Audio Engineer Releases Clarified Sea Tow Call Tied to Nolan Wells Case, Sparking Renewed Scrutiny

Audio engineer Jeanetta Brantley has released an enhanced version of a Sea Tow call that may be linked to the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was found on Horn Island. The recording originates from a July 4 call placed at about 4 p.m. to a private towing company about a boat that could be related to the case.

What Brantley Did and Why It Matters

Brantley — the founder of Audio Done Right (ADR) and a Black audio engineer with experience in dialogue editing, sound design and post production — said she used traditional audio-restoration techniques rather than AI tools to preserve the integrity of the original recording. She described applying subtractive EQ, compression, gain adjustments, noise reduction and frequency isolation to clarify quieter, distant speech on the caller's side of the conversation while intentionally lowering the dispatcher’s voice.

"I specifically chose not to rely on AI because aggressive AI enhancements and voice isolation tools can sometimes introduce artifacts and distort the speech or create ambiguity around the sounds that were originally present," Brantley said in a video on Threads.

After isolating the background dialogue, Brantley said she encountered material that left her emotionally unsettled and chose to release the segment she had completed so listeners could compare it with the original and draw their own conclusions.

Reaction, Investigation Status, and Community Response

Brantley’s cleaned audio quickly drew attention across social media and was discussed by national commentators. Many online listeners have scrutinized the clip for potential clues about what happened to Wells. Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), which originally released the recording, and other investigators have not publicly confirmed or commented on Brantley’s enhancements or on specific statements some listeners say they hear in the file.

Wells’ body was discovered on Horn Island on July 6; autopsy results and investigative details remain pending. Conflicting accounts of the events that day have fueled public concern and made the case a focal point for calls for transparency.

Christine Wonsley, Nolan’s mother: "I ask that each of you keep Nolan's memory alive. Hold him close in your hearts. Share his stories, and never stop saying his name."

Ben Crump, family attorney: "Understand that Nolan Wells was the son of Christine and Elmore, but he really was all our sons... Until we get answers, until we get to the truth, until we get to justice, we gonna stand up and we're gonna keep ringing the justice bells for Nolan Wells."

As investigators continue their work, advocates and online communities say they will keep examining available evidence — including Brantley’s enhanced audio — in hopes of uncovering information that could help clarify what happened.