Timeline: What happened to Nolan Wells?

Warren, Nolan, and friends gather at a house in Pass Christian for a pool party. Warren's arm is around Nolan in a photo taken this day. This photo will later circulate online (misidentified as July 4).

Nolan cooks salmon for his family before heading out. Tells his mother: "Hey mom, I'm about to go, I love you." Hugs and kisses her goodbye.

Nolan stays the night at Warren's house with the group preparing for July 4.

Nolan receives a message from his friend Trace Carter: "Just hit me up when you get back. Just be careful, bro. Watch out for yourself." Nolan replies: "I got you. I'll hit you up later."

Warren and Nolan had stayed overnight at a friend's house. Warren wakes up, grabs breakfast at McDonald's. Checks on his boat (hooked to his truck) and fills it with ice.

Three boats are prepared and loaded:

All boats meet at Bart's grandparents' house to coordinate departure for Horn Island.

Boats depart from El Camino Real Rd. (private launch in Ocean Springs area).

Boats arrive at Horn Island (northwestern tip). Island is packed: approximately 2,000–3,000+ people, three rows of boats stretching miles along the shoreline. The west tip (where the group anchors) is the most popular spot. The boats anchor in formation: Tideline shore-side, Palm Beach in the middle, Triton on the outer side. The water drops sharply along the anchor zone: waist-deep to neck-deep, then 17–20 feet — with 30 feet of water less than a quarter mile from the island. The current at the west tip is notably strong.

Boats tie up; the group settles in for the day. People get in the water, drinks and food are distributed. Nolan seems "completely fine" in conversations with Warren, Jayvon, and others. No one tracking him specifically due to the large crowd.

Nolan meets a girl named Katie McCormack on the island. They spend time together throughout the afternoon. Tracestin Shepherd (a friend on the trip) described Nolan as staying with her: "They met that day...he really did like her."

Warren last sees Nolan: "The last time I saw Nolan was three o'clock. Nolan was cradling Katie McCormack in his arms...Nolan was shaking his head, laughing, and I was like, 'Dude, you crazy.'" Katie McCormack is confirmed as a witness to all subsequent events.

Tracestin Shepherd and his girlfriend are walking back toward his uncle's boat when Nolan crosses their path, heading the other direction toward Wyatt's Triton. They dap up. Tracestin makes a joking comment about the girl Nolan is with. His last words to Nolan: "All right, buddy. I love you. See you later." — "I'm glad I said it," Tracestin later told interviewers. "That was my last encounter with Nolan."

Boats depart Horn Island with the damaged Triton being towed by Bart's Tideline. Nolan remains on the island with Katie McCormack. Multiple people (approximately 7 on the Triton per Sea Tow, plus others) heard Nolan refuse to board. The Palm Beach had already left earlier.

Nolan is last reported seen on the island by someone around 6:30 PM (per one account). No confirmed sightings between 4:30 and that time. He was with Katie McCormack.

Damaged Triton is towed toward Fort Bayou. The motor had a trim failure — it would drop into the water but spring back up when put in gear, producing the stop-start GPS pattern. Holding the manual trim override allowed them to maintain speed. Wyatt jumps in to pull the drain plug; crew shifts weight to the bow to plane out at 40+ mph and expel the water.

Adkerson/Triton vessel returns to El Camino Real Rd. At 6:36 PM the vessel departs again, heading southwest via Saint Martin Bayou, turning southeast to the Biloxi Bay Bridge, then north to Fort Bayou Boat Launch, arriving at 7:19 PM. At 7:47 PM the vessel is trailered to Cardinal Lane; last GPS data point recorded at 7:59 PM. The group heads to Bart's grandparents' house to eat and rest after a long day.

Warren and friends transition to an evening event: Fourth of July fireworks and pool party at a girlfriend's house. Warren never makes it to the pool — he goes upstairs and spends time talking to her dad about boats.

At the pool party, Warren talks to buddy Wyatt and others. Warren asks: "Where's Nolan? Have y'all heard from him?" No one has. Mildly concerning.

Warren calls Tracestin. Tracestin is asleep on his uncle's boat — tired from the day — and doesn't answer.

