What began as a Fourth of July outing with friends ended in tragedy for the 18-year-old. Days after his body was recovered, a new account from the mother of one of the friends who was with him has added another version of how that afternoon unfolded.
But before that statement emerged, a holiday trip had already turned into a frantic search, a devastating discovery, and a growing demand for answers.
Nolan Xavier Wells, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, traveled to Horn Island with a group of friends on July 4, 2026, leaving from a private dock in the Ocean Springs area.
July 4: Wells Heads to Horn Island With Friends
Authorities said he was last seen near the island around 3 p.m. His close friend, 17-year-old Jayvon Williams, had planned to ride on the same boat, but it reached capacity before he could board. Williams traveled on another boat, though the friends still met on the island. He placed their final encounter sometime after 4 p.m.
Wells reportedly spent part of the day talking with a girl he knew and socializing with others on the beach. During the outing, he pulled Williams aside and told him that he loved him.
Another friend, Trace Carter, had also spoken with Nolan and asked him to check in when he made it back safely. Wells reportedly promised to reach out that evening.
He never did. Wells did not return with the group, and authorities were told that he had chosen to remain on Horn Island. By midnight, his mother, Christine Wonsley, had contacted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to report him missing.
Nolan Wells was known by most of his friends as a protector. Here’s a photo of him with other friends on their trip to an island in Mississippi on July 4, 2026. | Source: Facebook/Christine Wonsley
July 5: The Search Expands Across the Water
The search intensified the following day. Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a request for assistance from local authorities at 12:26 p.m. and issued an urgent marine broadcast. A helicopter was also deployed to search the area.
A command post was established at the Lake Mars Boat Launch as multiple agencies joined the operation, including the Coast Guard, National Park Service, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and state and local authorities.
The volunteer rescue group United Cajun Navy also joined the effort. As crews searched the water and surrounding areas, Wells’ family and loved ones waited for news.
July 6 – 7: A Devastating Discovery and a Search for Answers
The search ended in heartbreak on July 6, when a U.S. Park Service ranger found a body near the northwestern tip of Horn Island. Later that day, Christine Wonsley publicly confirmed that the remains were those of her son.
Dental records formally confirmed Wells’ identity the following day. His family then retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, whose team announced plans to independently review the circumstances of the 18-year-old’s death and seek access to records, witness accounts, and autopsy findings.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office also appealed for photos, videos, and firsthand information about anything unusual on Horn Island on July 4.
The timeline of Nolan Wells’ disappearance and discovery doesn’t make this tragedy any easier to understand but it’s best to have all the details. Here’s a photo of him and his mother, Christine Wonsley, posted on July 7, 2026 | Source: Facebook/Christine Wonsley
As attention increasingly turned to Wells’ final hours and the friends who had been with him that day, the mother of one of those friends publicly shared her account of what happened.
A Judge Breaks Her Silence on What Happened July 4
In a lengthy Facebook post, Judge Ashlee Cole addressed rumors surrounding her family and explained why she had deactivated her social media account. Judge Cole said her son, Warren, “loved Nolan dearly” and that she feared for her children’s safety amid the intense attention surrounding the case.
She also revealed that she and Wonsley had known each other long before the tragedy. They graduated from the same high school and came from the same community.
“I graduated high school with Christine Wells-Wonsley. We are from the same community. I have the utmost respect for her and all of the Wells family. We mourn the loss of Nolan with them. Our prayers have been and will continue to be with them,” Judge Cole wrote.
She then addressed what she said happened during the crucial hours before Nolan disappeared. “My husband and I were not at Horn Island at any point on 4th of July. No one in our family is trying in any way to impede with the investigation by law enforcement or to otherwise hamper the family and law enforcement’s quest for answers.”
“Warren was interviewed by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and cooperated fully. He saw Nolan last at around 3 pm on July 4th. They left around 4:30 pm when the boat was taking on water, and they had an issue with the bilge pump. Nolan made a decision to stay on the island and return inland later with another group of friends.”
The judge also directly addressed her decision to deactivate her Facebook account. “Yes, I am a judge. I also value transparency. I apologize if anyone was offended that I deleted my social media. There were no nefarious motivations in my deleting my social media. Social media has a lot of positives, but a whole lot of negatives,” she wrote.
“We live in a world of click-baiting. Sad, but true.” Judge Cole said she hoped her statement would redirect attention toward Wells’ family, their grief, and their need for support.
Wells’ Family Seeks Another Autopsy
As questions about Wells’ final hours continue, his family has taken another step in its search for answers. In an interview reported by WWL Louisiana, the attorney representing Wells’ family said his body was sent to Washington, D.C., for an independent autopsy.
Mississippi’s state medical examiner had already performed an autopsy, but no official cause of death had been released. The state results, including toxicology findings, could take weeks to come in.
Authorities have said they believe Wells likely drowned and that foul play is not currently suspected. However, Crump has pointed to what he described as contradictions in accounts of Nolan’s final movements.
The woman who was reportedly speaking with the deceased teenager around 3 p.m. said that after their conversation, “Nolan said he was going back to the boat,” according to Crump.
“And then the boys on the boat said, ‘No, Nolan told them he was going to stay with her.’ And so they are conflicting. She’s saying he went and got on the boat. They saying he didn’t get on the boat. So which is it?” he asked.
Nolan Wells, dressed in his Bears uniform, smiles beside his mother, Christine Wonsley, after a football game. As his family seeks an independent autopsy, questions about the 18-year-old’s final movements on Horn Island remain unresolved. | Source: Facebook/Christine Wonsley
