Nolan Wells death probe deepens as witness alleges heavy drinking before tragedy

A new report has added another piece to the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells. According to ABC News, witnesses told investigators that Wells had been drinking heavily while spending the Fourth of July with friends on Mississippi’s Horn Island before he disappeared. Even with that new information, officials have not determined how he died. The official autopsy and toxicology results are still pending, while Wells’ family continues to search for answers.Authorities receive new witness accounts about Nolan Wells before he went missingThe latest update comes from ABC News, which obtained preliminary information from a document prepared by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. According to that document, witnesses told investigators that Wells had been drinking heavily with friends during the July 4 gathering on Horn Island before he went missing.The document also included a physical description of Wells that was shared by marine patrol officers as search teams looked for him after he disappeared. Search crews spent hours scanning the area before Wells’ body was found on July 6 along the island’s northwest shoreline, close to where he had last been seen alive. While the report mentions alcohol, investigators have not linked it to Wells’ death. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office has not released the official autopsy findings or toxicology report. Because of that, the exact cause and manner of his death remain unknown. Friends who were with Wells that day have previously said they were drinking together on the island. They also told investigators that Wells decided to stay behind when their boat left because it had started taking on water and needed to be towed back. Those details have remained part of the investigation from the beginning. Nolan Wells family continues to seek answers as official findings remain pendingAlthough Mississippi authorities have previously said they believe Wells drowned and have not announced evidence of foul play, the investigation is still active. Officials are waiting for the final medical findings before determining the official cause of death. At the same time, Wells’ family is asking that every possible question be examined. They hired an independent forensic pathologist to conduct a separate autopsy. The preliminary findings listed the cause and manner of death as “undetermined pending investigation.” The family’s attorney, Ben Crump, has repeatedly said they want a complete and transparent investigation before any final conclusions are reached. He has questioned whether all circumstances surrounding Wells’ death have been fully explained.For now, the latest report provides new information about Wells’ final hours, but it does not answer the biggest question. Until the official autopsy and toxicology reports are released, investigators and Wells’ family are still waiting to learn exactly what happened on Horn Island.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.