{"id":763,"date":"2026-07-06T11:56:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T06:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=763"},"modified":"2026-07-06T11:56:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T06:56:59","slug":"search-underway-for-teen-who-went-missing-near-horn-island-gulf-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=763","title":{"rendered":"Search underway for teen who went missing near Horn Island | Gulf Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-breakout=\"1\" style=\"position:relative;\">\n<div class=\"col-md-8\">\n<p>The search is underway for a Mississippi teen who disappeared after taking a trip to Horn Island with friends on the Fourth of July, according to the Jackson County Sheriff&#8217;s Department.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Authorities say 18-year-old Nolan Wells was last seen Saturday around 3 p.m. on the popular barrier island off the Mississippi coastline near Ocean Springs wearing black shorts and sunglasses.\u00a0The island drew large boating crowds\u00a0throughout the holiday weekend and officials say Wells was last seen on the western tip of the island\u2019s north side.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear if Wells ever made it back to mainland.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If you were on Horn Island on July 4, traveled by boat in the area, or believe you may have seen Nolan or even given him a ride from the island, please contact authorities immediately,&#8221; Gautier Mayor\u00a0Casey Vaughan said in a statement posted to social media. &#8220;Even the smallest detail could make a difference.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-breakout=\"2\" style=\"position:relative;\">\n<div class=\"col-md-8\">\n<div class=\"inline-asset inline-image layout-vertical  subscriber-hide  tnt-inline-asset tnt-inline-relcontent tnt-inline-image tnt-inline-relation-child tnt-inline-presentation-default tnt-inline-alignment-default tnt-inline-width-default\">\n<figure class=\"photo layout-vertical hover-expand letterbox-style-white\"><span class=\"expand hidden-print\" data-toggle=\"modal\" data-photo-target=\".photo-6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\" data-instance=\"#gallery-items-203a7093-1524-44b0-bb23-b453602c2730-photo-modal\" data-target=\"#photo-carousel-203a7093-1524-44b0-bb23-b453602c2730\"><br \/>\n                <span class=\"fas tnt-expand\"\/><br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image\" data-toggle=\"modal\" data-photo-target=\".photo-6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\" data-instance=\"#gallery-items-203a7093-1524-44b0-bb23-b453602c2730-photo-modal\" data-target=\"#photo-carousel-203a7093-1524-44b0-bb23-b453602c2730\">\n<div itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n            <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"441\"\/><br \/>\n            <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"766\"\/><br \/>\n            <meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/33\/6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\/6a4ab2fad6946.image.jpg?crop=441%2C766%2C0%2C0\"\/><br \/>\n            <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/33\/6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\/6a4ab2fad6946.image.jpg?crop=441%2C766%2C0%2C0\"\/><br \/>\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAQAAAAe\/WZNAAAAEElEQVR42mM8U88ABowYDABAxQPltt5zqAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Nolan wells\" class=\"img-responsive lazyload full white\" width=\"441\" height=\"766\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/33\/6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\/6a4ab2fad6946.image.jpg?crop=441%2C766%2C0%2C0&amp;resize=150%2C261&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 150w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/33\/6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\/6a4ab2fad6946.image.jpg?crop=441%2C766%2C0%2C0&amp;resize=200%2C347&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 200w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/33\/6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\/6a4ab2fad6946.image.jpg?crop=441%2C766%2C0%2C0&amp;resize=225%2C391&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 225w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/33\/6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\/6a4ab2fad6946.image.jpg?crop=441%2C766%2C0%2C0&amp;resize=300%2C521&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 300w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/33\/6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\/6a4ab2fad6946.image.jpg?crop=441%2C766%2C0%2C0&amp;resize=400%2C695&amp;order=crop%2Cresize 400w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/33\/6338ce73-8bee-4c70-a199-6ef3ff06d91b\/6a4ab2fad6946.image.jpg?crop=441%2C766%2C0%2C0 540w\"\/>\n            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"caption\">\n<p>                                <span class=\"caption-text\"><\/p>\n<p>Authorities are searching for 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who went missing at Horn Island on July 4, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>                                <\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                <span class=\"credit\"><br \/>\n                                    <span itemprop=\"author\" class=\"tnt-byline\">Courtesy of Christine Wonsley<\/span><br \/>\n                                <\/span><\/p>\n<p>                        <span class=\"clearfix\"\/><br \/>\n                    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Jackson County Sheriff\u2019s Department, along with the Harrison County Sheriff\u2019s Department, the United States Coast Guard and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources are among the agencies searching for the teen.