Investigation into the Disappearance and Death of Nolan Wells

GPS data from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, accessed by CBS News, reveals the boat’s path that brought Nolan Wells to Horn Island on July 4. Following his disappearance, Wells was found dead after the outing on the island. The boat departed the dock at 9:56 a.m. and reached Horn Island at 11:14 a.m.

CBS News earlier noted that Wells was absent when the vessel left the island. The GPS records show the boat departed Horn Island at 4:31 p.m. It returned to its starting dock and then traveled to Fort Bayou around 5:52 p.m., before heading back to the dock at 6:06 p.m. Later that evening, the boat moved to the Fort Bayou boat launch at 7:19 p.m., likely transported over land to the Biloxi, Mississippi home of the boat’s owners.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources report highlighted that the boat’s owner, his mother, and another person who was reportedly with Wells that day have cooperated with the investigation. The report ended on July 5 when the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation.

This undated family photo shows Nolan Xavier Wells with his mother, Christine Wonsley. As officials stated, Wells, 18, last appeared on July 4 on Horn Island where he joined friends for a holiday celebration. Wells traveled to the island but didn’t return with his friends later that afternoon, confirmed Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter. Reports indicate he was last seen at 3 p.m., shared by attorney Ben Crump’s office. His mother reported him missing that night, prompting a search.

His body was discovered on July 6, off the island’s coast, approximately 10 miles south of the Mississippi mainland. The search involved the U.S. Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the National Park Service. Jackson County coroner Bruce Lynd confirmed Wells’ identity through dental records. An autopsy occurred on July 7, but the results were not immediately released. Crump stated that Wells’ body was sent to Washington, D.C., for an independent autopsy.

Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, expressed disbelief that he would choose to remain on the island while his friends left. They discussed the situation with “CBS Mornings” on July 10, 2026. Elmore Wonsley stated, “No, he wouldn’t. Nolan always stays with the group. If you be with me, you come back with me. So that I don’t understand, and with me being a parent, if I was in that situation, I would have told them, ‘You’re going to get back on this boat with me because I don’t want to answer to your parents if something happens to you.'” When asked if he believed Nolan was left behind, his father responded, “Yes. I don’t believe he decided to stay on the island by himself. It just doesn’t—that’s not his character.”

Wells attended Ocean Springs High School and was about to become a sophomore on Southwest Mississippi Community College’s football team. Crump mentioned Wells was known as a strong swimmer. Mark Osborne contributed to this report.