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What really happened to the lost crew of the Casie Nicole?
CASE DETAILS On April 12, 1990, four commercial fishermen prepared to embark on a seven day expedition in the Atlantic. The Captain was 23-year-old Billy Joe Neesmith. The crew included his brother, Nathan, his nephew, Keith Wilkes, and a friend, Franklin Brantley. In the late afternoon, they set off on the Casie Nicole, a snapper boat, owned by a man named Doug Tyson. The boat had recently spent five weeks in dry dock for maintenance. Nathan Neesmith was at the helm:
 Billy Joe, Keith, and Franklin Nathan then took his brother to the control panel. It was there that they noticed the Casie Nicole was riding unusually deep in the water. They then checked the bow where the other crew members were sleeping. What Nathan saw surprised him:
To make matters worse, the boat’s pumps were inoperable. In order to prevent the boat from sinking, Nathan and his crew had to bail the water out with buckets:
 Nathan located the Casie Nicole All power on the Casie Nicole was lost. The radio was useless. Nathan and his crew had no choice but to abandon ship:
By sunrise, the life raft was sinking fast. Then, salvation came floating by… it was the hatch cover from the Casie Nicole. The four men tied the raft to the hatch cover and climbed aboard. Then, Nathan saw the hull of the Casie Nicole in the distance:
Without heeding the warnings of his fellow crewman, Nathan swam to the stern of the sunken boat:
 Did the freighter pick up the others? As darkness fell, Nathan lost sight of his companions. He spent a long harrowing night clinging to the hull of the Casie Nicole. But the next morning, a freighter passed within three miles of Nathan:
The freighter continued its odd movement for nearly three hours, then disappeared. For two and a half days, Nathan drifted and prayed that the Casie Nicole would stay afloat. Suddenly, a large wood and Styrofoam bait box broke loose from the boat’s deck and popped to the surface:
 Nathan was rescued after four days at sea At 10 AM on April 15, 1990, Nathan Neesmith was finally rescued, twenty miles off the coast of Georgia. He had been adrift without food or water for four days. But despite a large-scale search, the other fishermen were never found by the coast guard. Still, Nathan and his family never gave up hope. Then, one day Nathan’s sister Oneda received a curious phone call. According to Oneda, the male caller spoke Spanish and seemed unable to understand English:
That same day, an unusual call also came into the home of Doug Tyson, owner of the ill-fated Casie Nicole. Once again, the caller was a man. And according to Tyson, the only English words he knew were Doug’s name and telephone number:
Over the next year, five more calls came in—three to Oneda and two to the Tysons. Finally, on March 6, 1991, Oneda received a call in which the caller spoke a single sentence in English:
After only a brief moment, the connection was lost. There have been no calls since. What really happened to the lost crewmen of the Casie Nicole? Officially, Billy Joe Neesmith, Keith Wilkes, and Franklin Brantley are presumed dead. Unofficially, there is reason to hope that they may still be alive. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season four with Robert Stack and in season one with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
thinkingoutloud
I feel Nathan is lying. What was the point of him swimming alone to get to the sinking ship AND then stay there by himself until rescued? that doesn’t add up. If he made the trip to the ship, why didn’t he attempt to go back to save his brother and friends? he didn’t even bother to try to have someone go with him? how did the boat go under maintenance for 5 weeks, yet still have issues when out at sea?
something else happened out there and he’s covering it up. Maybe he killed them or they were already dead and he was the only one that survived.
Andrea Aspras
I dont care or know who you are or think you are…. I have known Nathan all my life. NO WAY HE WOULD HURT ANYONE
Fred. McKenzie, franks. Little. Brother
I. Was. 12. When. It. Happens, 45. Now. N. Thought. Then. N. Now. It. Was. Dope. Deal. Went. Bad !! Gut. They. Found. Several. Days. Later. Saying. He. Heard. Voices !! What. Kind. Was. They. On ?
I’m. Sorry about. It. As. Anyone. But. I. Call. A. Spade. A. Spade
Eruc K
Liar. It wasn’t a dope deal gone bad. lol wth????!!
thinkingoutloud
seems shady that all his boatmates told him not to leave and he decided to go anyways and risk it out, so far out, days alone on the sea and he just happens to survive but the others cant be accounted for? i feel like he’s lying. he knows more than what happened
Bill Blaski
Robert Stack Episode 15 “anchors away”
While the drama surrounding this sounds surreal. I can’t help but think they all perished while floating adrift. I can’t help but think the bait cooler saved Nathan’s life.
Misteretc
I’m a semi-retired investigator and this story stinks to high heaven and here’s why…
1). How could the ship suffer such catastrophic issues after going thru maintenance for (5) weeks in drydock? The boat was having problems with its engine,
it was taking on water, and to top it off the life raft had a hole in it. That’s clearly a red flag right there.
