Teen’s Mysterious Disappearance Sparks Calls for Clarity
Friends of 18-year-old Nolan Wells reached out for help when their boat unexpectedly broke down and began taking on water, as revealed in recently released audio from the day he went missing.
Nolan had traveled with friends from Mississippi’s mainland to Horn Island during the Fourth of July festivities, but he wasn’t part of the return journey.
The audio records their distress call, indicating that the boat, carrying around seven individuals, was stranded around 4 p.m.
“Hey, we’re at the west end of the Horn, and the bilge pumps have stopped working. We’re sinking. Can you come?” the pilot can be heard saying.
He added, “I want to tow this ship back without sinking it.”
Ultimately, the boat was towed about three miles and was able to return to normal speed within an hour, per GPS data from Mississippi’s Department of Marine Resources.
The group arrived back at the starting point at approximately 5:44 p.m.
The details surrounding Nolan’s disappearance and subsequent death are still hazy. Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights lawyer representing Nolan’s family, emphasized that numerous questions remain unanswered.
Jackson County Judge Ashley Cole, whose son is one of Wells’ friends, shared that her son last encountered Wells around 3 p.m. “They left around 4:30 p.m. when the boat started taking on water, but there was a bilge pump issue,” she mentioned.
Wells opted to stay on the island and planned to head back with another group of friends later.
A resident of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Wells was reported missing on the night of July 4, and his body was discovered two days later near the northwest tip of the island.
He was identified using dental records, yet the cause of death hasn’t been disclosed. Nonetheless, Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter noted there’s no current evidence of foul play.
Investigators are leaning towards the theory that Wells drowned during the unfortunate trip.
An independent autopsy, financed by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has been commissioned, though results haven’t surfaced yet. Crump discussed last week that delays occurred due to issues related to the flight.
Wells’ body was transported more than 1,300 miles to Washington, D.C., for the examination.
Crump expressed hope to soon share findings from the autopsy, which he previously stated could reveal any “physical injuries aside from drowning.”
Nolan’s funeral is scheduled for Monday in Ocean Springs. His mother, Christine Wonsley, expressed her grief, mentioning that planning the memorial felt surreal. “All the emotions are flowing together. I thank God for moments when I can listen to his laughter in videos. I miss Nolan,” she shared in an online post.
