Has new evidence been discovered in case of missing SC duck hunter Tyler Doyle?
It appears that new evidence has been discovered in the case of Tyler Doyle, a duck hunter who went missing around the Little River jetties more than three years ago. His body has never been found.
Doyle went missing after duck hunting in the Atlantic Ocean in a 16-foot jon boat with friend Christian Holden at the Little River jetties around 4 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2023, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
There were numerous agencies, as well as family and friends, that spent many hours and days searching for Doyle. Now, information reportedly has been shared with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is investigating the case, that there may be a sonar photo of Doyle under the water.
The information was shared on a Facebook page that promotes the finding of Doyle and provides updates on the case. The posting said that the photo of Doyle, which shows him lying on the ocean floor, has been shown to other people; however, the photo was never turned over to law enforcement.
The family of Doyle alerted SLED about the possible photo. However, a spokesperson for SLED referred questions to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the lead investigating agency in the case.
A SCDNR spokesperson was checking into the report.
In an interview with The Sun News in 2023, the director of Wisconsin-based Wings of Hope, one of the rescue groups helping to search for Doyle, said that crews had a “target of interest” during one day of the search.
Bradley Smith said that the target could be seen on sonar. Smith at the time wouldn’t say whether he thought it was Doyle, but it was enough of a concern that he gave the information to SCDNR.
Smith told SCDNR about the image, showing the investigator the sonar. Smith is not the person who currently has the sonar photo that was turned over to law enforcement.
SCDNR wouldn’t allow anyone to dive that evening to see whether it was Doyle. Unfortunately, when they returned, the target had moved, Smith said at the time.
Smith also said that his SD card that had the sonar information, including images and the location coordinates, was turned over to lead SCDNR investigator Ronnie Floyd, who allegedly never filed it as evidence.
Doyle’s case still an active investigation
Doyle remains listed as a missing person and the case is considered an active investigation.
The family has criticized the South Carolina Department of Natural Resource’s handling and investigation of the Doyle case.
In early December 2023, the SCDNR announced that it had asked SLED to join in the investigation.
The 22-year-old’s waders and his wallet, along with duck decoys and his jon boat, were found in the ocean, but not Doyle.
The SCDNR ruled that there was no foul play suspected in the case.
Doyle was hunting at the mouth of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean when his boat began taking on water and capsized. This occurred after Doyle dropped his friend off on the north jetty and then went to scout out ducks, according to the SCDNR report.
Doyle had called his friend, stating that the boat was taking on water. The water temperature that day was 50 degrees and the air temperature was 39 degrees, according to the SCDNR.
Aside from his waders and wallet, no other physical evidence of Doyle has been discovered.
