The search for 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells continues after he was last seen Saturday, July 4, around 3 p.m. on Horn Island, Mississippi.
Multiple agencies are involved in the search effort, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Marine Resources, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the United Cajun Navy. A command post has been established at the Lake Mars Boat Launch in Ocean Springs.
Wells, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound Black male, was last seen wearing blue swim trunks, sunglasses, and no shirt. According to United Cajun Navy Incident Commander Josh Gill, Wells was last seen “hanging out with a girl” on the east end of Horn Island.
Search crews have been focusing on Wells’ last known location after volunteers determined it’s unlikely he wandered into the island’s interior. The terrain is rough, with cactuses and thorny brush that would make travel difficult for someone barefoot.
Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, has been sharing updates on Facebook, describing her son as “one of the sweetest and kindest souls you could ever meet”. She has pleaded with anyone who may have photos or video from the island to come forward.
Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughan urged anyone who was on Horn Island that day to contact authorities immediately. “Even the smallest detail could make a difference,” he said.
Wells is a former football player at Ocean Springs High School and currently plays wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College. The college football team has asked the community to pray for his safe return.
