New Police Report Lays Out Early Search for Nolan Wells as Family Demands Answers

A newly released 15-page police report from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) provides a clearer timeline of the initial search for 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who vanished from Horn Island during a Fourth of July gathering on July 4 and was found dead two days later. The report details early search steps, who joined the effort, and investigators’ initial conclusions — which Wells' family disputes as they press for a thorough, transparent inquiry.

What The Report Describes

According to the MDMR record, MDMR officers left Biloxi around 8 a.m. on July 5 and encountered a private boat near Horn Island carrying Wells’ parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, and Les George, the head coach at Southwest Mississippi Community College. George told officers that several private citizens had been searching the northwest tip of the island for Wells.

The report says dispatchers were first notified of Wells' disappearance around 11:50 p.m. on July 4 after his mother called to report him missing. A friend who had been with Wells earlier that day, Warren Hudson, appears to have first alerted the mother to his unknown whereabouts.

Horn IslandCredit: Robert Rausch/The New York Times/Redux

Friends’ Accounts And Early Leads

Several friends told investigators they left the island around 3 p.m. on July 4 and believed Wells remained behind with an unknown female. They also said Wells’ phone was left in a friend’s truck. Based on those statements, a Jackson County sheriff’s lieutenant told the MDMR he did not have reason to suspect an immediate water emergency and believed Nolan may have left on another vessel without his phone.

Search Efforts

Search activity on July 5 included shoreline checks, in-water searches, sonar sweeps described as "inconclusive," and a request for drone support that was curtailed because high heat shortened drone battery life. The search quickly expanded to include the National Park Service, Jackson County boats and privately owned vessels.

Investigative Follow-Ups

The MDMR report notes efforts to gather GPS data from multiple vessels. On July 8, Jackson County officials sought help downloading GPS records from two boats. One boat owner, Bart Edminston Jr., consented to a search and GPS download and has since said he has no connection to Wells’ death. Investigators also attempted to locate and interview a woman initially reported to have been on Horn Island that day; she told officers she had been on another island and had not seen Wells in over a year.

Nolan WellsCredit: Jackson County Sheriff's Department

Discovery Of The Body And Autopsy Information

Wells’ body was found the morning of July 6. Officials reported he was found face-down and still wearing swim trunks. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter told media there were no immediate signs of foul play and that drowning was a possible explanation given the area's dangerous rip currents. Wells' family and their attorney have called that characterization premature and are demanding more exhaustive investigative work.

The state autopsy results have not yet been released. The family’s attorney, Ben Crump, disclosed findings from an independent autopsy that described the cause and manner of death as "undetermined." The independent report said it could not rule out foul play, found no fractures or deep tissue injuries, and described a "red discoloration" on the back of Wells' skull as inconclusive and in need of further testing.

Ongoing Investigation

The investigation remains active. Authorities continue forensic analyses, and the family is pursuing its own inquiries. Family members have cited concerns about the speed of early conclusions and raised questions about whether race may influence how the case is handled.

Key takeaway: The MDMR report clarifies early search actions and investigative steps, but critical questions remain about Wells’ final hours and the circumstances of his death as official and independent investigations proceed.