A tragic boating incident on July 4th resulted in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, a high school football star who was left behind by his friends on Horn Island. According to Ashlee Cole, a Jackson County judge and mother of one of Wells' friends, the group left the island after their boat experienced mechanical issues, specifically with the bilge pump, causing it to take on water.
Cole stated that Wells was last seen around 3 p.m. on July 4th at the north end of Horn Island, a barrier island approximately 10 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She explained that she and her son, along with others, departed the island around 4:30 p.m. when the boat began to flood. At that time, Wells made the decision to stay on the island and planned to return later with another group of friends, Cole said in a statement.
Wells' body was discovered on Monday morning. His family has expressed that there are "too many unanswered questions" surrounding his death and have retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them. Crump announced on Tuesday that he had been hired by the family, emphasizing that they "deserve answers" and "the truth."
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has appealed to the public for any information from individuals who may have observed or heard an argument, disturbance, or any unusual activity on the island on July 4th. Authorities are reportedly investigating a video that has circulated online, which allegedly captures a heated argument near the shoreline before Wells disappeared. The authenticity of the video and whether any individuals in it were with Wells have not yet been confirmed.
The Jackson County Coroner's office confirmed on Tuesday that Wells' body had been identified through dental records. A post-mortem examination was conducted, but results, including toxicology reports, are expected to take several weeks.
The United Cajun Navy, along with the Coast Guard, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, participated in the search efforts for Wells before his body was found.