A Mississippi judge whose son was among the last people to see Nolan Wells alive has shared new details about the hours before the 18 year old football player’s disappearance, saying the teen decided to remain on Horn Island after the group’s boat developed mechanical problems.

Ashlee Cole, whose son Warren was part of the Fourth of July outing, released a public statement addressing speculation surrounding the case. She said her family wanted to correct misinformation that has circulated online while keeping the focus on Nolan’s loved ones.

According to Cole, her son was interviewed by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and fully cooperated with investigators. She said Warren last saw Nolan around 3 p.m. on July 4 before leaving the island about 4:30 p.m.

Cole explained that the group departed after their boat began taking on water because of a malfunctioning bilge pump. She said Nolan chose to stay behind, believing he could later return to the mainland with another group of friends.

“Nolan made a decision to stay on the island and return inland later with another group of friends,” Cole wrote.

She also rejected claims that her family had tried to interfere with the investigation, adding that she graduated from high school with Nolan’s mother, Christine Wonsley, and continues to keep the Wells family in her prayers.

Authorities say Nolan was last seen near the northern end of Horn Island around 3 p.m., where witnesses reported he was talking with a young woman. After he failed to return home that evening, his family reported him missing, triggering a large scale search involving local, state, and federal agencies, along with volunteers from the United Cajun Navy.

His body was discovered on July 6 after search crews combed the waters around Horn Island and nearby barrier islands. Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd confirmed that Nolan was identified through dental records. An autopsy has been completed, but officials are still awaiting toxicology results and have not announced an official cause of death.

Investigators are also examining a viral video that allegedly captures a heated argument on Horn Island shortly before Nolan disappeared. Officials have not confirmed whether the footage is authentic or whether anyone shown in the video was with Nolan that day.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has asked anyone who witnessed an argument, disturbance, or unusual activity on the island during the holiday weekend to contact investigators. Authorities are also seeking original, unedited photos and videos that could help establish an accurate timeline.

Nolan’s family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them as they continue seeking answers.

“His family deserves answers. They deserve the truth,” Crump said, adding that investigators should pursue the case with urgency and complete transparency.

Nolan, a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, would have celebrated his 19th birthday next month. Photos shared by his family show the smiling teenager enjoying the holiday with friends just hours before he vanished, making the unanswered questions surrounding his death even more heartbreaking.