JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. — Newly surfaced video and photos appear to confirm that 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells was not aboard the boat carrying his friends as it was towed away from Horn Island during a Fourth of July outing, according to reports.

The never-before-seen footage, circulated this week, shows seven young people on the vessel preparing to leave the remote barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Wells, who was found dead in the water near the island two days later, is nowhere visible in the clips.

Wells, a recent Ocean Springs High School graduate and wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, had joined friends for a boat trip to Horn Island on July 4, 2026. The group departed the mainland around 9:56 a.m. and arrived at the western tip of the island about 11:14 a.m. Photos from the day show Wells smiling in blue swim trunks and sunglasses with companions.

Around 4 p.m., a teenager on the boat placed a frantic call to private towing company Sea Tow, reporting that the vessel’s bilge pump had failed and it was taking on water. “We’re sinking. Can y’all please come?” the caller said, according to audio released by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. The caller estimated about seven people were aboard. GPS data indicates the boat left Horn Island around 4:31 p.m. after receiving help from another nearby vessel; it later returned to the mainland that evening.

Friends told authorities that Wells chose to remain on the island with an unidentified female and that they urged him to board before departing. Some witnesses reported seeing him on the island as late as 6 p.m. Wells was reported missing later that night after a friend contacted his family. Search efforts involving the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and volunteers followed.

On July 6, a body matching Wells’ description was recovered from the water near the shoreline. The Jackson County coroner initially noted no obvious signs of physical injury. Authorities stated they did not suspect foul play at the outset and described witness accounts as consistent. A full state autopsy, including toxicology results, remains pending.

Wells’ family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, has questioned the circumstances. They commissioned an independent autopsy that found the cause and manner of death undetermined, noting some red discoloration on tissue at the back of the head whose origin is unclear. The family has emphasized that Wells was a strong swimmer and athlete and has called for a thorough, transparent investigation. They continue to urge anyone with information to contact authorities.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has described the investigation as active and ongoing, requesting photos and videos from the northwest portion of Horn Island on July 4. Public attention has grown amid online speculation and racial tensions surrounding the case.

The new visual evidence of the towed boat adds another layer to the timeline of Wells’ final hours, reinforcing that he was not among those who left the island that afternoon.

Sources

• TMZ, “Nolan Wells Not Aboard Towed Boat After Emergency Dispatch Call, New Video Shows,” July 28, 2026
• Yahoo News