As authorities continue investigating Nolan Wells’ mysterious death, new data shows Horn Island has seen few drowning incidents in recent years.
Wells’ death in July has put the island, off the Mississippi coast, under a microscope for its drowning risks.
The teen went missing on the island July 4 while partying with friends. A park ranger found his body two days later near the shore.
Authorities initially classified Wells’ death as an accidental drowning, before outcry from the public forced them to investigate further.
Those who have visited the island say the rip currents can be dangerous if you’re not careful.
“I know people that have grown up out there that have died out there [around the island]. It’ll humble you very quick. I don’t care what kind of shape you’re in. Those currents can get you, and before you even realize you’re in trouble, you’re gone,” a boat operator told NBC News back in July.
However, data obtained by People show that recent drownings on the island are rare.
Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. told the outlet that there have been no recorded drowning deaths at the island in the last six years.
That doesn’t mean that drownings don’t happen in the area. A person drowned at the nearby Petit Bois Island in the same time period. In another instance, a teenage girl was rushed to the hospital in critical condition from Dauphin Island in 2022 after getting caught in the water.
Wells’ parents and their legal team have continued to push for answers on his death, saying that the circumstances don’t add up.
Brian Thrasher with the United Cajun Navy says he was flying over the island the day Wells’ was found. He saw the teen’s body on the beach and says it was not waterlogged.
The term waterlogged means something that is so completely full or soaked with water, it becomes heavy or sluggish.
An independent autopsy commissioned by the family came back inconclusive. Authorities have not released the state autopsy findings.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Wells’ death. Their findings will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office, which will present the case to a grand jury.
The grand jury will decide if criminal charges should be filed.
