MISSISSIPPI – A leader from the United Cajun Navy, who was involved in the search for Nolan Wells, reported that the waters near where the teen’s body was discovered are infamous for dangerous “washing machine” currents. He also noted that the water conditions on the day Wells disappeared were far from safe.
Eighteen-year-old Wells vanished on July 4 following a boating excursion with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. After an extensive search by crews, a National Park Service ranger found Wells’ remains on the island’s northwestern edge on July 6.
Wells’ friends had returned to the mainland earlier that afternoon without him. According to Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter, investigators suspect Wells voluntarily stayed behind on the island. It wasn’t until later that evening that Wells’ mother was informed by one of his friends about his disappearance, prompting her to contact law enforcement.
Nolan Xavier Wells went missing on the Fourth of July while on a boating outing with friends, as reported by authorities. (Jackson County Sheriff’s Department via Facebook)
The body of Wells was discovered between Horn Island and the neighboring Ship Island in an area locals refer to as a “washing machine” due to its perilous rip currents. Brian Trascher, Vice President of the United Cajun Navy, shared this information with News Media, while authorities have informed the Associated Press that there is no suspicion of foul play.
“Yeah, there is some kind of nickname for it, and it’s because they’ve had a lot of drownings in that area and on that island. And to the west, there’s Ship Island, just another few miles to the West. And in between those two islands, there’s a strong divergent occurrence,” Trascher said. “And that area is called the washing machine by locals.”
Based on conversations with people who were on Horn Island on July 4, Trascher said the rip current that day was “extremely strong,” adding that the water off the island’s northwest tip can go from shallow to deep in just a few steps.
While Wells knew how to swim and swam regularly, Trascher said a strong rip current can overpower even an experienced swimmer, especially if panic, sun exposure or alcohol are factors.
Nolan Wells smiles on the field while playing wide receiver for Southwest Mississippi Community College. (Christine Wonsley/Facebook)
Trascher said one of the biggest unresolved questions in Wells’ death is what happened between when he was last seen, around 4 or 4:30 p.m. on July 4, and when his body was found, calling it a “gaping hole” that still needs to be answered.
“I’ve heard virtually no explanation, no eyewitness accounts. Nobody seemed to see him after that… there don’t seem to be any photographs or videos of him after that time. So what happened? It wasn’t dark yet. There was still a lot of people on the island… why did he just vanish and show up dead two days later?” Trascher said. “That is a question that needs to be asked. And I’m not suggesting that means that there was foul play involved. I’m just saying that there is a gaping hole in the story that needs to filled.”
During a Wednesday news conference, attorney Ben Crump revealed that an area of “red discoloration” was found on Wells’ head, but said Dr. Roger Mitchell, who performed an independent autopsy, couldn’t come to a conclusion on a cause or manner of death “pending further investigation.” An official autopsy into Wells’ death hasn’t been completed.
Attorney Ben Crump, center, speaks next to Elmore and Christine Wonsley, at left, and Rev. Al Sharpton during a memorial service for Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old found dead after taking a July 4 boat trip with friends, Monday, July 20, 2026, in Ocean Springs, Miss. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
When asked by News Media about the case, forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden said the head injury doesn’t point to foul play.
“So that could be from bumping into something in the water. There’s a lot of debris in the water, for example. It depends how deep it is, but it’s describing a really superficial impact that could have happened before death or after death,” Baden said. “What he’s describing is a minor injury that could be… totally innocent.”
Without having additional information, Mitchell wrote in his report that he couldn’t rule out the possibility that “non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death.”