A Mississippi teen who went missing on an island off the Mississippi coast has been found dead. Nolan Wells, 18, was last seen on Horn Island with friends celebrating the 4th of July.
A body matching his description was found July 6 on Horn Island by the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer search organization. An autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death.
In a statement on Facebook, United Cajun Navy wrote, “The search for 18-year-old Nolan Wells has been called off after a body was located Monday morning on the northwest end of Horn Island.”
Authorities say Nolan had traveled to the island by boat with friends. But they left the island without him hours later.
Nolan’s friends told law enforcement they thought he caught another boat back to the mainland.
Body found in search for football player Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, who vanished during Fourth of July celebrations: reports https://t.co/D5Y2HtTTmW pic.twitter.com/EDDLvtKpWe
— New York Post (@nypost) July 6, 2026
Christine Wonsley, Nolan’s mother, wrote in a post on Facebook:
Nolan had graduated from Ocean Springs High School. He planned to play football at the Southwest Mississippi Community College.
The family launched a GoFundMe to raise money for funeral expenses, celebration of life services, and to help support the family.