Authorities search for 18-year-old Nolan Wells on Horn Island
Authorities are searching for 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who was last seen Saturday, July 4, around 3 p.m. on Horn Island, Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is working with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources in an active search for Wells, officials said. The agencies are coordinating efforts to cover both land and coastal areas around the island.
Horn Island is a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast and is part of the region’s chain of barrier islands. Searches in such coastal and island environments often require multiple agencies because of tides, currents and limited access, which can complicate search and rescue operations.
Officials have described the case as an active investigation but have released few additional details. The involvement of the U.S. Coast Guard and state marine resources underscores the maritime element of the search. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
