A body was discovered on Horn Island, Mississippi, and officials have ended the search for a missing 18-year-old.
The United Cajun Navy announced in a Facebook post on Monday, July 6, that the search for 18-year-old Nolan Wells had been called off “after a body was located Monday morning on the northwest end of Horn Island.” The agency said authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the person who was found.
Officials have been searching for 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells since he disappeared around 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.
According to the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office led search efforts across land and water on July 5 and 6 after the teen went missing. Search teams combed the barrier island on foot while also using planes and boats.
The United Cajun Navy previously said in a Facebook post on July 6 that it was “actively engaged in the search effort for Nolan Wells alongside our public safety partners.”
Horn Island sits about 10 miles off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. According to the National Park Service, visitors can only reach the island by private boat, and it remains a designated wilderness area that has not been affected by commercial development.
What does Nolan Wells look like?
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office described Wells as being a Black man standing about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighing about 180 pounds.
Wells, who also goes by Nono, was last seen on the northwest tip of Horn Island around 4:30 p.m. July 4. He was wearing blue swim trunks, sunglasses and no shirt.
Christine Wonsley, Wells’ mother, shared more information and photos in a series of social media posts. Wonsley said Wells was separated from his phone, so location tracking isn’t an option. She also said it’s not clear when he left the island and who he was with.
This has been updated with new information.
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