Body of missing 18-year-old Nolan Wells found on Mississippi island

Missing Teen's Body Discovered

The search for 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells has ended after his body was found on a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf coast. Wells went missing on July 4 following a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, about 10 miles offshore.

Wells, a freshman at Southwest Mississippi Community College, did not return with his friends that evening. His mother, Christine Wonsley, reported him missing and appealed for help on social media, sparking a two-day search that drew national attention.

The search concluded on Monday when a body was found on the island. On Tuesday, Wonsley identified the remains as those of her son. "His father, our family, friends and I are absolutely devastated," she wrote on Facebook. "Nolan was a special soul."

No cause of death has been reported, and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office is conducting an active investigation. Sheriff John Ledbetter said Tuesday the case remains "a very active investigation."

During the search, Wonsley posted photos of Wells and his friends on social media. The images showed Wells, who is Black, with three other men who are white. Social media users quickly speculated that his disappearance might have been racially motivated.

National civil rights organizations have commented on the case. The NAACP wrote on Instagram: "His name was Nolan Xavier Wells. He was 18. He was loved. He deserved more time. Every Black man deserves the chance to grow old."

Wells would have turned 19 next month. His mother described him as someone who always sought to cheer and uplift others.