some questions but also raises many more."

Months after graduating high school and with an eye on joining the military, Noah was described by family as a four-sport athlete and class clown well-liked in his small town. Emancipated at 17, Noah was living with his grandmother who helped raise him at the time of his death.

In the eight months since Noah’s death, rumors have swirled through the tight-knit county about the circ*mstances leading to Noah’s death — and Dailen, whose family has started a GoFundMe to cover the costs of hiring a private investigator, tells PEOPLE he doesn’t know what to believe.

“We’re still at square one,” Dailen says. “We desperately need more cooperation from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and we’re looking to get an outsider experienced in these situations.”

Okla. Teen Noah Presgrove Survived ATV Accident, Returned to Party Hours Before He Died, Autopsy Reveals (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6126

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.