Phone analysis reveals private conversations among Nolan Wells’ friends after his disappearance

A nearly 300-page report details Snapchat conversations about Wells’ whereabouts, police interviews and growing scrutiny after he vanished from Horn Island.

A newly released analysis of Nolan Wells’ phone has brought private conversations among his friends into public view, documenting their efforts to piece together his movements after he disappeared from Mississippi’s Horn Island in July.

The nearly 300-page report, compiled by digital investigation firm Garrett Discovery, examines messages from 29 group chats and private Snapchat conversations.

TMZ reported on October 13 that the material includes exchanges recorded after the 18-year-old went missing, as friends tried to establish where he had gone and who he was last seen with. PEOPLE also reviewed the report, highlighting conversations that reflect uncertainty, concern and advice about dealing with investigators.

Messages described in the reports indicate that friends became aware of Wells’ disappearance around 12:45 a.m. on July 5. One participant later recalled that Wells had been socializing with the group before leaving a boat at about 6 p.m. with another person and walking toward a different vessel.

Other messages show participants questioning why Wells would have left his phone behind if he intended to return to the mainland with someone else. One person expressed suspicion that something was wrong, while another asked whether someone had been behaving unusually. These exchanges record what participants were saying at the time, but they do not independently establish what happened to Wells.

The chats also included advice about possible police interviews. One participant recommended asking for an attorney, explaining that seeking legal representation did not mean someone was guilty. Others urged the group not to speculate and to stick to what they personally knew.

By July 14, discussion had shifted to Wells’ funeral and the growing scrutiny directed at his friends on social media. One message suggested attending the service and coordinating with other Black friends to present a statement to the media. Another participant proposed asking Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, whether the group would be welcome.

The messages emerge amid continued disagreement over the circumstances of Wells’ death. His body was recovered from the waters near Horn Island on July 6.

A Mississippi grand jury later declined to indict anyone, finding no credible evidence that people who travelled to or from the island engaged in criminal conduct related to his death. The panel said the circumstances were consistent with drowning, although questions about the case have persisted.

Wells’ family has continued to seek a federal investigation. The release of the phone analysis adds detail to the timeline of conversations following his disappearance, but the messages alone do not prove criminal wrongdoing or establish a cover-up.