The family of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells has hired civil rights lawyer Ben Crump. This comes during the ongoing investigation into Wells’ disappearance and death following a boat trip on July 4. His body was found on Monday off Horn Island, Mississippi. He was last seen with friends on Saturday afternoon.
In a statement, Crump emphasized the family’s need for answers about the events before Nolan’s death. He stressed the importance of investigating with urgency and transparency. Crump is also representing the family of a Mississippi child killed in a police shooting.
Nolan had taken a boat to the island but did not return with his friends, according to Sheriff John Ledbetter of Jackson County. Wells was reported missing by his mother that night, and a rescue team found his body the next day. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday.
Ledbetter mentioned that Wells’ friends were cooperating with the investigation. He noted that it seemed Nolan had chosen to stay on the island, planning to return later with someone else.
Nolan was a student at Southwest Mississippi Community College, where he played as a wide receiver on the football team. His mother, Christine Wonsley, expressed her heartbreak in a social media post, urging others to share videos and information they might have. She described Nolan as someone who always uplifted others and mentioned how special he was to the family.