• Nolan Wells, 18, was found dead after going missing during a boat trip to Horn Island on July 4.
• His family has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to investigate the circumstances of his death.
• Authorities are actively investigating, having spoken with Wells' friends who were on the island with him.

Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old student-athlete from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was found dead on Horn Island after going missing during a Fourth of July celebration trip with friends. Initially reported missing late on July 4, his body was discovered on July 6 by a U.S. park ranger, leading his family to seek answers through the retention of civil rights attorney Ben Crump. An autopsy was scheduled shortly after Wells was found, but results have not yet been disclosed, leaving many questions unanswered about the circumstances surrounding his death, according to Indiatimes, CBS News, and NPR.

During the trip, Wells was last seen at approximately 3 p.m. on the island; however, he did not return to the mainland with his friends, who later reported him missing. His mother mentioned that Wells would have turned 19 next month and appealed to the public for any information or materials that could shed light on his whereabouts during that day, including videos or photographs from the trip, according to Indiatimes and CBS News.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has confirmed that Wells' friends are cooperating with the investigation. Evidence suggests that he may have chosen to stay on the island under the impression that someone else would provide a return trip to the mainland. This detail is being explored as part of the ongoing investigation into his death, as they seek to gather as much information regarding the events leading up to the tragedy, as reported by Indiatimes, CBS News, and NPR.

Crump emphasized that the family deserves "a full and transparent investigation" into the matter, reiterating their commitment to uncovering all the facts surrounding Wells' tragic death on Horn Island. His comments reflect the family's deep emotional pain and desire for clarity in the wake of this devastating event, as mentioned by Indiatimes, CBS News, and NPR.