Nolan Wells' Family Seeks Answers After Missing Mississippi Teen Found Dead

The family of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who went missing on July 4, is demanding answers after his body was discovered on Horn Island, Mississippi. Wells was last seen by friends on the island, a popular destination for holiday celebrations, where he had gone boating to celebrate the Fourth of July.

“

Nolan Wells was a beloved son, teammate and friend who went out to celebrate the Fourth of July and never came home. His family deserves answers. They deserve the truth.

His body was found on Monday off the coast of Horn Island, prompting a multi-agency search effort involving the U.S. Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the National Park Service. Jackson County coroner Bruce Lynd confirmed the identity of the body through dental records. An autopsy was conducted Tuesday, but the results have not yet been publicly released.

“

We will not rest until every fact about what happened to Nolan on Horn Island is brought into the light, and we call on investigators to pursue this case with the urgency and transparency this family deserves.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Wells family, stated that they "deserve answers" and "the truth." Crump emphasized that the family will not rest until all facts surrounding Wells' death are revealed. He urged investigators to handle the case with the "urgency and transparency" the family deserves.

“

From the people we've talked to, it sounds like he chose to stay on the island with the assumption that he was going to ride back to the mainland with someone else.

According to Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter, Wells' friends reported that he chose to stay on the island, expecting to return to the mainland with someone else. However, he did not leave with them that afternoon. Wells' mother reported him missing later that night. The sheriff's office is appealing to the public for any information, particularly original, unedited photos and videos taken on the northwest tip of Horn Island, where Wells' body was found. Investigators are keen to find images that might depict alleged altercations or include images of Nolan Wells around the time of his disappearance.

“

My heart is broken for our sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others. Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son.