On October 9, 2021, a camping trip in North Carolina's Outer Banks took a tragic turn for 27-year-old Savannah Jane Grant. Originally from Fairmont, West Virginia, Savannah was with her boyfriend, Jason Quickle, and a friend, John Pierson, on Portsmouth Island. As they attempted to return to Ocracoke Island by a canoe and a john boat, they were caught in a sudden and severe storm.
The turbulent weather and powerful currents caused their canoe to capsize in the Ocracoke Inlet, casting them into the dangerous water. This incident occurred on a day when the National Weather Service had issued warnings for strong, gale-force winds in the area.
A 911 call was made around 4:15 p.m., sparking a massive search and rescue operation by the U.S. Coast Guard that covered over 1,600 square nautical miles. The following morning, a Coast Guard helicopter located Jason Quickle nearly three miles offshore of Drum Inlet and airlifted him to a hospital. John Pierson, who had made the initial 911 call, was found on Great Island after he managed to swim to shore. He reported last seeing Savannah in the early morning hours of October 10th. Despite the extensive 73-hour search, Savannah and a dog that was with the group, Poseidon, were never found.
After days of intensive searching, the U.S. Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend their active rescue efforts. The Carteret County Sheriff's Office then took over the case, officially classifying Savannah as a missing person, and it is presumed that she was lost at sea. Investigators interviewed the survivors and stated that there was no evidence of foul play in her disappearance. Savannah's family and friends traveled to Ocracoke to aid in the search and have continued to seek answers. The investigation into the boating accident itself was closed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The overall case remains a heartbreaking tale of a recreational outing turned to tragedy, leaving a family without their loved one and a community to mourn the loss.Last Seen: Oct 9, 2021
