Attorneys for the family of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who died after going missing during a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island off the Mississippi coast, have agreed to a joint inspection of his recovered cellphone with the local district attorney’s office. The family had previously alleged that messages on the phone appeared to have been erased before they received it, raising concerns about the investigation's integrity.
GPS data from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, obtained by CBS News, tracks the movements of the boat carrying Wells and his friends. The vessel left the dock at 9:56 a.m. on July 4, arrived at Horn Island at 11:14 a.m., and departed at 4:31 p.m. Wells was not on the boat when it left the island, according to authorities. The boat later returned to its original dock and was towed to the owners' residence in Biloxi.
Wells was last seen on the island at 3 p.m. on July 4, and his body was discovered on July 6 near the shore. A National Park Service ranger found the body, and search efforts involved the U.S. Coast Guard and the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer search and rescue organization. Officials believe Wells likely drowned, as his body was found near where he was last seen, consistent with wind and drift patterns.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, and the family’s attorneys, including Ben Crump, have expressed hope that presenting the case to a grand jury will ensure an impartial review. The district attorney, Angel Myers McIlrath, has committed to presenting the investigation to a grand jury once completed.
Rumors online have speculated about the circumstances of Wells’ disappearance, but officials have emphasized there is no evidence suggesting foul play. The boat’s owner, his mother, and another individual present on the day of the incident have cooperated with investigators.