On July 4, Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old college freshman from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, went on a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island about 10 miles off the Mississippi Gulf coast. While his friends returned home that evening, Wells did not, prompting his mother, Christine Wonsley, to report him missing and seek help on social media.
A two-day search attracted national attention and ended on Monday when a body was found on Horn Island. On Tuesday, Wonsley identified the body as that of her son. In a Facebook post, she wrote, “His father, our family, friends and I are absolutely devastated. My heart is broken for my sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others. Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son.”
Wells, who was a freshman at Southwest Mississippi Community College, would have turned 19 next month. No cause of death has been reported, and Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter stated on Tuesday that the investigation remains very active.
While the search was ongoing, Wonsley shared photos of Wells and the group from Horn Island on Facebook.
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