Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter Investigates Nolan Wells Death After Horn Island Trip

Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old student-athlete, was last seen alive on Horn Island in Mississippi on July 4, and his body was discovered off the shore two days later.

“Nolan Wells latest: Sheriff asks for public's help in mysterious death of Mississippi teen Nolan Wells vanished after going on a boat trip with friends on the 4th of July”

ABC News

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter told ABC News that Wells “was on a boat” and that he “left from a private dock area in [the] Ocean Springs area and proceeded with his friends to Horn Island,” before returning without him.

ABC News

The Jackson County coroner Bruce Lynd confirmed to CBS News that the body was Wells through dental records, and Lynd said an autopsy took place on July 7 with findings not yet made public.

People reported that Wells was last seen on Horn Island on Saturday, July 4, and that a body found on the morning of Monday, July 6, on the northwest end was believed to be him.

Investigators said they were continuing to “actively investigate the circumstances” and were seeking public help from anyone who was on Horn Island on July 4 or took photos and videos believed to include Wells.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump was retained by Wells’ family, and Crump said on X that “His family deserves answers. They deserve the truth.”

People quoted Crump saying, “His family deserves answers. They deserve the truth,” and added that the family is calling for a “thorough and transparent” investigation into how Nolan died.

Anadolu Agency

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter told ABC News that investigators do not currently suspect foul play, saying, “There is no information that we have right now,” “that would lead us to believe that a crime has occurred.”

Rolling Stone reported that Ledbetter confirmed to the Associated Press, via NPR, that Wells “chose to stay on the island with the assumption that he was going to ride back to the mainland with someone else.”

Authorities continued to ask for original, unedited photos and videos and for anyone who observed or heard “an argument, disturbance, or other unusual activity” on Horn Island to come forward.

The investigation is centered on when Wells left Horn Island and who he was with, with authorities seeking to close the gap between when his friends said goodbye and the time he went into the water.

People reported that Brian Trascher, vice president and spokesman for the United Cajun Navy, told PEOPLE that “there was a ton of eyewitnesses during those hours,” and that investigators want to determine when Wells left the island and who he was with.

The Clarion-Ledger said Wells’ cause of death has not been released, and it reported that the State Medical Examiner's Office used dental records to confirm his identity.

The family’s legal team said it would push for access to investigative records, witness accounts, and autopsy findings, with Crump’s statement emphasizing urgency and transparency.

Oxygen.com quoted a GoFundMe statement saying, “After an extensive search involving countless volunteers from the United Cajun Navy, first responders, local law enforcement, the United States Coast Guard, and organizations from across the region, our worst fears became reality,” as the search effort concluded and the case moved into investigation mode.