The dad and mom of Nolan Xavier Wells, the 18-year-old student-athlete whose physique was recovered on July 6 after a Fourth of July boating journey, referred to as for a clear investigation as they search solutions concerning the mysterious dying of their son.
Christine and Elmore Wonsley instructed “Good Morning America” anchor Michael Strahan in an interview on Friday that they’ve referred to as for a “thorough” investigation as they search solutions about their son’s mysterious dying.
“We simply need honesty and transparency. We wish an intensive investigation,” Christine Wonsley stated. “We wish that very same respect that might be given to anyone else, and that is it. We simply need solutions.”
Wells, who performed soccer at Southwest Mississippi Neighborhood Faculty, went lacking throughout a Fourth of July celebration with highschool buddies on Horn Island, a well-liked undeveloped island simply south of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, officers stated. A physique believed to be Wells was recovered on Monday. In line with Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter, a pal of Wells contacted the Coast Guard round 11 p.m. on July 4. Individually, Wells’ mom contacted the sheriff’s workplace about her son round midnight main into July 5.
The Wonsleys solid doubt on claims by buddies that Wells determined to remain behind on the island, whereas his buddies left.
“That we can’t reply,” Christine Wonsley stated when requested why Wells would keep behind, “I simply, I can not — I can not fathom why he would.”
“We at all times instructed him, in case you go together with a bunch, you stick with a bunch,” Elmore Wonsley stated.
Ledbetter instructed ABC Information in an interview that aired on “GMA” on Friday that nothing “but” from the proof they collected signifies that foul play was concerned in Wells’ dying, however the investigation will take time and is ongoing, he added.
“We’re working in the direction of the identical objective because the household. We wish an intensive investigation. We’re looking for out every part ,” he stated. “We’re offering an intensive, skilled, and correct investigation. That is what we’ll proceed to do, till we arrive on the solutions that the household deserves.”
“This can be a very tough time for our neighborhood. This can be a very tough time for Nolan’s household,” he added. “Our primary goal and our precedence is to provide an correct {and professional} and really thorough investigation into the dying of Nolan, for the sake of his household and for the sake of the neighborhood.”
The sheriff urged the general public for “persistence” as investigators look right into a “substantial quantity” of ideas and assessment picture and video proof.
“Jackson County is a neighborhood that helps its folks,” he stated. “Our neighborhood is there for the household.”
An undated picture of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, whose physique was believed to be recovered after going lacking on July 4, 2026.
Courtesy of the Wells Household
Christine Wonsley instructed “GMA” that his household tracked his telephone on the Life360 utility, however when she went to choose it up from buddies, she discovered that some texts and messages had been deleted, significantly pointing to his Snapchat account.
“Once we lastly acquired his telephone, me and my sister went by means of the telephone. We went in his Snapchat. He had two accounts. Completely nothing,” Christine Wonsley stated. “It wasn’t even 24 hours, which is how lengthy movies and footage keep in Snapchat … even my sister was like, yeah, that is suspicious.”
“No younger individual leaves their cellphone,” civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who represents the household, instructed “GMA.” “It is not including up, and that’s the drawback when you consider the historical past of Mississippi. Yeah, so there are such a lot of questions that should be answered.”
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Division launched this picture throughout the seek for Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, in Mississippi.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Division
Crump instructed ABC Information Stay Prime anchor Linsey Davis in an interview on Wednesday that the household will “not enable” investigators to “sweep” their son’s dying “underneath a rug.”
“You are attempting to inform us simply settle for this an accident and sweep it underneath the rug,” Crump stated. “His mom, Christine, his father, Elmore, say, no, they won’t enable that to occur.”
In line with Crump, whereas authorities have instructed the household that they “do not see any proof of any foul play,” Wells’ dad and mom have questions after studying extra particulars about what allegedly happened earlier than their son’s disappearance and are calling for a clear investigation.
Crump stated the household is conscious of an “altercation” that was “recorded” by college students who had been on the boat, the place “Nolan and any individual” had been “yelling at each other.”
Crump additionally stated that Wells’ buddies took his telephone with them after they left Horn Island and when his household acquired his telephone again, some messages had been deleted.
“That is one thing that is actually troubling to his household,” Crump stated.
Requested if Wells might swim, Crump stated his father described the 18-year-old school soccer participant as “an elite athlete.”
“He stated that his son might swim. And so, they’re simply not accepting that Nolan drowned unintentionally,” Crump stated.
Because the household searches for solutions, they are going to conduct an unbiased post-mortem in Washington, D.C., Crump stated.
Nolan Wells in his soccer uniform throughout the summer season/fall season of 2024 at Ocean Springs Excessive Faculty, the place he was a senior.
Ocean Springs Faculty District
The sheriff’s division burdened Wednesday that the investigation is ongoing and urged anybody who was on or close to the northwest tip of Horn Island to return ahead with pictures or movies, “significantly these depicting alleged altercations or containing pictures of, or believed to incorporate Nolan Wells.”
The sheriff’s division stated it is also on the lookout for anybody who could have seen Wells or “noticed or heard an argument, disturbance, or different uncommon exercise whereas on the island.”
“Even data which will appear insignificant might show helpful to investigators. We encourage anybody with firsthand data to return ahead,” the division stated.
“Our ideas, prayers, and condolences stay with Nolan Wells’ household throughout this tough time,” the division added.
ABC Information’ Sasha Pezenick, Kirk Cohall and Mark Guarino contributed to this report.
