Authorities in Jackson County are searching for 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, who has not been seen since Saturday afternoon when he traveled to Horn Island with friends over the July 4 holiday weekend.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department said Wells was last seen around 3 p.m. on the barrier island, which was packed with boaters throughout the weekend. Officials have not confirmed whether he made it back to the mainland afterward. It remains unclear whether Wells is still on Horn Island or has returned to shore with someone else.
Description and Last Known Sighting
Wells is described as a Black male standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 180 pounds. The sheriff’s department updated its description of his clothing on Sunday, saying he was wearing blue swim trunks, not black as first reported, along with sunglasses and no shirt. He had no shirt on when last spotted.
Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, has shared several posts on social media stating that her son was last seen near the western tip of the island’s north end. She said he became separated from his phone at some point during the outing, and the device has since been returned to her and Wells’ father. Wonsley has asked the public to keep her son in their thoughts as the search continues.
The United Cajun Navy is assisting in the search effort and, according to incident commander Josh Gill, has focused its efforts on the east end of Horn Island, near where Wells was reportedly last seen by others in his group.
Multiple Agencies Join the Search Effort
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is coordinating the search with help from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is also lending support to the operation.
A command post has been set up at the Lake Mars Boat Launch on Lake Mars Avenue in Ocean Springs to help direct search operations.
Investigators say they have already interviewed several people who were with Wells or nearby on the island, but they are urging anyone who spoke with him that day and has not yet come forward to contact law enforcement right away.
Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughn also asked the public for help, saying anyone who was on Horn Island on July 4, traveled through the area by boat, or believes they may have seen Wells or given him a ride back to the mainland should reach out to authorities immediately. Vaughn noted that even a small detail could help investigators piece together his final movements.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at (228) 769-3063 or the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources at (844) 937-6636.
This remains an active investigation, and officials say updates will follow as new details emerge.
