Family of Teen Found Dead Alleges Wrongful Death in New Lawsuit

The tragic case of Noah Presgrove, a 19-year-old whose lifeless body was discovered by a roadside, has taken a turn as his family has initiated a lawsuit asserting that he was violently assaulted prior to his death. Found on September 4, 2023, curled in a fetal position with only mismatched shoes on and surrounded by his own teeth, Presgrove's death followed a four-day drinking and partying spree during a friend's birthday celebration at a nearby house.

In the lawsuit, his family is seeking a minimum of $75,000 to cover funeral expenses, emotional suffering, lost wages, and companionship, along with punitive damages against seven individuals, including Presgrove’s friends and their parents, as well as the property owners where the party occurred. Although the civil complaint alleges that Presgrove was beaten by one or more defendants, it fails to present concrete evidence supporting this assertion, nor does it identify a specific perpetrator or claim that the act was intended to kill him.

The suit argues that the actions of those involved were reckless and malicious, demonstrating a blatant disregard for Presgrove's safety. Among the defendants are his best friend, Jack Newton, and his girlfriend, Carter Combs, with claims that Newton contributed to the circumstances leading to Presgrove's demise by providing him with alcohol. Autopsy findings indicated that Presgrove had a blood alcohol level of 0.14 at the time of his death.

The legal filing also critiques what it describes as a conspiracy to supply alcoholic beverages to minors, whose parties were hosted by Combs and two other individuals. Additionally, Newton’s father, Caleb Newton, is brought into the lawsuit for allegedly permitting Presgrove to use an ATV that had overturned earlier on the day of the incident, although he asserts he was not present at the gathering. The family’s lawsuit aims to hold those alleged responsible accountable amidst an ongoing search for clarity surrounding the series of events leading to the young man's death.