Mississippi teen Nolan Wells found dead after disappearing on Horn Island July 4 trip
Eighteen-year-old Nolan Wells vanished during a Fourth of July outing on Horn Island and was later recovered dead; investigators cite drowning and have not ruled out foul play pending autopsy results.
Mississippi authorities said 18-year-old Nolan Wells disappeared on July 4 while on a boat trip to Horn Island, a remote barrier island about 10 miles off the coast. A Mississippi Department of Marine Resources report released on July 5 indicated that Wells had been drinking alcohol despite being underage and chose to remain on the island with an unidentified woman after his friends left the boat due to water-infiltration problems.
A National Park Service ranger found Wells on July 6 wearing only swim shorts in an area known for strong rip currents. Investigators suspect drowning and have not identified any criminal activity, though the official cause and date of death await the state autopsy.
Civil-rights attorney Ben Crump and the family requested an independent autopsy, which was performed by Dr. Roger Mitchell of Howard University. Mitchell noted a possible neck injury and red discoloration on the back of Wells’ head, but said he could not examine the stomach or assess whether Wells was conscious before entering the water.
"He could not directly view the stomach for contents or gastric gases," the report quoted Crump as saying. "He could not see the condition of the body when it was pulled from the water," Crump added, emphasizing that the findings do not rule out non-accidental factors.
Wells’ parents expressed a desire for a thorough investigation and said they had always advised their son to stay with his group while on outings.