Family of Nolan Wells Signals Possible Lawsuit as Questions Remain After Teen’s Mysterious Death on Island

The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has signaled that it may pursue legal action after his unexplained death following a large Fourth of July gathering on Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi coast. Court records and multiple news outlets show preservation notices were sent to friends and potential witnesses and that Wells’ mother—now administrator of his estate—has issued subpoenas to several technology companies seeking account data.

Preservation Notice and Subpoenas

According to reports, preservation notices informing recipients that litigation is "reasonably anticipated" were sent to some of Wells’ friends and to investigative contacts. The notices instruct recipients to preserve "all materials of all kinds within your possession, custody, or control that may be relevant in any way to the claims or defenses," and indicate this duty extends to family members.

One notice obtained by ABC News was addressed to local judge Ashlee Cole; her son, Warren Hudson, was reportedly with Wells on Horn Island on July 4 before Wells was later found dead. Reports indicate Hudson and others left that afternoon after experiencing a pump problem with their boat; audio and other records show the group called for emergency towing assistance and then departed.

Timeline and Phone Details

Wells’ parents have challenged accounts that he intentionally separated from his group, saying such behavior would be out of character and noting Wells did not have his phone when he apparently vanished that afternoon. Some friends have said he left his phone on the boat to keep it from falling into the water; the family says it was returned later that night after Hudson called Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, to report him missing.

Investigations and Autopsies

Wells’ body was found on July 6 at the northwest end of Horn Island. Authorities initially said there were no apparent signs of foul play and that drowning was a possible cause, citing the area’s dangerous rip currents. Both an official investigation and a family-commissioned independent investigation remain ongoing.

The independent autopsy commissioned by Wells’ parents reportedly did not identify major traumatic injuries but was unable to determine a definitive cause of death or rule out foul play without further testing. The official autopsy report has not been released.

Family Response and Next Steps

In addition to preservation notices, Wells’ mother has issued subpoenas to Meta, Life360, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp seeking user information, account data and content related to Wells’ profiles; PEOPLE reviewed the subpoenas. Representatives for the technology companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did the family’s attorneys or the friends who received the legal notices, according to reporting.

“Someone knows something,” said family attorney Ben Crump, urging anyone with information to come forward as investigators and the family continue to probe Wells’ final hours.

Many questions remain about what happened that day. The preservation notices and subpoenas indicate the family is actively seeking evidence that could shed light on Wells’ movements and interactions prior to his death.