In Carteret County, N.C., authorities are investigating the theft of six duck decoys from a memorial dedicated to the victims of a deadly plane crash that occurred in 2022. The decoys, which were silhouettes of ducks, were taken from the memorial site located at 227 Highway 70. The memorial honors the eight individuals who tragically lost their lives when a plane crashed while returning from a duck hunting trip in Hyde County.
The crash, which took place in the Down East area of Carteret County, claimed the lives of four high school students from East Carteret High School, along with four other adults. Those who died in the crash were Ernest “Teen” Rawls, 67, of Greenville (the pilot); Jeffrey Rawls, 28, of Greenville; Stephanie Fulcher, 42, of Sea Level; Jonathan “Kole” McInnis, 15, of Sea Level; Douglas “Hunter” Parks, 45, of Sea Level; Noah Styron, 15, of Cedar Island; Michael “Daily” Shepherd, 15, of Atlantic; and Jacob “Jake” Taylor, 16, of Atlantic.
The Carteret County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the theft of the decoys and is asking for the public’s help. Deputies have requested anyone with information about the stolen decoys or the incident to contact them at 252-726-1911 or through Crime Stoppers at 252-726-INFO (4636). The stolen decoys were a part of the memorial that has become a significant place of remembrance for the families and community affected by this tragedy.
The theft of the memorial items has left the local community in disbelief, as the site had been established to honor the memories of those who perished in the crash. The authorities are seeking assistance in locating the individuals responsible for removing the decoys and are encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
