It has been roughly three years since the name Tyler Doyle first started circulating through the coastal communities of South Carolina and North Carolina. What began as a routine duck hunting trip on a chilly January afternoon turned into one of the most agonizing missing persons cases the region has ever seen.
If you're looking for a quick answer to is Tyler Doyle alive, the official consensus from investigators is a somber one. Despite the massive search efforts, viral TikTok theories, and the desperate hopes of a young family, Tyler remains missing and is presumed to have passed away in a tragic boating accident.
The Day Everything Changed
January 26, 2023, wasn't exactly a perfect day for boating. The air was a biting 39 degrees. The water in the Little River Inlet hovered around 50 degrees. For a 22-year-old experienced hunter like Tyler, these were just the conditions you deal with when you're after ducks.
He was out with a friend, Christian Holden. They were in a 16-foot jon boat—a small craft for the choppy waters of the Atlantic jetties. Tyler dropped Christian off on the north jetty and headed out to set up decoys.
They stayed in touch by phone. Then, things went south.
Tyler called Christian. The motor wouldn't stay running. The boat was taking on water. In the rough current of the jetties, a small boat doesn't stand much of a chance once it starts swamping. By the time rescuers arrived—which was incredibly fast, only about nine minutes after the 911 call—they found the boat submerged.
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Only a foot of the bow was sticking out of the water. Tyler was gone.
Why People Keep Asking: Is Tyler Doyle Alive?
The internet is a strange place. When someone disappears without a trace, especially a young father-to-be with his whole life ahead of him, people want to find a reason that isn't just "a terrible accident."
Honestly, the lack of a body is what fuels the fire. Because Tyler wasn't found immediately, rumors exploded. You might have seen the TikToks or the Facebook posts suggesting he "faked it" or that there was "foul play."
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has been very blunt about this. They’ve looked at the Life360 data. They’ve looked at the cell tower pings. They’ve interviewed everyone. Their lead investigator, Ronnie Floyd, confirmed there is absolutely no evidence of foul play.
Everything points to a mechanical failure in deadly conditions.
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What was actually found?
- The Boat: Submerged at the jetties with the motor down.
- The Waders: Found on January 31, about five days later, near Ocean Isle Beach, NC.
- The Wallet: Discovered with the waders, miles away from the initial site.
Finding the waders was a huge deal for the investigation. Waders are heavy. If they fill with water, they act like an anchor. If Tyler managed to get out of them while struggling in the 50-degree water, it shows he was fighting for his life, but the cold—hypothermia—is a silent killer that works faster than most people realize.
The Search Effort and the Reality of the Coast
The search for Tyler wasn't just a couple of boats. It was a multi-agency operation involving the Coast Guard, North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue, and even non-profits like Wings of Hope. They used planes, sonar, and divers.
They searched for 43 days straight before the official "active" search was scaled back.
The Little River Inlet is notoriously difficult. The currents are ripping. The visibility is often zero. When items like waders wash up miles away in North Carolina, it shows just how far and fast the Atlantic can move something—or someone.
Dealing with the "Foul Play" Rumors
It's easy to sit behind a keyboard and speculate. Some people pointed to the fact that Tyler had an oversized motor on his boat (a 90 hp on a 16-footer). Others whispered about life insurance or marital stress.
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Investigators checked all of it. They even asked the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to review the files just to make sure nothing was missed. The conclusion stayed the same: a tragic accident.
Tyler’s wife, Lakelyn, was eight months pregnant when he disappeared. She gave birth to their daughter shortly after. The idea that a man would walk away from his wife and unborn child to start a "new life" while leaving his boat sinking in 50-degree water is a stretch that the facts simply don't support.
Actionable Insights: Lessons from the Jetties
When we talk about whether is Tyler Doyle alive, we aren't just talking about a headline. We’re talking about a real person whose disappearance changed how a lot of local hunters approach the water.
If you are a boater or a hunter, there are real takeaways from this tragedy that could save a life:
- Water Temp is the Enemy: 50-degree water is "sudden disappearance" territory. You have minutes, not hours, before your muscles stop working. Always wear a life jacket before you're in the water.
- The "Big Motor" Risk: Overloading a small jon boat with a heavy motor can make the transom sit dangerously low. In following seas or when taking on water, that extra weight pulls the back end down fast.
- Communication is Vital: Tyler’s use of Life360 and frequent calls allowed rescuers to find his boat in minutes. Without that tech, they might not have even known where to start looking.
- Respect the Jetties: The area where the river meets the ocean is a washing machine of conflicting currents. Small boats are especially vulnerable there when mechanical issues strike.
The case of Tyler Doyle remains an open missing persons file because he hasn't been recovered, but the search for answers has largely reached its end. The evidence points to a young man lost to the elements in a place he loved, leaving a community and a family still waiting for the day they can finally bring him home.
For those following the story, the most impactful thing you can do is support the organizations that continue to search for the missing and advocate for water safety among the hunting community.
Next Steps for Information:
Check the official SCDNR social media channels for any future updates regarding recovery efforts, as they remain the lead agency on the case. You can also look into the work of Wings of Hope, the non-profit that assisted the Doyle family in the months following the disappearance.