{"id":747688,"date":"2026-07-07T03:10:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T03:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/747688\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T03:10:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T03:10:15","slug":"nolan-wells-mom-confirms-death-after-body-found-on-horn-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/747688\/","title":{"rendered":"Nolan Wells\u2019 Mom Confirms Death After Body Found on Horn Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hours after a park ranger found<\/a> a body on Horn Island while searching for missing college student Nolan Xavier Wells, the 18-year-old\u2019s mother confirmed his death on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis father, our family, friends and I are absolutely devastated,\u201d Christine Wonsley wrote in a Facebook post<\/a>. \u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jackson County sheriff and coroner both confirmed that the body matches the description of Wells, who went missing Saturday, July 4, while visiting Horn Island with a group of friends. The cause of death is unknown.<\/p>\n

Authorities are awaiting the results of DNA testing, but Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd said that \u201cthere is no reason to believe it is not him,\u201d WLOX reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wells would have turned 19 next month, when he was also set to return to Southwest Mississippi Community College to practice for the football season. Wells was a wide receiver for the SMCC Bears.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe entire Southwest family is heartbroken as we mourn the tragic loss of Nolan Wells,\u201d the school\u2019s president, J. Steven Bishop, wrote in a statement<\/a>. \u201cNolan was an exemplary student, athlete, friend, and teammate. We remember Nolan as a well-respected young man who was very popular among friends, faculty, and staff. We loved Nolan, and he will be greatly missed in many ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FourNolan Xavier Wells, second from right, disappeared while on a trip with friends to Horn Island, just south of Jackson County off of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Photo courtesy Christine Wonsley \/ Facebook<\/p>\n

Wells was last seen around 3 p.m. on Saturday on Horn Island, a barrier island 10 miles south of Pascagoula, Mississippi. He had gone out with several friends on a boat earlier that day, and Wonsley posted photos<\/a> of the group on Facebook.\u00a0<\/p>\n

State, federal and local agencies\u2014including the Jackson County Sheriff\u2019s Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the Gulf Islands National Seashore authority and the volunteer United Cajun Navy\u2014participated in the search for Wells.<\/p>\n

A family friend has launched a GoFundMe campaign for the family of Nolan Wells<\/a>. As of Monday at 6:30 p.m., it had raised over $14,000.<\/p>\n

Follow the Mississippi Free Press\u2019 coverage of the Gulf Coast and read past stories here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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