Newly released emergency dispatch audio is shedding more light on the disappearance of Nolan Wells, the teen whose body was later found on Horn Island after he was left behind by friends during a 4th of July trip.
NBC News obtained the audio through a public records request, capturing members of the group calling for towing assistance after their boat reportedly began taking on water.
According to Ashlee Cole, the mother of one of Nolan Wells’ friends, the group left without Nolan after their boat began malfunctioning.
“They left around 4:30 pm when the boat was taking on water and they had an issue with the bilge pump. Nolan made a decision to stay on the island and return inland later with another group of friends,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
In the recording, one of the boys can be heard saying, “We’re sinking, can y’all come?”
The dispatcher replies, “And is everybody onboard in good health otherwise?,” to which he answers, “Yeah, yeah, everybody is onboard.”
Nolan Wells’ disappearance
Wells went missing after traveling to Mississippi’s Horn Island with friends to celebrate the 4th of July. While the rest of the group returned home, Wells did not, and his mother, Christine Wonsley, reported him missing.
His body was found on the island on Monday, July 6, and investigators are still working to determine what happened.
Investigators believe Wells’ friends left the island without him after he chose to stay behind.
“From what we understand, he chose to stay there,” Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said.
Ledbetter has stressed that authorities will not rush the investigation, saying, “Nolan Wells’ family deserves a thorough and factual investigation, and that’s exactly what they’re going to get,” adding, “I think it is important that we do not put ourselves on a timetable and we do not rush ourselves, but I also think it is important to be diligent in gathering all of the facts.”
His family is looking for answers
Meanwhile, Wells’ family says they are still waiting for answers. His mother, Christine Wonsley, said communication from investigators has been limited, according to TMZ, while civil rights attorney Ben Crump has called for more transparency and an independent investigation.
Crump wrote on X that Wells’ family “deserve the truth” and added, “We will not rest until every fact about what happened to Nolan on Horn Island is brought into the light, and we call on investigators to pursue this case with the urgency and transparency this family deserves.”
Although authorities have previously said they have found no evidence of foul play, they continue interviewing witnesses, following up on leads, and asking anyone with information to come forward.
Whether Wells was with anyone at the time of his disappearance remains unclear. But the newly released dispatch audio provides another piece of the timeline as investigators continue working to determine exactly what happened on Horn Island.
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