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 #1Who was Ted Wall, the 22-year-old companion aboard the boat, and what was his fate?
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evidence
Lead #2Why has no wreckage, debris, or bodies ever been recovered from a vessel that disappeared in a well-monitored fishing area?
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clue
Lead #3What exactly caused the engine freeze plug problem, and could it have been deliberately sabotaged?
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 a massive U.S. Coast Guard search covering 104,000 square miles with 47 aircraft and 10 surface units, no trace of the vessel, crew, or debris has ever been found. After more than four decades, the circumstances remain unclear—whether accidental or foul play—and the case continues to seek any information that might finally resolve what happened that day at sea.
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.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4Were there any witnesses on other boats in the area who observed the vessel or any distress signals on November 13, 1980?
🎯
suspect
Lead #5Could this have been foul play rather than an accident, and if so, what motive or evidence might suggest it?
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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 on his 23-foot Sea Ox fiberglass boat during a fishing trip in the Gulf Stream approximately 16 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras Inlet. Companion Ted Wall, age 22, was also aboard. The boat experienced outboard engine problems with the freeze plug.
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1980-11-13
Disappearance at sea
Both Mays and Wall disappeared. The vessel, crew, and any debris were never located despite extensive search efforts.
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1980-11-13
Coast Guard search initiated
U.S. Coast Guard coordinated a massive search operation covering 104,000 square miles involving 47 aircraft sorties and 10 surface units. No trace found during initial search or in subsequent 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 18, 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 18, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2023723000
You can remain anonymous