Warren calls the U.S. Coast Guard and speaks for ~20 minutes. Provides: description of Nolan, what he was wearing, last known location, time last seen, boat info, water conditions, and context. Warren's reasoning: "People die out there all the time. I'd rather call 100 times and he be okay than not know where he is."

MDMR CAD 2607-0196 created: MISS (Missing Person), Horn Island. Dispatcher: Bri'Ana Asher. Cleared without a report. At 11:49 PM, MDMR Lt. Patrick Carron is advised by dispatch: Christine Wells-Wonsley has reported her 18-year-old son rode to Horn Island with friends, was last seen around 3 PM, his phone is in a friend's truck, and all friends say they returned without him. Carron asks dispatch to forward Christine to JCSO to file an official missing persons report. Dispatch confirms Christine is calling JCSO and that the Coast Guard has been notified.

Christine Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley (Nolan's parents) meet a DMR officer at a McDonald's parking lot to officially file a missing person report. Coast Guard is also contacted.

MDMR Lt. Carron speaks with JCSO Lt. Odom (shift supervisor) after first checking in with Ocean Springs PD. Odom reports his deputies have spoken with several friends on the vessel: when they left the island, Nolan was in the company of an unknown female and chose to stay. Odom's assessment: he did not believe there were any water-related exigencies, and "the most likely scenario was Nolan rode in on another vessel but did not have his phone in his possession to make contact with family." No further action taken by Carron or his shift the morning of July 5.

Phone (~12:30 AM): Before calling the Coast Guard, Warren had checked Nolan's Snapchat location; Wyatt confirmed it was showing in his truck. Warren told Christine they had the phone before dialing. Around 12:30 AM, an unidentified person calls the group — very aggravated, asks "Where are y'all at?" — then hangs up. About 30 minutes later, Tashema Hands (Jayvon's mother) arrives unannounced with a girl and roughly 8–9 others. She demands Nolan's phone. Wyatt goes to his truck and hands it over. Disputed: the family's account describes reluctance; Warren: "went out to his truck and handed the phone over — no complications, no issue." No photos or videos from the island are on the phone.

Keys (next morning): Nolan's father comes to the friends' house to retrieve the car keys (left on an Xbox; ~15 min to locate). Warren was home by then — Brooks had driven him — and learned about it via a text from Christine. He was not present.

Christine Wonsley posts social media appeals. States family has Nolan's phone; they've traveled to the island to search. Posts photos of Nolan from July 4 (blue swim trunks, no shirt, sunglasses).

Friends on the island trip begin to lawyer up. Warren later acknowledged it directly: "Of course we lawyered up." He nonetheless cooperated with JCSO and gave a full statement.

Nolan's former high school coach, Les George, sees social media posts and contacts Elmore Wonsley on Facebook, offering his boat for searching.

Elmore Wonsley, Christine Wonsley, and Les George head out on George's boat to Horn Island. Elmore observes a family camping/living in a tent on the island. MDMR officers Gex and Ewing, arriving by patrol vessel around 8:00 AM, encounter Christine, Elmore, and George in the channel near the island — they had already been on the northwestern tip searching and were providing officer contact info to stay coordinated.

Tracestin wakes early and goes back out on Wyatt's boat — still in the water — with Wyatt and others to search around Horn Island.

Warren wakes to his dad's texts — Nolan's photo is all over Facebook. His stepdad walks in: "We're going and getting on the boat and looking for him." Warren gathers friends Ricky, Brooks, and Jax; his mom and stepdad join. They head out to Horn Island and find dozens of DMR boats, helicopters, and planes already working the area — covering not just Horn Island but also Ship Island, Chandelier Island, and Petit Bois.

MDMR patrol vessel Admiral Dewey (Lt. Col. Bryce Gex and Capt. Jack Ewing) launches from Biloxi small craft harbor, headed to the NW tip of Horn Island. In the channel en route, Gex and Ewing encounter Christine and Elmore Wonsley and Les George already heading out from the island — they had been searching the NW tip. Officers exchange contact info with George to stay coordinated during the search. Gex and Ewing then conduct a vessel search of the waters surrounding the NW tip and the SW shoreline and dunes — no results from the southwest side. Observed active search assets: NPS, multiple JCSO vessels, Biloxi Fire service vessel, Civil Air Patrol plane, Jackson County helicopter, and multiple privately owned vessels. At ~9:00 AM, Gex calls MDMR Capt. William Freeman to request drone support.