<\/p>\n<p>The United Cajun Navy is also assisting with the search.<\/p>\n<p>Cajun Navy Incident Commander Josh Gill said Wells is about six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. Wells had gone to the island on a boat with friends and was allegedly hanging out with a girl before he disappeared, Gill said. Gill did not immediately respond to a request for additional details, but encouraged boaters to look out for Wells Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe has not been heard from in close to 24 hours,\u201d Gill said in a video posted to Facebook early Sunday. \u201cSo guys, if you\u2019re out there fishing, if you\u2019re out there jet skiing, doing whatever you guys are doing, keep your eyes out for Nolan.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-breakout=\"3\" style=\"position:relative;\">\n<div class=\"col-md-8\">\n<div class=\"inline-asset inline-image layout-vertical  subscriber-hide  tnt-inline-asset tnt-inline-relcontent tnt-inline-image tnt-inline-relation-child tnt-inline-presentation-default tnt-inline-alignment-default tnt-inline-width-default\">\n<figure class=\"photo layout-vertical hover-expand letterbox-style-white\"><span class=\"expand hidden-print\" data-toggle=\"modal\" data-photo-target=\".photo-63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\" data-instance=\"#gallery-items-203a7093-1524-44b0-bb23-b453602c2730-photo-modal\" data-target=\"#photo-carousel-203a7093-1524-44b0-bb23-b453602c2730\"><br \/>\n                <span class=\"fas tnt-expand\"\/><br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"image\" data-toggle=\"modal\" data-photo-target=\".photo-63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\" data-instance=\"#gallery-items-203a7093-1524-44b0-bb23-b453602c2730-photo-modal\" data-target=\"#photo-carousel-203a7093-1524-44b0-bb23-b453602c2730\">\n<div itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n            <meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"720\"\/><br \/>\n            <meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"960\"\/><br \/>\n            <meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg\"\/><br \/>\n            <meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg\"\/><br \/>\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAQAAAADCAQAAAAe\/WZNAAAAEElEQVR42mM8U88ABowYDABAxQPltt5zqAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Nolan Wells\" class=\"img-responsive lazyload full white\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg?resize=150%2C200 150w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg?resize=200%2C267 200w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg?resize=225%2C300 225w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg?resize=300%2C400 300w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg?resize=400%2C533 400w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg?resize=540%2C720 540w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg?resize=640%2C853 640w, https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/6\/38\/63870088-4fff-4be9-89a9-2cc37cf46b10\/6a4ac5a888955.image.jpg 750w\"\/>\n            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"caption\">\n<p>                                <span class=\"caption-text\"><\/p>\n<p>Nolan Wells, left, was last seen on Horn Island on July 4, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>                                <\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                <span class=\"credit\"><br \/>\n                                    <span itemprop=\"author\" class=\"tnt-byline\">Courtesy of Christine Wonsley<\/span><br \/>\n                                <\/span><\/p>\n<p>                        <span class=\"clearfix\"\/><br \/>\n                    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Wells\u2019 mother, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1BSbuauxAF\/\" target=\"_blank\">Christine Wonsley,<\/a> also asked for help with the search on social media Sunday. She said her son was at some point separated from his phone, which is back with his family in Mississippi.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s Department at (228) 769-3063.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The search is underway for a Mississippi teen who disappeared after taking a trip to Horn Island with friends on the Fourth of July, according to the Jackson County Sheriff&#8217;s Department.\u00a0 Authorities say 18-year-old Nolan Wells was last seen Saturday around 3 p.m. on the popular barrier island off the Mississippi coastline near Ocean Springs&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com\/nola.com\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/4\/7d\/47dea018-4b44-445c-b48f-55540a33c7bf\/681d03f2add33.image.png?crop=1158%2C608%2C0%2C75","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=763"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/763\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}