The case of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells remains unresolved after an autopsy found no fluid or debris in his lungs or airways, while a forensic examination of his cellphone uncovered deleted digital content. The findings, released by attorneys representing his family in September 2026, have renewed calls for transparency about what happened before his body was discovered off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

Nolan disappeared after a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island with friends. His body was found in the water on July 6. The state medical examiner classified both the cause and manner of his death as undetermined. Two bruises were documented at the back of his head, but the autopsy did not establish how the injuries occurred or whether they contributed to his death

Why the Absence of Water Matters

Nolan’s family’s legal team has questioned whether the findings support the conclusion that he drowned. However, the absence of fluid in the lungs or airways does not, by itself, prove that drowning did not occur. The medical examiner did not determine a definitive cause of death, leaving important questions unanswered.

A Jackson County grand jury reviewed witness accounts, digital evidence, GPS information and investigative reports before deciding in September not to indict anyone. Its report said the circumstances surrounding the discovery of Nolan’s body were consistent with drowning and found no credible evidence that people on the boats involved had committed a crime connected to his death.

What Investigators Found on His Phone

A digital examination commissioned by the family recovered hundreds of pages of Snapchat messages and other information. The forensic team reported that some content had been deleted after Nolan last possessed his phone. The findings do not independently establish who deleted the material or why.

Attorney Ben Crump has urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, while the family continues seeking answers about Nolan’s final hours. The grand jury’s decision not to bring charges has not resolved every question about the circumstances of his death.

For now, the key facts remain that the official cause and manner of death are undetermined, injuries were documented, and digital material was recovered. None of those findings alone establishes that a crime occurred.

Sources:

• Mississippi Today — Autopsy and cellphone findings