Nolan Wells: The Unanswered Plea Before a Devastating Disappearance

During a boat excursion with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Gulf Coast of Mississippi , 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells went missing, and a major search operation was launched on Independence Day. His body was discovered just two days later on July 6, and while an initial post-mortem in Mississippi failed to determine the circumstances or cause of his death, an independent inquiry which took place in Washington revealed a tragic breakthrough in the case. The new autopsy uncovered a previously missed 12-by-8-inch red discoloration to the back of his head, which could indicate trauma and bring investigators a step closer to uncovering Wells’ cause of death. There are many unanswered questions surrounding Wells' death However, the autopsy performed by Dr. Roger Mitchell, a forensic pathologist and President of the National Medical Association , and the report that followed determined that the decomposition and a lack of associated injuries meant the cause and manner of death are still inconclusive. Wells with friends on a boat during July 4 celebrations. Credit: Facebook Following pressure from the media and Nolan’s family, his self-proclaimed best friend, Warren Hudson, opened up about why the group of friends left the late college football player on the isolated island. Speaking on the podcast, The Officer Tatum Show , Hudson explained that after the boat he went to the island on experienced issues, Wells was repeatedly asked to get on to return to the mainland. He claimed that one of his “panicking” friends shouted at the teen, “Nolan, get the F on the boat. “And Nolan said no I’m staying out here… I’m gonna ride in with somebody else.” Hudson told YouTuber Brandon Tatum : “My buddy asked Nolan multiple times to get on the boat: ‘Nolan, get on the boat, get on the boat, we’re leaving. If you’re coming, you gotta come now”. Nolan Xavier Wells disappeared from Horn Island, Mississippi, on the Fourth of July weekend. Credit: Facebook Hudson shut down suspicions over Wells' social media The teenager also addressed questions the friends have faced over finding no pictures or videos on Wells’ Snapchat, which his family believes means they may have been deleted. Speaking to the host, Hudson said: “When you’re waist-deep in water, no one’s carrying their phone in their hand, especially at Horn Island –– the water… has been very, very murky because of the rain and… it’s just very risky.” “But a lot of the pictures you see are on the boat for a reason… We were all waist-deep in water, no one’s sitting there scrolling on their phone.” While there are many unanswered questions, police are sticking to the line that nothing surrounding the circumstances of Wells’ death points towards foul play, and they believe Wells drowned after his friends left him on the isolated island. Featured image credit: Facebook