Tyler Doyle wife leaving town conspiracy claim surfaces as search for missing duck hunter continues

The search for missing boater Tyler Doyle rolled into its 14th day following his disappearance in rough waters near Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, on January 26, 2023.

Doyle allegedly took a jon boat out for duck hunting in the North Jetties, close to where the Intracoastal Waterway meets the Atlantic Ocean. He went missing soon after.

The 23-year-old was accompanied by an unnamed friend rescued from the jetty. According to the Coast Guard, Doyle was wearing khaki pants and a camo jacket at the time he went missing.

A friend soon set up a GoFundMe page to support the family, which raised around $30,000. After a request from Tyler Doyle's wife, Lakelyn Doyle, the page was updated to stop the donations, stating:

The update also carried the information that Lakelyn was 30 weeks pregnant. Following the GoFundMe update, rumor mills claimed that the wife had left the town with the money. Some even alluded that she may have murdered her husband. One user, @rachelpoo81, called the missing person's case a "hoax," stating:

Tyler Doyle's baffling disappearance has sparked some outrageous rumors

Social media has now become an outlet for netizens to speculate about what might have happened to Tyler Doyle. Some called out the family, especially his wife, for her allegedly suspicious behavior, while others questioned what happened to the donation money raised on GoFundMe.

Some speculated whether he was murdered by his rescued friend, while others wondered if it was the wife's doing.

A few internet users compared it to an old case involving another man who similarly went missing but was soon discovered to have been murdered. Others brought up Tyler's old court case and wondered if the incident was a ploy to get away with it.

Tyler Doyle's family responds to rumors

A week after Tyler's disappearance, a Facebook post by his wife, Lakelyn Doyle, revealed that many of his belongings, including his wallet, driver's license, and decoy ducks, were found floating in the water. However, she was asked by authorities to take down the post.

Following speculation and juvenile deductions online, a Facebook post addressing the same by Surf City Police was also deleted. They added:

He remarked that tragedy hurts the family and loved ones the most and requested everyone to stop speculating and spreading misinformation.

In an interview with News13, the 23-year-old's mother and grandmother stated that the drawn-out search has been "agonizing," and the rumors on social media did not help.

About the author

Nirali has been a popular culture writer at Sportskeeda for the past 1.5 years, covering celebrity/influencer trends and profile/histories, political news, crime reports, and lifestyle. She completed her Bachelor's in Architecture from University of Mumbai and Masters in Heritage Conservation from University of Southern California. Professionally, Nirali has a strong 7.5-year experience working as an architect, an Assistant Archivist and a Digital Archivist across three companies.

Nirali’s educational qualifications and unique career trajectory put great emphasis on research and writing, which along with her personal interest in popular culture, led her to the current role at Sportskeeda. Her specialties are researching histories, crime stories, and developing general knowledge pieces.

The most crucial step in Nirali’s reporting is rigorous fact-checking, and she relies on information from primary sources only for her news. In the absence of a primary source, Nirali double, and even triple-checks information from multiple sources before presenting them to her readers. Strictly anti-AI, she believes in giving credits wherever necessary.

Nirali’s favorite celebrities are Mark Ruffalo and Dolly Parton, and she admires them for their support of humanity and advocacy for what is right. An avid reader, Nirali can be found nose-deep in a new book when she is away from her keyboard. Nirali also loves to illustrate in her free time.

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