Account
Jan 27, 2026
Jan 27, 2026
Joseph
Wayne Mccarton
34
34
Height unknown inches
180 lbs
White
Male
In the late summer of 2008, a family's life was forever altered by the mysterious disappearance of Joseph Wayne McCarton. A resident of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, McCarton was a 34-year-old man who made his living on the water. In early August of that year, he was aboard the shrimping boat named the Kelli Michelle in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Texas. The trip had reportedly been challenging, with both McCarton and the vessel's captain falling ill. Due to the captain's chest pains, the boat returned to shore, where a new captain took the helm and steered the Kelli Michelle back out to sea. The evening of August 3, 2008, was the last time anyone recalled seeing Joseph McCarton. At approximately 6:00 p.m., he was noted to be on the vessel. However, three hours later, at around 9:00 p.m., the new captain and a deckhand realized that McCarton was no longer on board. A search of the shrimping boat yielded no sign of him, and the alarming conclusion was that he had likely fallen into the vast and unforgiving waters of the Gulf. The United States Coast Guard was notified of the situation and opened a missing person case. Despite their efforts, McCarton was never located. At the time of his disappearance, Joseph Wayne McCarton was described as a white male with black hair and blue eyes, standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 180 pounds. He had several distinguishing physical characteristics that set him apart. He walked with a noticeable limp and had a number of scars, including one on his chest, another on his elbow, and a third on his right hip from a previous hip replacement surgery. He also had a history of cancer, which had resulted in surgical scars on his chest. McCarton, who was affectionately known as "Joe," also had a capped front tooth and a previously broken nose. He was typically seen wearing simple attire, such as white t-shirts, jeans, tennis shoes, and a hat. The investigation into his disappearance was handled by both the U.S. Coast Guard and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office. The prevailing theory remains that he accidentally went overboard, a tragic and unseen event that left his family with no answers and a profound sense of loss. With no body ever recovered, the case of Joseph Wayne McCarton remains a painful and unresolved mystery, a story of a man who went to work on the water one day and never returned.
Aug 03, 2008
Plaquemine Parish
Louisiana
Plaquemine Parish
Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office
504-564-3381
05/15/2026
