Memorial Service Held for Mississippi Footballer Nolan Wells Amid Investigation

The memorial service of Nolan Wells, the Mississippi teen who died during a Fourth of July outing to Horn Island, is to be livestreamed today as the mysterious case grabbed nationwide attention because of the race of Wells. Wells was the only Black among the friend group and the rest of them made it back home. Wells' body was found on July 6, face down in the water. Wells was a 2025 graduate and multi-sport athlete at Ocean Springs High School and later played football at Southwest Mississippi Community College. Actor and media mogul Tyler Perry is paying for the services, according to CBS News. While investigators have said drowning is suspected, they haven't released an official cause of death, and the case remains under investigation.

Drowning not ruled out but family hires attorney for separate investigation

There was no sign of trauma or foul play on Well's body but the autopsy result has not been revealed as the experts are now waiting for toxicology test. Wells’ parents sent their son’s body out of state for an independent autopsy, family attorney Ben Crump said. “We had his body flown from Mississippi to Washington, DC, because his family wanted to make sure that they had a doctor who had no ties to Mississippi law enforcement to do an independent examination of their son’s body,” Crump said. This autopsy result is also awaited. The other three friends have retained attorneys. One of the friends said Well stayed back with a girl he met. “They met that day, and it was kind of – it’s kind of one of those things. … he really did like her, but that was the only time they ever hung out was at Horn Island on July 4,” Tracestin Shepherd said. But another friend who also saw Wells on July 4 said it was not like Wells to separate from the group he came with. Wells’ mother, Christine Wells-Wonsley, said the family compared the location history between the Snapchat and Life360 apps tracking her son’s phone – but the data didn’t match. Shepherd said the friends are now receiving death threats. “We did no wrong here, and we don’t understand how we’re getting so much hate behind us,” he said. “We all cared (for) and loved Nolan, and nobody wanted to see Nolan die. Nobody wanted to see his life be taken so short.”