GPS data obtained from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has provided one of the clearest timelines yet of the boat that carried 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells to Horn Island on July 4, 2026. The records, reported by CBS News, show the vessel’s path from the mainland to the barrier island and its return without Wells, who was later found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in the water nearby.

According to the tracking information, the boat left a private dock on El Camino Real Road in the Ocean Springs area at approximately 9:56 a.m. It reached the western tip of Horn Island at 11:14 a.m. Wells traveled to the island with a group of friends for a Fourth of July outing. Authorities have stated that he was last seen on the island around 3 p.m. The GPS data indicates the boat departed Horn Island at 4:31 p.m. and headed back toward the mainland. Wells was not aboard when it left.

After returning to its original dock, the vessel briefly traveled into Fort Bayou around 5:52 p.m. before returning to the dock at 6:06 p.m. Later that evening, at about 7:19 p.m., it moved to the Fort Bayou boat launch. From there it was removed from the water and transported over land to the Biloxi home of its owners. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources report notes that the boat’s owner, the owner’s mother, and at least one other person who was with Wells that day have cooperated with investigators. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office subsequently took the lead in the case.

Wells’ parents have said they do not believe their son would have chosen to remain on the island alone when the rest of the group departed. His father has described Nolan as someone who typically stayed with the group and stated that leaving him behind did not match his character. Wells was a recent graduate of Ocean Springs High School and a rising sophomore football player at Southwest Mississippi Community College. He was known as a capable swimmer.

A multi-agency search involving the U.S. Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the National Park Service followed his reported disappearance. His body was recovered on the morning of July 6 near the northwest side of Horn Island, still wearing swim trunks. Identification was confirmed through dental records. An official autopsy was performed, and the family arranged for an independent examination.

The independent autopsy, conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell and supported in part by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, classified both the cause and manner of death as undetermined pending further investigation. The report noted several limitations, including the condition of the remains and the absence of certain structures that had been examined in the initial autopsy. The pathologist stated he could not rule out the possibility that non-accidental factors or injury to the neck contributed to the death. The official state autopsy report has remained sealed while the case proceeds toward review by a grand jury.

More than six weeks after Wells’ body was found, investigators have not publicly declared that a crime occurred. The Jackson County district attorney has indicated that presenting the case to a grand jury is standard procedure when the cause of death remains unknown. Attorneys for some of the young people who were on the island with Wells have stated their clients had no involvement in his death. The family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, continues to press for additional information and transparency. In mid-August, as Nolan would have turned 19, his relatives shared a public message of remembrance while expressing ongoing grief and unanswered questions.

The GPS records have helped establish the boat’s route and departure time from Horn Island, yet significant questions remain about the period between the last confirmed sighting of Wells and the vessel’s departure without him. The investigation remains active.

Sources: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nolan-wells-boat-gps-data-mississippi-horn-island/