SLED joins Tyler Doyle investigation 10 months after disappearance

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is assisting in the investigation of Tyler Doyle’s disappearance, an official confirmed Wednesday morning.

Doyle is a boater and duck hunter who went missing off the Little River coast on January 26.

Doyle and a friend were reportedly on a 16-foot johnboat at the Little River jetties. The South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources (SCDNR) said Doyle dropped the friend off on the north jetty and he went to put out duck decoys. The two stayed in contact on the phone. SCDNR said the friend lost sight of Doyle as he went around the south jetty.

Shortly afterward Doyle called his friend and said “the boat was having mechanical issues and he couldn’t keep the motor running and the boat was taking on water,” the department said.

Doyle’s friend flagged down another boat and tried to get to Tyler but had to return because of the rough water conditions, SCDNR reported. The friend was rescued and Tyler’s boat was found submerged with the bow up and motor down, with only a foot of the boat showing above water. Rescuers noted the water temperature was 50 degrees, and the air temperature was 39 degrees.

An extensive multi-agency search began for Doyle in South Carolina and North Carolina.

Less than a month into the search, DNR released new details about the day he disappeared and addressed rumors that were circulating regarding pending criminal charges against Doyle. On February 13, SCDNR said the rumors were unfounded and the search was ongoing.

Since his disappearance, Doyle’s family held a prayer vigil in hopes of his homecoming. When Doyle first went missing, his wife, Lakelyn, was pregnant with their first child.

SLED said that although they are assisting, SCDNR is still the lead investigation agency.