Friends of 18-year-old Nolan Wells are speaking publicly for the first time about the last moments they shared with the aspiring football player before he disappeared during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island, as investigators say they have not found evidence of a crime so far.

Jayvon Williams said he was supposed to travel to Horn Island with Nolan on the same boat, but the vessel quickly filled to capacity, forcing them to take separate rides to the popular Mississippi barrier island.

Once they arrived, Williams said he briefly reunited with his longtime friend.

“As soon as we got out there, he told me that he loved me,” Williams recalled, describing what would become their final conversation.

According to Williams, Nolan later spent time talking with a young woman and socializing with another group of friends while people celebrated Independence Day across the island.

Another friend, Trace Carter, said he spoke with Nolan just before the trip and urged him to stay safe.

“Just hit me up when you get back. Just be careful, bro,” Carter remembered telling him.

Nolan replied, “I got you. I’ll hit you up later.”

That message never came.

Investigators believe Nolan remained on Horn Island after many of his friends returned to the mainland later that afternoon. When he failed to come home, his mother, Christine Wonsley, reported him missing, triggering a large-scale search involving local, state, federal, and volunteer rescue teams.

Search crews located Nolan’s body on July 6 near the area where he had last been seen. Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd later confirmed his identity through dental records. Authorities have not yet released an official cause of death while autopsy and toxicology testing continue.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said detectives have interviewed numerous friends and witnesses as they work to reconstruct Nolan’s final hours.

According to the sheriff, investigators have not uncovered evidence of a crime at this stage, although he stressed the investigation remains active and that conclusion could change if new evidence emerges.

Detectives are continuing to review text messages, emails, and social media tips while asking anyone who was on Horn Island to submit original, unedited photos and videos taken on the island’s northwest tip, especially any showing Nolan or possible altercations.

Officials also urged anyone who interacted with Nolan or witnessed unusual activity that day to contact investigators, emphasizing that even seemingly minor information could help establish a complete timeline.

Meanwhile, investigators are examining a viral social media video that appears to show a heated argument near the shoreline shortly before Nolan disappeared. The footage, reportedly recorded around 4:01 p.m., has fueled widespread online speculation, but authorities have not confirmed its authenticity or whether it is connected to Nolan’s death.

Joshua Gill, who helped coordinate volunteer search efforts through the United Cajun Navy, said Nolan’s mother contacted the organization shortly after her son was reported missing.

Gill described Christine Wonsley as heartbroken but remarkably composed while answering investigators’ difficult questions and helping organize the search.

As the investigation continues, Nolan’s family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them.

Crump has called for a complete and transparent investigation, saying Nolan’s family “deserves answers” and “deserves the truth” as they seek to understand exactly what happened to the college football player on Horn Island.