Mississippi teen's death on Horn Island ruled likely drowning, officials say
Nolan Wells, a 17-year-old from Mississippi, was found dead on Horn Island two days after disappearing from a Fourth of July boat trip; authorities consider drowning the most probable cause.
Mississippi teen Nolan Wells was discovered dead on Horn Island on July 6, two days after he went missing from a boat during a Fourth of July celebration. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, while the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer search-and-rescue group, assisted in the search.
Brian Trascher, vice president of the United Cajun Navy, said a National Park Service ranger located the body and that the teen was found "washed right back" near the area where he was last seen. Trascher noted that the search relied on boats, an aircraft, and analysis of wind and drift patterns, and he added that there is no evidence suggesting foul play.
The working theory, according to Trascher, is that Wells drowned, though the official cause of death has not yet been released. The sheriff’s department has asked the public for any information that could aid the inquiry. Wells’ family has retained civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, who said the family is seeking a thorough and transparent investigation.