A Day-by-Day Timeline of What Happened to 18-Year-Old Nolan Wells on the Fourth of July and Beyond

What began as a Fourth of July celebration along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast ended in tragedy after 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells disappeared during a holiday trip to Horn Island. The heartbreaking case drew widespread attention as local, state, and federal agencies joined an extensive search effort that lasted several days.

After Wells’ body was recovered, investigators continued working to determine exactly what happened while his family faced not only unimaginable grief but also online misinformation and fraudulent fundraising attempts.