Newly obtained audio has surfaced in the Nolan Wells investigation, capturing a distress call made by one of his friends to a private towing company after their boat began taking on water while leaving Horn Island on July 4. NBC News obtained the recording through a public records request.
In the call, a panicked friend can be heard saying "We’re sinking," struggling to answer basic questions from the dispatcher, including how many people were on board. The group’s boat had suffered a bilge pump failure; it was towed roughly three miles back to the original departure point, arriving at 5:44 p.m.
The audio corroborates the general account that mechanical trouble forced the group to leave Horn Island — but it doesn’t explain where Nolan was in his final hours, why he wasn’t aboard when the boat departed, or what happened to him afterward. Mississippi officials have urged the public not to jump to conclusions, warning that online speculation could complicate the investigation and discourage genuine witnesses from coming forward.
Nolan’s mother, Christine Wonsley, has said no Snapchat photos or videos were found on his account after his phone was returned to the family — something she called unusual, since he frequently documented social gatherings. A longtime Horn Island visitor told NBC that leaving phones behind on boats is actually common practice among visitors due to the shallow water approach to the island.
The Jackson County DA’s office has confirmed the case will be presented to a grand jury once the investigation concludes — standard procedure for any case with an undetermined cause of death, not an indicator that a crime occurred.
🔍 In this video:
What the new boat audio actually reveals
What it does NOT explain about Nolan’s disappearance
Why officials are urging caution against speculation
Where the investigation stands right now
This is an active investigation. We’ll continue to update only with verified facts.
#NolanWells #HornIsland #Mississippi #BenCrump #Investigation
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