The person at the center of this case
Ted Haywood Wall, age 22
Missing Person · Open - Unsolved
45 years waiting · since 1980
Missing Person: Ted Haywood Wall
Justice for Ted Haywood Wall, age 22 — 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 was the condition and experience level of Harold Jeffrey Mays, the companion aboard the vessel, and what details did he provide about the incident?
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vehicle
Lead #2What specific mechanical failure occurred with the engine freeze plug, and was the boat equipped with emergency communication or safety equipment?
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evidence
Lead #3Why was no debris, wreckage, or bodies recovered despite the extensive 104,000-square-mile search area in a well-traveled fishing region?
Ted Haywood Wall, a 22-year-old, disappeared on November 13, 1980, while fishing aboard a 23-foot Sea Ox boat approximately 16 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, when the vessel experienced engine problems. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an extensive search covering 104,000 square miles with 47 aircraft sorties and 10 surface units, but found no trace of the boat, crew, or debris. Despite over four decades passing, the circumstances remain unclear—whether the disappearance resulted from a boating accident or foul play—and the case remains unsolved with no new leads.
Case
#2432
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, and were there any suspicious circumstances or relationships that warranted investigation beyond the mechanical failure theory?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP14851. Missing person: Ted Haywood Wall.
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 friends 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".
Ted Wall, aged 22 was in the company of another young man named Harold Jeffrey Mays, age 21. 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 MP14742. Demographics: 21 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 6 ft 1 in, 180 lbs, hair: Sandy, eyes: Hazel. Investigating agency: United States Coast Guard Investigative Service | District 5 Case 0093 - 13 | 1980-11-13.
Timeline of Events
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1980-11-13
13:30Last Known Contact
Ted Haywood Wall was last seen alive aboard a 23-foot Sea Ox fiberglass boat during a fishing trip with companion Harold Jeffrey Mays, approximately 16 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras Inlet in the Atlantic Ocean near the Gulf Stream.
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1980-11-13
Vessel Engine Failure
The boat experienced outboard engine problems with the engine freeze plug, leading to the disappearance of both occupants and the vessel.
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1980-11-13
Coast Guard Search Initiated
U.S. Coast Guard coordinated a massive search effort covering 104,000 square miles involving 47 aircraft sorties and 10 surface units, but found no trace of the vessel, crew, or debris.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 13, 1980 at 1:30 PM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 2023723000
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Case Information
Incident:November 13, 1980 at 1:30 PM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2023723000
You can remain anonymous