HORN ISLAND, MISSISSIPPI — Newly obtained GPS data is providing investigators and the public with a clearer picture of the boat trip that preceded the disappearance and death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, while major questions about what happened during his final hours remain unanswered.

Wells traveled to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, with friends on July 4 to celebrate Independence Day.

He never returned to the mainland with the group.

His body was discovered in the water near Horn Island two days later.

More than a month after his death, investigators have yet to publicly establish exactly how Wells died or what happened after he was left behind on the island.

GPS Data Tracks the Boat’s Movements
GPS records from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, obtained by CBS News, show the movements of the boat Wells was aboard on July 4.

According to the data, the vessel departed a dock at approximately 9:56 a.m. and arrived at Horn Island around 11:14 a.m.

The boat later left the island without Wells aboard.

That timeline is significant because investigators have previously said Wells was not on the vessel when it returned toward the mainland.

Wells was reportedly last seen on the island at approximately 3 p.m.

His mother later reported him missing when he failed to return home.

The GPS information does not by itself establish why Wells remained on the island or what happened to him afterward. But it provides investigators with an objective record of the vessel’s movements during an important portion of the day.

His Parents Say He Would Not Have Stayed Behind
Wells’ parents have repeatedly questioned the explanation that their son voluntarily decided to remain on Horn Island.

His father, Elmore Wonsley, told CBS News that Nolan was someone who normally stayed with his group.

The family has also questioned conflicting accounts concerning whether Wells intended to return to the mainland with his friends or stay behind after meeting someone at the island.

Those discrepancies have become one of the reasons the family continues to demand a deeper investigation.

Authorities, meanwhile, have said the friends who accompanied Wells have cooperated with investigators.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has also appealed to members of the public who may have been on Horn Island that day to provide original photographs and videos.

Investigators specifically sought material showing Nolan, possible altercations or unusual activity in the area where he was last seen.

A Distress Call Adds Another Piece to the Timeline
Another potentially important development involves a distress call made from a boat on July 4.

According to reporting by The Washington Post, the call was made to a private marine towing company after a boat reportedly began taking on water near Horn Island.

The caller said the boat’s bilge pump had stopped working and asked for assistance.

The dispatcher was told there were approximately seven people aboard.

However, before assistance arrived, the towing company was reportedly informed that the problem had been resolved and that help was no longer needed.

Wells’ family has hired audio experts to examine the recording.

Their legal team is also pushing for additional examination of phones belonging to people who were with Wells on the island.

The distress call has attracted considerable attention online, although authorities have warned against drawing conclusions from incomplete information.

Questions Surround the Final Hours
One of the biggest unanswered questions remains what happened after the boat left Horn Island.

According to investigators, Wells did not return to the mainland with his friends.

His body was later found in the water off the island.

Initially, authorities said they had no evidence of foul play.

But the case has continued to receive scrutiny as the family and its attorneys have questioned whether the circumstances surrounding Wells’ disappearance and death have been fully investigated.

An independent autopsy commissioned by the family was unable to determine a definitive cause of death.

The official autopsy has also not publicly resolved the central question.

Authorities have indicated that the official findings will be presented to a grand jury.

Witnesses Reported Heavy Alcohol Consumption
More recent reporting has added another detail to the investigation.

Witnesses reportedly told authorities that Wells had consumed a significant amount of alcohol during the July 4 outing.

However, his exact level of intoxication has not been publicly established, and his cause of death remains undetermined.

That distinction is important because alcohol consumption alone does not explain how Wells ended up in the water or whether any other circumstances contributed to his death.

No Drownings Reported at Horn Island in Years
The circumstances have also drawn attention because Horn Island apparently has not experienced a reported drowning in approximately six years, according to data obtained by PEOPLE.

The area can nevertheless present hazards, including strong currents and sudden changes in water depth.

Officials initially considered accidental drowning among the possible explanations, but the unresolved autopsy findings have prevented a definitive public conclusion.

The absence of a confirmed cause of death means investigators have not publicly closed the door on other possibilities.

Family Seeks Answers as Investigation Continues
Nolan’s family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump and has continued pressing authorities for transparency.

The NAACP has also joined the legal team representing the family, adding another layer of outside scrutiny to the case.

The organization says it intends to assist the family in seeking answers and greater transparency surrounding the investigation.

At the same time, authorities have cautioned against online speculation.

Several people connected to the case have reportedly faced harassment, doxxing and threats as social media users attempt to determine what happened.

Those allegations have not been established as facts, and the people who were with Wells have not been publicly charged with causing his death.

What Investigators Know — and What Remains Unknown
The publicly known timeline currently looks like this:

July 4: Nolan Wells travels by boat with friends to Horn Island.

Approximately 11:14 a.m.: GPS records show the boat arriving at the island.

Afternoon: Wells is reportedly last seen on Horn Island.

Later that day: The boat leaves the island without Wells.

Night of July 4: Wells is reported missing.

July 6: His body is discovered in the water near Horn Island.

July: Authorities continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing photographs, videos, GPS information and other evidence.

August: The family continues seeking an expanded investigation, while the official cause of death remains unresolved.

The GPS records help establish where the boat traveled, but they do not answer the most important question:

Why did Nolan Wells not return with the others?

The Mystery Remains
As of August 23, 2026, no person has been publicly charged in connection with Nolan Wells’ death.

The official investigation remains ongoing, while the family continues its independent effort to determine what happened.

The GPS data, distress call, witness accounts, photographs and video could eventually help investigators reconstruct Wells’ final hours.

For now, however, the evidence available publicly still leaves a critical gap between the moment the boat left Horn Island and the discovery of Nolan’s body.

His family is still waiting for an explanation.

What happened to Nolan Wells after the boat left Horn Island remains unanswered.

Latest Status
Nolan Wells, 18, was found dead near Horn Island on July 6.
GPS data confirms the boat carrying him reached the island at approximately 11:14 a.m. on July 4.
The boat later left without Wells.
His cause of death remains publicly undetermined.
An independent autopsy commissioned by the family was inconclusive.
A grand jury is expected to review the official findings.
The NAACP has joined the family’s legal team.
No one has been publicly charged in connection with Wells’ death as of August 23, 2026.
Sources
CBS News: GPS data documenting the boat’s movements before and after Nolan Wells’ disappearance.