Friend refutes viral pool photo claim as mother mourns son Nolan Wells
A close friend said a circulating pool-party image was taken before Nolan Wells disappeared, while his mother prepared for his funeral.
A friend of the late Nolan Wells dismissed online speculation that a viral pool-party picture showed the 18-year-old alive after he vanished during a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island, Mississippi. Tracestin Shepherd told Rolling Stone that the photo was taken on June 27, a week before the disappearance, and that he did not attend the gathering. Metadata supplied by another individual supported the earlier date.
Police have not identified foul play, but the family is conducting an independent investigation, citing unanswered questions about the circumstances of his death. Over the weekend, the theory that Wells had returned to shore alive was amplified by civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family.
Wells’ funeral is scheduled for Monday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, with Reverend Al Sharpton officiating. Actor Tyler Perry is covering the costs of the service. In a Facebook post, Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, expressed the difficulty of arranging the ceremony, saying, "Planning the funeral of our 18-year-old does not feel real," and thanked God for memories of her son.