The person at the center of this case
Joseph Wayne McCartan
Missing Person · Open
18 years waiting · since 2008
Missing Person: Joseph Wayne McCartan
Justice for Joseph Wayne McCartan — the trail went cold in 2008, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1Was a body or any personal effects ever recovered from the water to confirm the overboard incident?
👁️
witness
Lead #2What crew members were present on the shrimping boat and what do their accounts reveal about the circumstances?
⏰
timeline
Lead #3What was the exact time of the incident and how long elapsed before the Coast Guard was notified?
Joseph Wayne McCartan, a 34-year-old shrimper from Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, went missing on August 3, 2008, after reportedly falling overboard from a shrimping boat in Texas waters. Despite a U.S. Coast Guard search and investigation, his fate remains unknown and no body has been recovered. The case highlights the dangers faced by commercial fishermen and the challenges of maritime rescue operations in open water.
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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.
📍
location
Lead #4What were the specific coordinates and water conditions in the Gulf of Mexico at the time of disappearance?
💡
clue
Lead #5Were there any signs of struggle, equipment malfunction, or other factors that might explain how he fell overboard?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP4163. Missing person: Joseph Wayne McCartan.
Last known contact: 2008-08-03 in N/A, Plaquemines, LA. Circumstances: Last seen on shrimping boat in Texas, presumed to have fallen overboard.
Was from Plaquemines Parish, LA. Reported missing with the U.S.
Coast Guard. Demographics: 34 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 5 ft 8 in, 180 lbs, hair: Black, eyes: Blue. Clothing and accessories: Clothing: usually wears white t-shirts, jeans, tennis shoes, and hat.
Investigating agency: United States Coast Guard District 8 | MISLE 328-91-40.
Timeline of Events
👤
2008-08-03
Last known contact and presumed overboard incident
Joseph Wayne McCartan was last seen on a shrimping boat in Texas waters and is presumed to have fallen overboard on this date.
🕵️
2008-08-03
Coast Guard report filed
Reported missing to the U.S. Coast Guard. Case number MISLE 328-91-40 assigned to District 8.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:August 3, 2008
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 5045896225
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Case Information
Incident:August 3, 2008
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5045896225
You can remain anonymous