Mississippi authorities say teen likely drowned after July 4 boat outing

NewsNation • 29 Jul 03:50

Investigators say Nolan Wells, 18, was seen drinking heavily before he disappeared during a July 4 celebration on Horn Island, and his death is being treated as an accidental drowning pending autopsy results.

Fox News • 28 Jul 20:31

A Mississippi Department of Marine Resources email listed 18-year-old Nolan Wells' alcohol intake as heavy while authorities searched for him on Horn Island; the cause of death remains undetermined pending autopsy results.

WAPT • 28 Jul 12:33

Investigators say Nolan Wells disappeared after a night of heavy alcohol consumption with friends on Horn Island and was later found dead, with authorities unable to determine the exact cause of death.

New York Post • 28 Jul 07:33

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.

NewsNation • 27 Jul 13:48

A former FBI agent says surveillance footage, witness statements and Coast Guard data indicate the 18-year-old’s July 4 boat death off Horn Island was likely an accident, as the case moves to a Mississippi grand jury.

New York Post • 27 Jul 02:35

The volunteer search group said it never communicated with civil-rights lawyer Ben Crump, contradicting his claim that the group told him the missing teen was found fully clothed.

New York Post • 26 Jul 02:36

Warren Hudson said he avoided Nolan Wells' funeral because of personal safety concerns after receiving death threats, while the investigation into the teen's death continues.

New York Post • 25 Jul 17:24

Warren Hudson, who was with Nolan Wells on the boat where the teen disappeared, said neither he nor others accessed or altered Wells' phone before it was recovered.

Fox News • 25 Jul 10:00

Eighteen-year-old Nolan Wells disappeared on July 4 while on Horn Island, Mississippi; his body was recovered two days later. A United Cajun Navy official said the area is known for strong rip currents that can overwhelm swimmers.

New York Post • 24 Jul 13:23

A peer of the late 18-year-old football player Nolan Wells claimed he repeatedly asked Wells to get on a boat that later left the island, while Wells' family raised concerns about the handling of his phone and keys.

New York Post • 24 Jul 04:41

Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old college football player who vanished on Horn Island, was last seen talking to 19-year-old Katie McCormack, though witnesses give differing accounts of whether he stayed behind or planned to rejoin his friends.

CNN • 23 Jul 15:30

Mississippi officials await toxicology results from a state autopsy that could clarify how 18-year-old Nolan Wells died after a July 4 boating trip, while an independent autopsy has so far listed the manner of death as undetermined.

New York Post • 23 Jul 14:26

The volunteer rescue group United Cajun Navy said the missing teen Nolan Wells was discovered in swim trunks, correcting earlier reports that he was fully clothed.

NewsNation • 23 Jul 10:39

A former medical examiner noted that missing tissues and decomposition hampered a private autopsy of Nolan Wells, whose cause of death remains undetermined.

PBS • 22 Jul 18:54

A preliminary independent autopsy of Nolan Wells, a Black teenager found dead after disappearing on a Mississippi island, did not determine the manner or cause of death and called for further investigation.

NBC News • 22 Jul 14:22

A privately commissioned autopsy of 18-year-old Nolan Wells could not determine the cause or manner of his death, and investigators are awaiting further toxicology results.

CNN • 22 Jul 13:55

Preliminary results from a privately funded autopsy on Nolan Wells, whose body was recovered on Horn Island, list the cause and manner of death as undetermined pending further investigation.

TMZ • 22 Jul 02:22

Warren Hudson, identified as Nolan Wells' close friend, said rumors linking him to the teen's death are unfounded, while the family continues its own investigation.

New York Post • 21 Jul 23:19

Warren Hudson, who was on the July 4 boat trip with Nolan Wells before the teenager vanished, said rumors blaming him are unfounded, while family members and officials continue the investigation.

NBC News • 20 Jul 15:45

Hundreds gathered in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for the funeral of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose death after a July 4 boating trip remains under investigation.

AP News • 20 Jul 11:57

The funeral of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose body was recovered off Horn Island, will be held in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with Rev. Al Sharpton officiating and civil-rights attorney Ben Crump speaking.

The Guardian • 19 Jul 13:00

Two weeks after Nolan Wells was discovered dead on Horn Island, his family and attorneys are pressing for a transparent investigation amid conflicting accounts and social-media speculation.

TMZ • 18 Jul 20:50

Authorities say Nolan Wells drowned near Horn Island on July 6, while locals note the area's strong currents have previously caused fatalities.

WLOX • 16 Jul 16:22

Federal investigators are reviewing digital evidence in the disappearance of Nolan Wells, whose body was recovered near Horn Island, while authorities confirm that witnesses have been interviewed and threats have been reported.

New York Post • 16 Jul 12:59

Newly released audio shows Nolan Wells' friends requesting assistance when their boat's bilge pump failed and the vessel began taking on water, days before Wells was found dead near Horn Island.

AP News • 16 Jul 03:10

Attorneys for Nolan Wells' family will cooperate with the Jackson County District Attorney to review the contents of his cellphone as the investigation into his death proceeds, and the case is slated for presentation to a grand jury.

CBS News • 15 Jul 21:31

GPS records from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources detail the boat's trips on July 4 and subsequent days, following the disappearance and death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells.

WLBT • 15 Jul 15:06

The investigation results in Nolan Wells' death will be submitted to a grand jury, and an independent review of his cell phone will be conducted, officials said.

Fox News • 15 Jul 10:00

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.

New York Post • 14 Jul 16:46

A close friend said a circulating pool-party image was taken before Nolan Wells disappeared, while his mother prepared for his funeral.

CNN • 13 Jul 08:00

Eighteen-year-old Nolan Wells vanished during a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island and was later found dead in the water; authorities are conducting a death investigation while the family seeks an independent autopsy.

Rolling Stone • 12 Jul 17:50

Tracestin Shepherd told police and media that the shouting heard in the widely shared video was his own, not that of missing football player Nolan Wells, who was later found dead on Horn Island.

AP News • 11 Jul 16:38

The parents of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who was found dead on Horn Island, are seeking an independent autopsy and a transparent inquiry, citing concerns about the handling of the case by Mississippi authorities.

NPR • 10 Jul 18:03

Family and civil-rights lawyers are urging transparency as the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigates the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was recovered on Horn Island.

ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos • 10 Jul 12:20

The family of 18-year-old student-athlete Nolan Wells, whose body was recovered after a July 4 boating trip on Horn Island, is calling for a thorough and transparent inquiry, while local authorities say no foul play has been found so far.

The New York Times • 09 Jul 00:45

Police are probing the death of Nolan Wells, 18, who was found dead after disappearing on a July 4 outing to Horn Island, with authorities urging the public not to spread unverified information.

NPR • 08 Jul 16:46

The family of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose body was recovered near Horn Island, Mississippi, has retained attorney Ben Crump as investigators continue to probe the circumstances of his death.

The Guardian • 07 Jul 20:40

The remains of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old college freshman who vanished during a July boat trip to Horn Island, were recovered on Monday and identified by his mother.

NewsNation • 07 Jul 20:06

Authorities confirmed that the remains found on Horn Island belong to 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who disappeared on July 4, and are continuing a drowning investigation.

Mississippi Free Press • 06 Jul 23:17

Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, was confirmed dead after a park ranger discovered a body matching his description on Horn Island; authorities await DNA results while his family and school mourn his loss.

WLOX • 06 Jul 14:41

A body was found on Horn Island on Monday morning while authorities continue searching for 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose identity has not yet been confirmed.