The search is underway for a Mississippi teen who disappeared after traveling to Horn Island with friends on the Fourth of July, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities say 18-year-old Nolan Wells was last seen Saturday around 3 p.m. on a popular barrier island off the Mississippi coast near Ocean Springs wearing black shorts and sunglasses. There were large numbers of people boating on the island throughout the holiday weekend, and officials say Wells was last seen on the western tip of the north side of the island.
It is unclear whether Wells ever returned to the mainland.
“If you were on Horn Island on the 4th of July, were traveling by boat in the area, or believe you saw Nolan or even gave him a ride off the island, please contact authorities immediately,” Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughn said in a statement posted on social media. “Even the smallest detail can make a difference.”
Authorities are searching for 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who went missing on Horn Island on July 4, 2026.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, as well as the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources are among the agencies searching for the teen.
The United Cajun Fleet is also assisting in the search.
Cajun Navy Commander Josh Gill said Wells is about six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. Wells went to the island on a boat with friends and was allegedly hanging out with a girl before disappearing, Gill said. Gill did not immediately respond to a request for further details but urged boaters to keep an eye on Wells on Sunday.
“We haven’t heard from him for almost 24 hours,” Gill said in a video posted to Facebook early Sunday morning. “So, if you guys are out there fishing, if you’re water skiing, whatever you guys are doing, keep an eye on Nolan.”
Nolan Wells (left) was last seen on Horn Island on July 4, 2026.
Wells’ mother, Christine Wansley, also asked for help in the search Sunday on social media. She said her son was at some point separated from his phone, which was returned to his family in Mississippi.
Those with information are encouraged to call the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources at (844) WE-R-MDMR (937-6636) or (228) 523-4134 or the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at (228) 769-3063.