Teen disappears on Mississippi island after drinking; mystery surrounds his death
Eighteen-year-old Nolan Wells vanished on Horn Island during a Fourth of July outing after heavy drinking, and his body was recovered two days later.
A Mississippi Department of Marine Resources document released on July 5 detailed the disappearance of 18-year-old Nolan Wells on Horn Island, a small landmass ten miles off the Gulf Coast. Friends said Wells chose to remain on the island with an unknown female after their group departed, and witnesses confirmed he had been drinking heavily. He was found dead on July 6, and investigators lean toward accidental drowning, though no foul play has been confirmed.
The state autopsy has not yet been released, prompting Crump to seek one outlet's review. Pathologist Roger Mitchell observed red staining on the back of Wells’s head and noted that the thyroid bone and trachea were not examined, leaving the possibility of a neck injury unresolved. The family, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, have called for a thorough investigation into why Wells stayed behind.
Why it matters
The case highlights concerns about teen safety, alcohol use, and the need for transparent death investigations.
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