FBI Not Currently Investigating Noah Presgrove’s Death but Is ‘Poised’ to Get Involved If Asked (Exclusive)

"Should our law enforcement partners develop information to suggest a violation of federal law, the FBI will respond," a spokeswoman says

Amid the ongoing scrutiny of the death of 19-year-old Noah Presgrove in Oklahoma nearly a year ago, federal authorities now confirm they have not gotten involved — but could if asked.

"We remain poised to review the incident if requested," spokeswoman Kayla McCleery tells PEOPLE.

"Should our law enforcement partners develop information to suggest a violation of federal law, the FBI will respond with the appropriate personnel and resources to investigate," McCleery says.

Presgrove's body was found naked and badly beaten by the side of Highway 81 outside Terral, Oklahoma, early on Sept. 4, 2023.

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Since then, state authorities have assumed jurisdiction of the case because of where the death was reported. They have said they aren't examining it as a murder but have otherwise given few public updates, citing the ongoing investigation.

Presgrove had extensive injuries — a split skull, fractured spine and more — and the unusual way in which his body was first discovered has continued to grab headlines and stir local outcry.

His a -

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utopsy, released to PEOPLE in May, states that he died of blunt force trauma but his manner of death, if it was an accident or homicide, is still unknown.

While Presgrove's family is in regular contact with state authorities, they have also sought to solve the mystery themselves, including through a private investigator.

They say they were initially told by Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) that the FBI was probing Noah's death — and they reacted with dismay this week at learning otherwise.

"We, as Noah's family, have many mixed emotions about this entire situation," his aunt Robyn Smith tells PEOPLE. "First and foremost, we are heartbroken over the loss of our son, brother, grandson, cousin and nephew, however we are also frustrated with the situation at hand."

"We are frustrated at the fact that we do not have any answers or are even remotely close to having any answers at this moment," Smith continues. "We are also frustrated that we are being told multiple things by multiple different people about the investigation."

"We have been told that the FBI has been assisting with the investigation, however this has only been confirmed by the OHP investigators," Smith says. "Overall, we are just wanting the answers to come out about this case, and we want to know what happened to Noah."

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