Newly released photos from the search for college football player Nolan Wells show volunteers combing the empty beaches of Horn Island just hours before the 18 year old’s body was discovered along the shoreline, adding another heartbreaking chapter to a case that has drawn nationwide attention.

Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July trip with friends to Horn Island, a remote barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. After a massive search involving the US Coast Guard, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, and volunteers from the United Cajun Navy, his body was found on July 6.

The newly obtained aerial images capture volunteers walking the white sand beaches on the morning of July 5 while boats searched the surrounding waters. At the time, search crews were racing to locate the teenager after he failed to return from the island.

Search volunteer recalls heartbreaking moment

Brian Trascher, national vice president of the United Cajun Navy, told The U.S. Sun that Nolan’s mother, Christine Wonsley, contacted the organization in desperation after learning her son had not returned.

“She was frantic,” Trascher said, explaining that Nolan’s phone had been left on the boat while the teenager stayed behind on the island.

Trascher was flying over Horn Island when he noticed law enforcement boats gathering near the island’s northwest shoreline.

“As more boats arrived, we saw a body lying on the beach where officers were standing,” he recalled. From several hundred feet above, he zoomed in with his camera and believed the clothing matched Nolan’s description. Authorities later confirmed the body was his.

Friends told investigators they last saw Wells around 3 p.m. before leaving for the mainland after their boat reportedly experienced mechanical problems. Investigators have said the last confirmed sighting of Nolan on the island was around 4 p.m.

Dangerous waters and ongoing investigation

Trascher said the waters near the northwest tip of Horn Island are known for powerful currents and sudden underwater drop offs.

He explained that someone can go from standing in just a few feet of water to unexpectedly stepping into water around 20 feet deep, where strong currents can quickly pull swimmers away from shore.

Officials have not yet determined Nolan’s official cause of death, pending the results of an autopsy. Jackson County investigators have said preliminary evidence points to an accidental drowning, adding that they have found no evidence of foul play so far.

Despite those findings, Nolan’s family continues to seek answers.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Wells family, said the case will be presented to a grand jury once the sheriff’s department completes its investigation. He stressed that the family wants all witnesses and evidence fully examined to ensure a fair investigation.

The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office said presenting the case to a grand jury is standard procedure for suspicious or unnatural deaths and does not suggest criminal charges are expected.

Meanwhile, the family has also launched its own independent investigation, citing concerns about Mississippi’s racial history.

One focus is Nolan’s cellphone. Crump said independent experts and law enforcement will jointly examine the device and review its downloaded data together.

Christine Wonsley has previously questioned whether someone tampered with her son’s phone before it was returned. She said Nolan regularly documented gatherings on Snapchat, but when she checked the phone after his death, there were no photos, videos, or saved Snapchat content from the day he disappeared.

According to his mother, that was completely out of character for Nolan, leading the family to believe content may have been deleted.

Nolan Wells’ funeral is scheduled for July 20 at Central Point Church in Ocean Springs. Reverend Al Sharpton will officiate the service, while filmmaker Tyler Perry has offered to cover the funeral expenses.