OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. — The search for Nolan Xavier Wells entered its third day Monday after the 18-year-old disappeared during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island, a remote barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast that can only be reached by boat.
“His father, Elmore Wonsley, and I are not ok. We have so many questions. Our hearts are breaking; we keep waiting for Nolan to walk through that door with his beautiful smile and a joke, of course. We just pray our son is alive & safe,” Christine Wonsley, Nolan’s mother, wrote on social media.
Wells, a former Ocean Springs High School football standout who now plays wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, traveled to the island Saturday with a group of friends.
According to Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter, he was last seen around 3 p.m. Saturday on the western tip of the island’s north shore.
Investigators have not confirmed what happened after Wells was last seen or whether he ever made it back to the mainland.
Search continues on Horn Island
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is leading the search alongside the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Gulf Islands National Seashore, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the volunteer organization United Cajun Navy.
Search crews remain focused on the area where Wells was last seen, with a command post operating from the Lake Mars Boat Launch in Ocean Springs.
What investigators know so far
Authorities say Wells was reportedly spending time with a young woman shortly before he disappeared. At some point, he became separated from his cellphone, which has since been recovered and returned to his family.
Investigators emphasize that they have not confirmed whether Wells left Horn Island or boarded another boat.
Officials also corrected an earlier description of his clothing. Authorities say Wells last wore blue swim trunks, sunglasses and no shirt, correcting earlier reports that identified his shorts as black.
He’s described as a Black male who stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 180 pounds.
Authorities ask the public for help
Investigators have interviewed several people who were on Horn Island Saturday but continue to ask anyone who saw Wells, spoke with him or may have transported him by boat to come forward.
Authorities say even seemingly minor information could help establish Wells’ movements before he disappeared.
Family continues search for answers
Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, has used social media to keep attention on the search, thanking volunteers while asking the public to continue praying for her son and sharing information about his disappearance.
The Black Wall Street Times is continuing to follow this developing story, including questions surrounding the timeline of Wells’ disappearance and the search effort.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at (228) 769-3063 or the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources at (844) 937-6636.
