Nolan Wells case faces new questions as Horn Island drowning history gets renewed scrutiny

Records show no drowning deaths were reported at the Mississippi island for six years before the 18-year-old was found dead.

New questions are emerging around the death of Nolan Wells after an important piece of Horn Island’s safety history received renewed attention.

In a Sept. 9 episode of “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,” Nancy Grace focused on records showing that no drowning deaths had been recorded at Horn Island, Mississippi, for six years before Wells’ death.

The figure was first reported by PEOPLE after an open-records request to the Jackson County Coroner’s Office, making it more than a talking point from the television program.

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That history does not establish that Wells could not have drowned. Horn Island is surrounded by Gulf waters where currents and changing conditions can pose risks. It does, however, provide additional context for why the circumstances of the 18-year-old’s death continue to draw scrutiny.

Wells disappeared during a July 4 boat trip with friends and was found dead in waters near the island two days later. Authorities initially said they suspected drowning and reported no early indication of foul play. His family has continued to seek a fuller explanation of what happened during the hours before his disappearance.

The medical evidence has not resolved that question. A private autopsy commissioned by Wells’ family classified both the cause and manner of death as undetermined.

The forensic pathologist said limitations caused by decomposition and the condition of the body prevented a definitive conclusion and did not rule out non-accidental factors.

Meanwhile, Mississippi officials have completed the state autopsy, but its findings have not been released publicly. The report and other evidence are expected to go before a Jackson County grand jury, which will determine whether the circumstances warrant criminal action.

Grace’s latest discussion therefore adds another question to an investigation that already has significant unanswered ones, whether the circumstances surrounding Wells’ disappearance and death fit an accidental drowning.

For now, the evidence does not provide that answer. What is established is that Wells died under circumstances that remain unresolved, while the most significant official findings are still outside public view.