- Ranger finds a body on Horn Island while searching for missing college student Nolan Xavier Wells.
- Nolan Wells' mother confirmed his death on Monday afternoon, expressing devastation over the loss.
- The body found matches the description of Wells, who went missing on July 4 while visiting Horn Island.
- The cause of death is currently unknown, with authorities awaiting DNA testing results.
- Wells was last seen around 3 p.m. on Saturday on Horn Island, a barrier island 10 miles south of Pascagoula, Mississippi.
- Multiple agencies participated in the search for Wells, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Wells was a wide receiver for the SMCC Bears, and the school community is mourning his loss.
Authorities confirmed the body found on Horn Island belongs to Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, who went missing on July 4. His mother, Christine Wonsley, expressed her heartbreak, stating, “My heart is broken for my sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others.”3
Wells was last seen around 3 p.m. on Saturday while visiting the island with friends. Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd stated, “there is no reason to believe it is not him,” as the body matched Wells' description. The cause of death remains unknown, pending DNA testing.45
A multi-agency search effort involved the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and volunteer groups, raising over $14,000 for the search. The school president of Southwest Mississippi Community College, J. Steven Bishop, mourned the loss, calling Wells an “exemplary student, athlete, friend, and teammate.”
The community is left grieving the tragic loss of a young life, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
“Authorities are awaiting DNA test results to confirm the identity, but the Jackson County coroner said there is no reason to believe it is not Nolan. Wells, a wide receiver for the SMCC Bears, was last seen on July 4; his mother described him as 'a special soul' in a devastated statement.”
Mississippi Free Press
