Coverage dated July 8, 2026 to July 13, 2026

Family seeks answers after 18-year-old found dead off Mississippi coast

Headline from WMUR

Nolan Xavier Wells was found dead two days after leaving for a boat trip with friends to celebrate the Fourth of July on an island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. The 18-year-old's parents say what happened is a mystery riddled with conflicting stories, and missing details.

WMUR's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Read the reports

Reports & sources

27 articles, oldest first.

  1. The Daily Wire

    Family Makes Legal Heavyweight Move After Teen’s Mysterious Fourth Of July Death (opens The Daily Wire)

    Published

    The Daily Wire's feed description

    A teenager who went missing after a boat trip with his friends on the Fourth of July was found dead as authorities identified his body Tuesday afternoon. Nolan Wells, 18, was identified by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office through dental records after his body was discovered “in the water, just of…

  2. CBS News

    Mississippi family demands answers after teen goes missing on July 4th, body later found (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells is looking for answers after he and some friends went to a party on a Mississippi island on the Fourth of July, and Wells never returned. He was later found dead. Skyler Henry reports.

  3. CBS News

    Nolan Wells' family searches for answers in death of Mississippi teen (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    The family of Nolan Wells is demanding answers after the 18-year-old was found dead on Horn Island, off the mainland of Mississippi. Skyler Henry reports.

  4. Quartz

    Teen found dead after July 4 boat trip to Mississippi island; family retains Ben Crump (opens Quartz)

    Published

    Quartz's feed description

    Authorities are seeking witnesses and unedited footage as they investigate the circumstances of Nolan Xavier Wells' death

  5. Local News 8

    Nolan Wells’ body was found after a July 4 boat trip. His death has fueled speculation, grief and racial tension (opens Local News 8)

    Published

    Local News 8's feed description

    By Chelsea Bailey, Ryan Young, Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN (CNN) — On July 4, Nolan Wells set out to celebrate Independence Day on a popular barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. In photos from the boat that day, the 18-year-old towers above his friends, his arm casually slung around their shoulders…

  6. NBC News

    Investigation underway into death of Mississippi 18-year-old who vanished on July 4 boating trip (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    The family of Nolan Wells, whose body was found Monday on Horn Island, doesn’t believe his death was accidental, attorney Ben Crump said. A cause of death is pending.

  7. Bangor Daily News

    A July 4 boat trip, an 18-year-old’s death and a family’s search for answers in the Deep South (opens Bangor Daily News)

    Published

    Bangor Daily News's feed description

    NEW YORK (AP) — A week ago, 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells took a boat trip with friends to celebrate the Fourth of July on an island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. He never came back. Two days later, he was found dead.

  8. AL.com

    Family demands answers after teen found dead on Mississippi island (opens AL.com)

    Published

    AL.com's feed description

    When 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells took a holiday boat trip with friends to an island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, he never came back. Now his grieving parents demand answers.

  9. CBS 17 Raleigh

    Young man's death on July 4 boat trip sparks family's search for answers on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast (opens CBS 17 Raleigh)

    Published

    CBS 17 Raleigh's feed description

    NEW YORK (AP) — A week ago, 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells took a boat trip with friends to celebrate the Fourth of July on an island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. He never came back. Two days later, he was found dead.

  10. WMUR

    Family seeks answers after 18-year-old found dead off Mississippi coast (opens WMUR)

    Published

    WMUR's feed description

    Nolan Xavier Wells was found dead two days after leaving for a boat trip with friends to celebrate the Fourth of July on an island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. The 18-year-old's parents say what happened is a mystery riddled with conflicting stories, and missing details.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.