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Call for Justice in the Death of Nolan Wells

Published July 9, 2026 at 8:14 AM UTC

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The family of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells is demanding justice following his tragic death after a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island, Mississippi. Wells, a student-athlete at Southwest Mississippi Community College, was last seen with friends on the island but did not return with them that afternoon. His mother, Christine Wonsley, reported him missing that night, and his body was discovered the following morning. The family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wells' death, emphasizing the need for transparency and urgency in the investigation. Crump stated, "We will not rest until every fact about what happened to Nolan on Horn Island is brought into the light, and we call on investigators to pursue this...." The Jackson County Sheriff's Department is actively investigating the case, with Sheriff John Ledbetter stating that Wells' friends are cooperating and that there is no information suggesting foul play at this time. The family and community continue to seek answers and justice for Nolan.