Capt. Freeman and Lt. Matt Kasovich arrive at Horn Island by vessel. Freeman attempts 3 drone launches — all fail due to a software issue that cannot be repaired in the field. At ~10:30 AM, Freeman requests MSgt Shay Smith report with additional drones; Kasovich transports Smith to the island.

Tracestin, Wyatt, and others search the waters around Horn Island. A rescue official tells them the professionals have the area under control and directs them to use social media instead. They return to shore and spend the rest of Sunday and into the night sharing posts and trying to reach anyone who may have seen or spoken to Nolan after 4:30 PM.

MDMR MSgt Jacob Strickland receives a call from Capt. Freeman to locate and interview a female subject initially reported as possibly on Horn Island with Nolan's group. Strickland reports to the residence of Laney Naquin (Pascagoula). Naquin: she has already spoken with JCSO investigators; she was not on Horn Island — she was on Petit Bois Island with a different group of friends. She knew Wells but had not seen or spoken with him in over a year. Strickland also checks on Jacob Woods (Ocean Springs; not home) and Drew Johnson (Ocean Springs; no contact made).

MSgt Smith launches first drone flight from 30°14.603'N / 088°46.427'W — approximately 0.1 sq miles, parallel search pattern. Nolan Wells not located.

Second drone flight launched from 30°14.454'N / 088°45.966'W — approximately 0.1 sq miles, parallel search pattern. Flight ends abruptly: a battery separates from the drone; excessive heat has caused the lithium-ion batteries to swell. All further drone flights cancelled due to heat. Nolan Wells not located in either search. Smith and Freeman return to shore at ~1:52 PM; MDMR patrol vessel #8822 (Freeman, Kasovich, Smith) remains near the NW tip.

Coast Guard Sector Mobile receives request from JCSO for assistance. Urgent marine broadcast issued; helicopter deployed.

JCSO press release: Searching for Nolan Xavier Wells, 18, Black male, 6′1″, 180 lbs. Last seen July 4 on Horn Island in blue swim trunks, no shirt, sunglasses.

MDMR MSgt Strickland contacts Jennifer Pyron (Wyatt's mother). Wyatt had already spoken with JCSO investigators earlier but Jennifer says he will cooperate fully. She gives verbal consent for Strickland to view the Garmin GPS on Wyatt's vessel. The GPS displays track lines showing the vessel's position on Horn Island for July 4 at 30°14.626'N / 088°46.629'W — the western tip of Horn Island. This GPS observation is used to narrow the search area for Nolan Wells. Strickland is notified that JCSO is taking investigative lead; MDMR will serve in a supporting role for the remainder of the investigation.

JCSO establishes command post at Lake Mars Boat Launch (1200 Lake Mars Ave, Ocean Springs). Multi-agency search underway: Gulf Islands National Seashore, NPS, USCG, MDMR, MS Dept. of Wildlife/Fisheries/Parks, Biloxi Fire, Harrison County SO, Jackson County Fire, United Cajun Navy.

MDMR Lt. Carron reports to the JCSO command post at Lake Mars Pier and assists with the search effort, including sending an MDMR patrol vessel and crew to the NW tip of Horn Island to conduct sonar surveys of the area. Sonar surveys are inconclusive and terminated due to adverse weather conditions.

Tracestin is up at 5:00 AM. The plan: take another boat out to the Chandelier Islands at 7:00 AM to expand the search area. He fuels his boat at 6:00 AM, puts it on the lift, and stops at McDonald's first.

United Cajun Navy launches coordinated search via land, air, and sea.

Search boats deployed; last vessels leave just before 8 AM.

Family taken to coroner's office in Pascagoula for identification.

Christine Wonsley posts on Facebook confirming the body is Nolan.

Coroner Lynd confirms body via dental records. Requests state autopsy due to uncertain circumstances and body condition.