“On April 12, 1990, four commercial fishermen prepared to embark on a seven day expedition in the Atlantic. The Captain was 23-year-old Billy Joe Neesmith. The crew included his brother, Nathan, his nephew, Keith Wilkes, and a friend, Franklin Brantley. In the late afternoon, they set off on the Casie Nicole, a snapper boat, owned by a man named Doug Tyson. The boat had recently spent five weeks in dry dock for maintenance. Nathan Neesmith was at the helm”
“Life raft was kind of rotten. It had a hole on the side of it, up on the top. We don’t really know what happened there. But we do know that it had a hole in it about the size of a quarter.”
2). Notice that Nathan is the “Star” of the whole story. He’s at the helm at the beginning, later when they’re floating he ignores the advice of the others and
decides to swim the approx. 4 miles to the boat that’s sunk (Only the stern is visible). It’s a well known fact that the survivors of a ship sinking stick together in a liferaft or near each
other. It’s easier for rescuers to see a group, rather than an individual. Also he made that effort, and what was he hoping to do? The ship had no power, the radio would have be
ruined anyway. Strange behavior.
3). The mysterious freighter. Didn’t Nathan tell the Coast Guard about the freighter? There would have been records of freighters in American waters or even there in International Waters
as that sort of traffic is monitored. Especially back then for drug traffickers. If Nathan did tell the Coast Guard, it’s odd that they wouldn’t have followed that up more.
4). The phone calls. Nathan’s sister gets a call, the boat owner gets a call, and then Over the next year, five more calls came in—three to Oneda and two to the Tysons.
The caller is speaking spanish. That’s interesting because if the caller was trying to get a reward, they would have made the effort to get someone who would speak English.
I’ve travelled to foreign countries. Unlike us in the United States, they speak more than once language (functionally) usually or will find someone who can. Very Strange.
Then, one day Nathan’s sister Oneda received a curious phone call. According to Oneda, the male caller spoke Spanish and seemed unable to understand English:
“All this person would keep saying was repeating our phone number and saying our name and that’s all. And you know, we just kept saying hello, hello and it was just cut off, static cut off.”
That same day, an unusual call also came into the home of Doug Tyson, owner of the ill-fated Casie Nicole. Once again, the caller was a man. And according to Tyson, the only English words he knew were Doug’s name and telephone number:
“We didn’t say anything about the call when we got it… after that, about six weeks, we were down visiting with the Neesmith family. And they started telling us about their call. And after they got through I asked how long ago was this… They thought back a minute and said about six weeks. I looked at my wife, she looked at me and… I said yeah.”
Over the next year, five more calls came in—three to Oneda and two to the Tysons. Finally, on March 6, 1991, Oneda received a call in which the caller spoke a single sentence in English:
“Very simple words, just said I’m bringing him home. That was it.”
5). Lots of holes in this story. Was there a police case ever opened on this? Did anyone ever give Nathan a polygraph? He’s doesn’t look like he’s in the shape to swim 4 to 5 miles even with a life jacket. Very weird. Also there is this… On April 11, 1990, Nathan Neesmith, his brother Billy Joe Neesmith, his nephew Keith Wilkes, and his friend Franklin Brantley set off from McIntosh County pier in Georgia to go on a seven-day commercial fishing expedition. Their ship, Casie Nicole, had just recently been docked for maintenance. They took it to an uncharted reef off the coast of South Carolina.
An uncharted Reef? Hardly.
This story does not add up and I’m surprised the authorities didn’t look into it closer.
Brandon
I had many of the same thoughts. Why in the world would he leave his only chance of survival to swim back to a boat they had intentionally abandoned? That was never satisfactorily answered. Something else happened out there, or this is a bogus story all together.
Timetotellthetruth
I totally agree that They were killed . If you knew billy joe you would understand. I believe he was killed first and Mohawk come to billy joes aid and he was killed defending billy joe. The friend woke up and seen it happened and he was killed. No evidence of raft was because the raft was never deployed it went down with the boat. Those guys could swim like fish ! No ship come by it’s all a made up story. Can’t prove murder if you can’t locate the body’s…
Billyjoeismissedeveryday.
I believe you’re 100% correct on this . The story doesn’t add up! Capt Jack was only about 30 to 49 minutes from the mayday call. Per capt Jack and Melvin his deck hand. They raced to the mayday call and no boat or men found. Which was odd . So the location/ coordinates of location was wrong that was given. I’ve never heard of tigers ledge uncharted territory. How could someone make their mothers life miserable all because you’re pissed off because you caught your brother sleeping with your wife. No body’s no charge
Robert
All the theories floating around in this thread are somewhat concerning, but they’re nothing that can’t be explained away. The real issue with these claims is that they fall apart once you consider the fact that the survivor was found randomly after four days at sea, barely alive. Does anyone seriously think that was his grand plan? Kill the others, sink the boat, and then hope someone miraculously finds him before he dies? That just doesn’t hold up.
Andrea Aspras
Robert. You and I both know Nathan. Never would hurt a fly
Andrea Aspras
English must not be your first language. WE HAD THE BEST ENGLISH TEACHER AND I KNOW NATHAN NEESMITH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. YOUR INVESTIGATION SKILLS LEAVE MUCH TO BE DESIRED
Christian
I believe they were rescued by that freighter ship and survived.
