Nolan Wells drank heavily, chose to stay on remote island before vanishing on July 4 trip: report

Key Points:

• Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells, who had been drinking heavily despite being underage, vanished during a Fourth of July trip on Horn Island and chose to stay behind with an unknown female when his friends left due to boat trouble.
• Wells was found dead the next day by a National Park Service ranger in an area known for strong rip currents, with investigators suspecting drowning and no signs of foul play, though the official autopsy results are pending.
• An independent autopsy requested by Wells' family and lawyer Ben Crump was inconclusive, noting possible neck injury and red discoloration on Wells’ head, and could not rule out foul play due to missing body parts and limited examination conditions.
• Wells' parents expressed confusion and concern over why he remained on the island alone, emphasizing their advice that he should stay with his group, and have called for a thorough investigation into his death.
• Authorities have cautioned that the state autopsy results may take weeks, prolonging uncertainty about the exact cause and circumstances surrounding Wells' death.