Remembering Noah

Kasey Elliott’s voice cracked several times with emotion as she was being interviewed. It has been eight long months since the mother of Noah Presgrove lost her 19-year-old son in a manner that is not yet known.

His lifeless body was found along Highway 81 near Terral in Jefferson County in the early morning hours on Sept. 4 following a weekend long party in Terral.

Once just a local news story, the death of Presgrove has now garnered attention nationwide.

Elliott appreciates all the support, but what she really wants is answers.

She and some supporters were at the intersection of Highway 81 and Highway 53 in Comanche bringing attention to his case in hopes someone will step up and say something about what actually happened to her son.

“I’m (feeling) hurt right now because I know there are people running around here that know something,” Elliott said. “It feels evil and toxic in this town. I just don’t like being here to be honest. In my heart I want to have him today. I miss him.”

She said people are always coming up to talk to her, but she holds her peace.

“I don’t like being rude, I just can’t say anything, I just listen, which is what you should do,” Eliott said. “But, I prayed today and God’s going to handle it and give me strength.”

Though she is hurt by what she sees as a lack of communication of some people who might know something, she has been overwhelmed by the support. The “Justice for Noah Presgrove” Facebook page has more than 14,000 members.

A gofundme.com page set up to hire a private investigator has already exceeded it’s goal.

“I love it, I can’t even go into the store without someone praying over me or telling me a story about my son and it made me proud as a mother to have such a great son that did such good things for people,” Elliott said. “That told me I did my job as a mom.”

The full autopsy report was released on Monday, but she did not read it.

“I already knew what was in it,” Elliott said. “All I know is I’m proud he didn’t have any drugs in his system. And also I know if that was my best friend, I’d be laying right beside him. There it is, point blank, I’m sorry. And these burdens these kids are holding, especially my family, his cousins, his sisters, (his brother) Dailen. They shouldn’t have burdens like this.”

She is proud of the support not only for her, but her son.

“I’m just glad that he is getting so much support and Comanche is supporting him so much and I appreciate that,” Elliott said. “And we’ve gotten great support in Waurika. They love him in Waurika, too.”

And while she appreciates the support, she has been less than appreciative of the way the investigation is being handled.

“I think it’s bullcrap, I think we have a crooked system,” Elliott said. “I’m not happy about how the investigation is going at all. I talked to (the investigator) one time and he yelled at me and told me not to interrupt his family time. I just sent him a text message and he called me back, yelling at me. I never heard from that man again. And that was the first day that Noah died.”