Warren is interviewed by lead investigator. Provides full statement "top to bottom, dotted every eye, crossed every t." All friends on the boat trip cooperate fully with police.

Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office conducts autopsy. Family arranges independent autopsy in Washington D.C. (funded by Colin Kaepernick).

Coroner Lynd confirms to WLOX that body is Nolan, confirmed by dental records.

Ashlee Cole (Warren's mother; a judge) posts on Facebook. States: Warren saw Nolan last at ~3 PM on July 4. They left at 4:30 PM due to boat issues. Nolan "made a decision to stay on the island and return inland later with another group of friends." Warren was interviewed by JCSO and cooperated fully. She and her husband were not at Horn Island. Emphasizes respect for the Wells family and community.

JCSO Captain Kristen Johnson requests GPS file download assistance from MDMR Capt. Freeman as part of the Nolan Wells investigation. MDMR Officer Shay M. Smith is assigned to download data from the two vessels present at Horn Island on July 4.

Smith meets Bart Edmiston Jr. at his Ocean Springs residence. Edmiston signs a permission to search form and escorts Smith to the boat lift on the north side of the property. Vessel MI1295CB (2020 Tidecraft Inc., black — Bart's Tideline) contains a pair of Garmin GPSMAP chart plotters wired for sonar, waypoint, and chart sharing. Smith inserts a 32GB card and downloads one ADM file: MI1295CB.ADM — waypoints only.

Smith meets Jerry Adkerson (Wyatt's maternal grandfather) and Jennifer Adkerson Pyron (Wyatt's mother) at their Biloxi residence. Adkerson signs permission form. Vessel MI4088BU (2000 Triton Boats, white — Wyatt's Triton) is in the driveway; contains a Garmin GPSMAP chart plotter. Smith downloads one ADM file: MI4088BU.ADM — waypoints, tracks, and routes.

Smith makes working copies of both ADM files. Confirmed contents: MI1295CB.ADM — waypoints only. MI4088BU.ADM — waypoints, routes, and full GPS tracks.

Smith converts MI4088BU.ADM to GPX format using Garmin Home Port and ingests the file into Google Earth. PowerPoint slides produced displaying the vessel's routes and positions over satellite imagery. GPS timeline confirmed for the Triton (MI4088BU) on July 4:

• 9:56 AM — Departs El Camino Real Rd. for Horn Island
• 11:14 AM — Arrives West Tip of Horn Island
• 11:15 AM–4:30 PM — Stationary position (anchored); GPS drops consistent with being powered on
• 4:31–5:24 PM — Departs West Tip northbound; speed 0.06–4.2 knots for ~2.75 miles (tow phase)
• 5:25 PM — Regains normal operation; speed 30–35 knots
• 5:44 PM — Arrives El Camino Real Rd.
• 5:52 PM — Departs east into Fort Bayou
• 6:06 PM — Returns to El Camino Real Rd.
• 6:36 PM — Departs southwest to Saint Martin Bayou, turns southeast to Biloxi Bay Bridge, then north to Fort Bayou Boat Launch
• 7:19 PM — Arrives Fort Bayou Boat Launch
• 7:47 PM — Vessel trailered to Cardinal Lane
• 7:59 PM — Last GPS data point on July 4

Wells family and attorneys Ben Crump and Eric Hertz meet with DA Angel Myers McIlrath. Family agrees to "mutual inspection" of Nolan's phone by experts from both parties. Crump: Case will go to grand jury after JCSO investigation concludes (standard procedure).

Press conference at Jackson County Courthouse. Funeral announced for July 20 at Center Pointe Church, Ocean Springs. Visitation 9–11 AM; service afterward. Celebration of life at Jackson County Fairgrounds.

Sheriff Ledbetter confirms FBI is assisting with digital evidence examination. Over 60 witnesses have been interviewed, including the friends on the boat. Death threats reported by Ashlee Cole and Tracestin Shepherd; FBI is "working to address interstate threats."

DA McIlrath confirms state medical examiner's autopsy report will be withheld until grand jury review. Standard procedure for all unnatural/suspicious deaths in Jackson County.