The person at the center of this case
Harold Jeffrey Mays
Missing Person · Open - Unsolved
45 years waiting · since 1980
Missing Person: Harold Jeffrey Mays
Justice for Harold Jeffrey Mays — the trail went cold in 1980, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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person
Lead #1What happened to Ted Wall, Mays' 22-year-old companion? Was he also lost, or does he have information about the incident?
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evidence
Lead #2The boat experienced engine freeze plug problems—was this mechanical failure the cause of the accident, or could it have been deliberately sabotaged?
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vehicle
Lead #3Why was no wreckage, debris, or any trace of the 23-foot Sea Ox fiberglass boat ever found despite one of the largest maritime search operations?
Harold Jeffrey Mays, 21, disappeared on November 13, 1980, while fishing aboard a 23-foot Sea Ox boat approximately 16 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina with companion Ted Wall. The boat experienced engine problems in the Gulf Stream, and despite an extensive U.S. Coast Guard search covering 104,000 square miles with 47 aircraft sorties and 10 surface units, no trace of the vessel, crew, or debris was ever found. Over four decades later, the circumstances remain unclear—whether a tragic boating accident or something more—and the case continues to seek any information that might finally answer what happened that November afternoon.
Case
#2431
United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, District 5
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Could foul play have been involved, or was this purely a tragic boating accident in the Gulf Stream?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP14742. Missing person: Harold Jeffrey Mays.
Last known contact: 1980-11-13 in Cape Hatteras, Dare, NC. Circumstances: Missing at sea aboard a 23' Sea Ox fiberglass boat.
Was last known/seen alive on his boat during a fishing trip in or near the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean out 16 miles southeast from the inlet off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on 11-13-80 at 1:30 PM. Allegedly experienced outboard engine problems with the engine "freeze plug".
Mays, aged 21 was in the company of another young man named Ted Wall, age 22. Possibly a boating accident or may be related to foul play.
US Coast Guard coordinated efforts of search of 104,000 square miles of ocean involving 47 aircraft sorties and 10 surface units. No trace of vessel, crew or debris found during search or in subsequent 3+ decades.
Companion case to NamUs MP14851. Demographics: 21 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 5 ft 10 in, 175 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Hazel. Clothing and accessories: Clothing: Would have been dressed for off-shore ocean fishing in November.
Likely layered clothing and foul weather maritime style gear.; Jewelry: For purposes of documenting negative pertinents, never wore jewelry of any kind.. Investigating agency: United States Coast Guard Investigative Service | District 5 Case 0093 - 13 | 1980-11-13.
Timeline of Events
👁️
1980-11-13
13:30Last known contact
Harold Jeffrey Mays, age 21, last seen alive aboard 23' Sea Ox fiberglass boat during fishing trip in Gulf Stream approximately 16 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras inlet with companion Ted Wall, age 22. Boat experienced outboard engine problems with freeze plug.
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1980-11-13
Disappearance at sea
Mays and Wall disappeared; vessel, crew, and debris never located despite immediate search efforts.
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1980-11-13 onwards
Extensive Coast Guard search
U.S. Coast Guard coordinated search of 104,000 square miles involving 47 aircraft sorties and 10 surface units. No trace found during search or in subsequent 3+ decades.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 13, 1980 at 1:30 PM
Last Updated:June 24, 2026
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2023723000
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Case Information
Incident:November 13, 1980 at 1:30 PM
Last Updated:June 24, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2023723000
You can remain anonymous