Nolan Wells

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Jackson County Sheriffs Department (MS)

Death Location:

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Summary:

On July 4, 2026, 18-year-old Nolan Wells went missing after attending an Independence Day gathering on Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His body was discovered on the shoreline of the island two days later. As of August 7, investigators have not made a determination on the manner of Wells' death, but they initially reported that there was no evidence of foul play and that drowning was suspected.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Death:

On the evening of July 3, the teen made his family salmon for dinner before leaving to spend the night with his friends ahead of the holiday weekend. The boat left a private dock at approximately 9:56 a.m. on July 4 and arrived at Horn Island at 11:14 a.m. On July 4, Nolan Wells set out to celebrate Independence Day on a popular barrier island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. In photos from the boat that day, the 18-year-old towers above his friends, his arm casually slung around their shoulders as he smiles for the camera. But he also stands out for another reason: Wells appears to be the only Black man among the group. Later that afternoon, when his friends returned to the dock, Wells was not with them. Hours later, his family reported him missing. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department launched a search that would soon end tragically when Wells' body was recovered on the island Monday. His body was found two days later, on July 6, facedown in the water off the shoreline of Horn Island by a National Park Service agent.

Additional Details:

The case has drawn speculation about the circumstances of Wells' death and the integrity of the official investigation, by the Wells family and their attorney Benjamin Crump, who have alleged possible racial bias in the investigation. An independent autopsy report commissioned by the legal team representing Nolan Wells' family found that the teenager's cause and manner of death were "undetermined," pending investigation. But the doctor who performed the autopsy said in the report that he could not rule out foul play. The independent autopsy also found red discoloration on the back of his head. Results from an independent autopsy commissioned by the family were announced on July 22, ruling that Nolan's cause and manner of death were "undetermined pending investigation." The original autopsy conducted by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office is now complete, but its findings and all other evidence in the case will be sealed until a grand jury is able to review them. Once the Jackson County Sheriff's Department investigation into Wells' death is complete, the Jackson County DA's office said it will present the case to a grand jury. The Sheriff's Department has been working with other agencies, including the FBI, to conduct an investigation into Wells' death. Three people have been charged with threatening a judge, a witness and local officials connected to the investigation into the death of Nolan Xavier Wells.

Case Last Updated:

Aug 25, 2026