Search underway for missing teen Nolan Xavier Wells on Horn Island
Authorities in Mississippi are actively searching for Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old last seen around 3 p.m. on July 4 on Horn Island during a Fourth of July trip with friends. Multi-agency teams including the Jackson County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Coast Guard are scouring the barrier island near Ocean Springs. Officials say it remains unclear whether Wells ever returned to the mainland.
Key Takeaways
- Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, was last seen Saturday afternoon on the north side of Horn Island wearing swim trunks and sunglasses.
- The Jackson County Sheriff's Department is leading a search with the Coast Guard, Harrison County Sheriff, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and United Cajun Navy.
- Wells is a Southwest Mississippi Community College football player who traveled to the island by boat with friends.
- His mother, Christine Wonsley, said he was separated from his phone, which is now back with family in Mississippi.
- Anyone who was on Horn Island July 4 or traveled by boat nearby is asked to contact authorities immediately.
Who is Nolan Xavier Wells?
Nolan Xavier Wells is an 18-year-old described by authorities as a Black male, approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 180 pounds. According to The Enterprise Journal, Wells is a football player at Southwest Mississippi Community College (SMCC).
His mother, Christine Wonsley, appealed for public help on social media Sunday. She said her son was at some point separated from his phone, which is now back with his family in Mississippi, according to NOLA.com.
What happened on Horn Island on the Fourth of July?
The Jackson County Sheriff's Department says Wells disappeared after taking a trip to Horn Island with friends to celebrate Independence Day. Officials say he was last seen around 3 p.m. Saturday on the western tip of the island's north side.
The popular barrier island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast near Ocean Springs drew large boating crowds throughout the holiday weekend. United Cajun Navy Incident Commander Josh Gill told NOLA.com that Wells had gone to the island on a boat with friends and was allegedly hanging out with a girl before he disappeared.
It remains unclear whether Wells ever made it back to the mainland. Gill said in a Facebook video early Sunday that Wells had not been heard from in close to 24 hours and encouraged boaters to keep watch.
Who is involved in the search for Nolan Wells?
The Jackson County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Harrison County Sheriff's Department, the United States Coast Guard, and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, according to NOLA.com and WXXV News 25.
The United Cajun Navy is also assisting. Gill encouraged anyone on the water Sunday to look out for Wells. Cases like this are covered in our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries section.
How can the public help find Nolan Xavier Wells?
Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughan urged anyone who was on Horn Island on July 4, traveled by boat in the area, or believes they may have seen Nolan or given him a ride from the island to contact authorities immediately. "Even the smallest detail could make a difference," Vaughan said in a statement posted to social media.
Those with information are encouraged to call the Jackson County Sheriff's Department at (228) 769-3063. Tips can also be directed to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources at (844) WE-R-MDMR (937-6636) or (228) 523-4134.
WXXV News 25 reported that Wells was last seen wearing blue swim trunks, no shirt, and sunglasses — noting officials corrected an earlier description that listed black shorts. The investigation remains active as search teams continue working the island and surrounding coastal waters.