Nolan Wells Horn Island evidence points to sightings after boat left
TMZ says witnesses told law enforcement they saw Nolan Wells on Horn Island after his friends’ boat left on July 4.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
New Nolan Wells Horn Island evidence may place the teen on the Mississippi barrier island after his friends’ boat had already left for the mainland on July 4, according to TMZ.
TMZ reported that sources with direct knowledge said authorities have evidence indicating Wells remained on the island after the boat departed. The outlet said at least two witnesses interviewed by law enforcement claimed they saw Wells on Horn Island after the group’s boat headed back.
That account is a key piece of the developing timeline because Wells was reported missing later that night, according to TMZ, and was found dead in the water a couple of days afterward.
Was Nolan Wells still on Horn Island after the boat left?
TMZ says law enforcement has witness information pointing that way, citing sources with direct knowledge. The outlet reported that at least two people told investigators they saw Wells on the island after his friends’ boat left, though no official finding was detailed in the report.
Horn Island is a barrier island off Mississippi. In this case, the island is central because investigators and the family are trying to account for Wells’ movements between the time friends say they last saw him and the time he was reported missing, according to the reporting.
Emergency call audio draws attention
TMZ also reported that it enhanced audio from a frantic call for help made as the friends’ boat was taking on trouble. The outlet said some listeners believe a voice in the recording can be heard saying, “Is he dead?”
People who were on the boat have heard that disputed audio and are telling people around them it captured panic over the sinking boat, not anything about Wells, sources told TMZ. The outlet said those sources did not explain the specific words spoken on the call.
According to TMZ, the call was made by Wyatt Pyron to Sea Tow, which the outlet identified as a private towing service. The report said Sea Tow was sending help, but another friend in a separate boat saw what was happening and towed the group instead.
What Warren Hudson said about the timeline
Warren Hudson, described by TMZ as Wells’ self-described best friend, recently discussed the case with Brandon Tatum on “The Officer Tatum Show.” Hudson said he last saw Wells at 3 p.m. that day, according to TMZ’s account of the interview.
Hudson also said he had personally spoken with someone who claimed to have seen Wells on the island at 6 p.m., TMZ reported. He further claimed his group was not the last to see Wells and said many boats were still around Horn Island when they left.
TMZ reported that Wells’ parents are conducting their own investigation into his death. The outlet also reported that an independent medical examiner received Wells’ body without his throat, lungs and the original autopsy photos.
No final account of what happened to Wells was provided in the report. For now, the reported witness sightings add another point to a timeline that remains under scrutiny by investigators, family members and people close to the group who was on the island that day.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.