Tracie Carithers Tuggle
I am Tracie Carithers. I lived in Brunswick from 1991 til 1985/86. I was friends with Billy joe and also and a another guy we called “Mohawk”. And also remember his brother Nathan. I would go to Darin were they lived every weekend. Billy Joe tought me to ride his motorcycle. I moved to North Georgia after we dated and broke up. I was watching Unsolved Mysteries on that night. And walked though the livingroom and seen Billy Joe’s brother giving an a
Interview on the show. I froze when I realized it was about Billy Joe and the others missing. He was one of my Best friends. So sad … If anyones knows of Any update, I would love to know. I am also friends on Facebook with his brother Nathan.
ARTHUR DAVID WELLS
KEITH WILKES WAS A FRIEND OF MINE.HIS LITTLE BROTHER FIRST TOLD ME OF THE INCIDENT IN 1991,UPON MY RETURN FROM BRUNSWICK JOB CORPS,ON LEAVE.I CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY,HOPING THAT ONEDAY HE AND HIS CREW RETURN HOME.
ARTHUR DAVID WELLS
KEITH WILKES WAS A FRIEND OF MINE.HIS LITTLE BROTHER FIRST TOLD ME ABOUT THE INCIDENT IN 1991,UPON MY RETURN FROM BRUNSWICK JOB CORPS,ON LEAVE. I CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY,HOPING THAT ONEDAY HE RETURN,AS WELL AS THE OTHER CREW MEMBERS.
Nathan Neesmith
This is Nathan’s son lil nathan i was almost five years old i remember the day my dad and uncle left i was on the dock crying because my mother begged them not to go. I remember family running in and out of the house i knew something was wrong with daddy just couldn’t figure out what im glad my dad survived i wish they all would’ve came home .it bothers my dad all the time like he gets lost somewhere when he thanks about it he calls all the time if me or my brother is out on a boat i dont know how he feels or if he blames himself i know my fatjer is a good man and we all pray that if there is any chance at all may the rest return home soon….thanks for prayers…lil Nathan
Kristian
Nathan i am sorry about what happend but i may be able to solve the mystery all i need to start is,
1.The dock you left and who was working at it near your ship
2. What dock and who was working on your ship before you left
Brandon
Hi little Nathan. I’m sorry your family went through that. I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind? Why was you family crying and begging them not to go? What was the danger? Also, has your Dad ever explained in more detail why he would leave the makeshift life raft to swim miles back to a sinking boat? To be honest, something in the story doesn’t make sense. Hoping you can shed some light so all these people will stop speculating.
AW101206
I doubt you will respond to this now as you asked the question 4 years ago, but Nathan will always get very mad when asked a question about the incident. My dad is the son of Billy Joe and we would go visit Nathan sometimes when I was with him. I once asked Nathan when I was only 7 years old what happened because my dad told me the story of it and he completely blew up on me and told me to get out of his house. Nathan killed his brother in cold blood over sleeping with Nathan’s wife and that’s what I’ve gathered with looking through the evidence that has been shown as well as what other family members say. Its a whole lot easier to get away with something when there’s not a whole lot of people to get rid of in the middle of the Ocean.
Ryan
Hi
Leila Vickery
I went to school with Billy Joe and Bobby Neesmith ..in Montgomery county…I was so shocked when I watched this episode of Unsolved Mysteries….wish the families could find out wat happened and get closure….sending prayers..
Ryan
I did too
Kellie
We’re they ever found?
Robert
*Were
Son of Billy Joeif neesmith
I am the middle son of Billy Joe neesmith If any one has the video that was aired of this please contact me at neesmith8@gmail.com
thanks
Jennifer
The episode is available on Amazon Prime now.
umfan
There is a video on youtube about about the Casie Nicole. Its all in spanish though, however at the end of the video there was a written update. From what i translated from spanish, it basically said that in 2014 Billy Jo Neesmith contacted Nathans house by phone. He mentioned how he and the rest of the crew rescued by a boat that was “doing illegal things”. After that the call abruptly ended and no more information has been found since. The youtube uploader is named The A-Team. The link is here. I really hope this helps and brings forth answers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqmnTABWp90
Bryan
I have always been intrigued by this case when it aired many decades ago. I have relocated to Georgia and now even more intrigued finding out it took place here. This episode was scary.
Joe-Daniel
I saw on the news that some men were found in a cave or under a land slide they were wet i saw this 5 years ago on “Today”
just trying thanks
something here sounds supernatural by know iam surprise they havent noticed that yet the incidence and the way things happened during and after nathan survived my idea would be that nathans boats mates passed during the night and where picked up by a ghost ship our eighter they where living and then picked up by a ghost ship and put them in stuck time wondering try to get back to home ether living our ghosts i think there intrapped and stuck the phone call is made from the ghost ship thats trying to fullfill its mission but never happens prayers for your mates nathan god bless.
Casie Nicole Jones
I promise this is my real name. And now I am super spooked by this coincidence.
Joe-Daniel
i believe u
Desiree
Brilliant.