National Park Ranger Finds 18-Year-Old Nolan Wells' Body on Horn Island as Death Probe Continues
Updated
Updated · Rolling Stone · Jul 30
National Park Ranger Finds 18-Year-Old Nolan Wells' Body on Horn Island as Death Probe Continues
3 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Jul 30
Summary
A national park ranger found 18-year-old Nolan Wells' body on Horn Island's northwestern tip around 9 a.m. on July 6, more than 36 hours after the Mississippi teen disappeared during a July 4 boating trip.
Volunteer and official search teams had spent two days combing the island and surrounding water, using boats, drones, sonar and a volunteer plane after weather, heat and jurisdiction confusion complicated the effort.
Wells' parents said his phone and keys were found back on the mainland while he remained missing, adding to questions about his final hours with the group of friends he had been with on the island.
A family-commissioned autopsy released July 22 listed the cause of death as undetermined pending investigation, while official autopsy and toxicology results are still outstanding.
The case has drawn national attention over race, online harassment and misinformation, with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and FBI now conducting a joint investigation.