HORN ISLAND — The body of 18-year-old Nolan Wells was discovered off the coast of Horn Island, Mississippi, on Monday, July 8, after he failed to return from a boat trip on July 4. The discovery has led to an investigation and an independent autopsy following claims of inconsistencies and missing digital evidence.

Wells, a student at Ocean Springs High School and a rising sophomore on the football team at Southwest Mississippi Community College, traveled to Horn Island with friends on July 4. He was last seen on Horn Island at 3 p.m. that day, according to information from Ben Crump's office. Wells did not return to the mainland with his friends, a detail confirmed by Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter. Wells' mother reported him missing on the night of July 4. A search operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the National Park Service was initiated.

Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd stated that dental records confirmed the body found on July 8 belonged to Nolan Wells. An autopsy was performed on Tuesday, July 9, though the results were not immediately released to the public. Wells' body was subsequently flown to Washington, D.C., for an independent autopsy. Sheriff Ledbetter stated that Wells' friends were cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Christine Wonsley, Nolan Wells' mother, stated that her son's phone was with one of his friends who had returned from the island. She said that she and her family retrieved the phone from the friend. Wonsley believes Snapchat messages were deleted from her son's phone, noting that there were no photos or videos on the account. "I know when kids get together for events like that, they's Snapping," Wonsley said. "They are making videos, taking pictures, and I'm just like, 'Where is it?' Because it hadn't been 24 hours when we started looking, which usually, with Snapchat, it goes away once you hit that 24-hour mark."

Attorney Ben Crump indicated discrepancies in accounts from those who were with Wells. "There are so many glaring contradictions, that's why so many people all across America are chiming in, saying this is not adding up," Crump said. He cited conflicting statements regarding Wells' intentions to leave the island: "I mean, you have [his friends] say he was talking to a young lady, and she said that he said, 'I'm going to get back on the boat with the boys.' The boys say, 'He said that no, I'm going to stay with her.' I mean, which is it?"

Nolan Wells' father, Elmore Wonsley, expressed doubt that his son would have stayed on the island alone. "No, he wouldn't. Nolan always stays with the group," Elmore Wonsley said. He added, "So that I don't understand, and with me being a parent, if I was in that situation, I would have told them, 'You're going to get back on this boat with me because I don't want to answer to your parents if something happens to you.'" Crump stated that Nolan Wells was a good swimmer.

Law enforcement investigators are attempting to identify the original poster of a video in which arguing can be heard in the background. Independent investigators are also examining whether a voice heard on a video arguing about a cellphone belongs to Nolan Wells. Attorney Ben Crump and the Rev. Al Sharpton are scheduled to hold a press conference with Wells' parents at noon on Friday.