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Nolan Wells GoFundMe: Mississippi teen remembered for ‘his smile, kind heart’ after body found on Horn Island

A GoFundMe has been launched for Nolan Xavier Wells’ family after a body was found in the water on the northwest end of Horn Island  in search for him.

Published on: Jul 7, 2026, 08:06:33 IST
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A GoFundMe has been launched for Nolan Xavier Wells’ family after a body was found in the water on the northwest end of Horn Island on Monday morning, July 6, in search for the missing 18-year-old, according to Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter. Official identification is still pending, but Ledbetter has said that the recovery “does match the description” of the Ocean Springs, Mississippi teen, per the New York Post.

Nolan Wells GoFundMe: Mississippi teen remembered for ‘his smile, kind heart’ after body on Horn Island (Christine Wonsley/Facebook)
Nolan Wells GoFundMe: Mississippi teen remembered for ‘his smile, kind heart’ after body on Horn Island (Christine Wonsley/Facebook)

A search had been underway for Wells after he was last seen Saturday, July 4, around 3 pm on Horn Island. The United Cajun Navy was among many organizations assisting in the search for the teen. They were focusing on Wells’ last known location on the east end of Horn Island, incident commander Josh Gill said. Gill told Nola.com that Wells was last seen “hanging out with a girl”.

Nolan Wells GoFundMe

A GoFundMe was launched after the discovery of the body. “This is the OFFICIAL and ONLY GOFund Me account which was created by my friend Allayah Denis. I know times are hard and we appreciate and are grateful for anything that is donated,” his mother, Christine Wonsley, wrote on Facebook.

“Our hearts are broken beyond words,” the fundraiser reads. “Nolan Xavier Wells was a beloved son, grandson, brother, friend and teammate whose life touched so many people. His smile, kind heart, and love for others left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.”

Read More | Nolan Wells update: Search for missing 18-year-old called off after body found in northwest Horn Island

The page says that after an extensive search, which involved “countless volunteers from the United Cajun Navy, first responders, local law enforcement, the United States Coast Guard, and organizations from across the region , our worst fears became reality.”

It adds, “While no words can ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, we are deeply grateful for every person who searched, prayed, shared his story, and stood beside our family during these difficult days. As we begin the painful journey of laying Nolan to rest, we are asking for help to ease the financial burden placed on our family. Funds raised will be used for funeral and memorial expenses, celebration of life services, and any additional costs associated with honoring Nolan's memory. Any remaining funds will help support the family as they navigate the difficult days ahead.”

Remembering Wells, the GoFundMe says, “Forever loved. Forever remembered. Never Forgotten.”

At the time of writing this article,$49,205 had been raisedof the$65K goal.

  • Sumanti Sen
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Sumanti Sen

    Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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