Jackson County investigators asked the public on July 8 for sightings, statements, and original photos or videos from Horn Island’s northwest tip tied to Nolan Wells’ July 4 disappearance and death.
The appeal comes after social media rumors surged following the discovery of Wells’ body on July 7, with authorities saying they need eyewitness accounts and unedited media to establish facts.
Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. said no official cause of death has been released, the state medical examiner identified Wells through dental records, and toxicology results are still pending.
Ben Crump, representing Wells’ family, said an independent autopsy is planned for Friday, when he and Rev. Al Sharpton will also press for a transparent investigation.
Accounts from relatives and community leaders have urged restraint as speculation spreads, while one friend’s mother said Wells was last seen around 3 p.m. before others left the island about 4:30 p.m.