Family Seeks Answers in Death of Teen from Gulf Coast Boat Trip

The family of Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old who died after a boat trip to Horn Island off the Gulf Coast, has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Wells’ body was discovered off the coast of Mississippi on Monday. He was last seen with friends on Saturday afternoon according to officials. In a statement, Crump emphasized the family’s need for clarity regarding the events that led to Wells’ death. “We will not rest until every fact about what happened to Nolan on Horn Island is brought into the light,” Crump stated, urging investigators to handle the case with needed urgency and transparency.

Crump, recently retained by another family in a separate case involving the death of a 1-year-old in Mississippi, continues his advocacy for justice. On the day of the incident, Wells traveled by boat with friends but did not return with them. His mother reported him missing Saturday night, leading to the discovery of his body by a rescue team the following morning.

An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday to further investigate the cause of death. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter noted Wells’ friends are cooperating, and preliminary reports suggest Wells planned to stay on the island and ride back to the mainland later.

Wells attended Southwest Mississippi Community College, playing as a wide receiver on the football team. His mother, Christine Wonsley, urged people to provide videos or documentation from the island, expressing her heartbreak in a social media post. “My heart is broken for our sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others,” she wrote, cherishing his unique spirit and the thoughtful nature with which he was created.