The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells has hired nationally known civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump as they continue searching for answers following the young football player’s death after a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island.

Wells disappeared on July 4 while spending the holiday with friends on the popular Mississippi barrier island. After an extensive search involving multiple agencies and volunteers, his body was discovered on Monday near the island’s northwest shoreline.

Authorities have not yet released an official cause or manner of death, and investigators say the case remains active while awaiting autopsy and toxicology results. The lack of confirmed details has fueled growing concern among family members and the public over what happened during Wells’ final hours.

Crump announced that he is representing the family and urged investigators to conduct a complete and transparent investigation.

“Nolan Wells was a beloved son, teammate and friend who went out to celebrate the Fourth of July and never came home,” Crump said. “His family deserves answers. They deserve the truth.”

He added that his legal team will continue pushing until every detail surrounding the teenager’s death is fully examined.

Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, has repeatedly appealed to the public for photos and videos taken on Horn Island that day, hoping they could help piece together her son’s final movements. She previously shared family photos of Nolan on social media while asking anyone who witnessed events on the island to come forward.

Investigators have also confirmed they are reviewing a widely circulated social media video that reportedly captured a heated confrontation near the beach on July 4. Officials have not verified whether the footage is connected to Wells or whether it has any relevance to the investigation.

Another unanswered question involves Wells’ cellphone. According to his family, the device had been left on the boat that carried him to Horn Island before it was later recovered and returned to them.

Friends have also begun sharing what they remember from that afternoon. Incident commander Josh Gill of the United Cajun Navy previously said Wells had last been seen spending time with a young woman near the island.

His longtime friend, 17-year-old Jayvon Williams, told local media they had originally planned to ride to Horn Island together, but the boat filled before Williams could board. He instead traveled on another boat and saw Wells later that afternoon.

“As soon as I got there, he told me that he loved me,” Williams recalled.

Williams also said both he and Wells had left their phones aboard the boat that brought Nolan to the island. Williams later recovered his own phone, while Wells’ device was eventually found and returned to his family.

Authorities believe Wells was last seen near the western end of Horn Island, an area known for fast-moving currents between the barrier islands.

Before his death, Wells had recently joined the football program at Southwest Mississippi Community College and was preparing to report back to campus for preseason workouts.

Meanwhile, supporters have continued donating to a family-approved fundraiser established to help cover funeral costs, memorial services and other expenses as loved ones mourn the loss of the teenager.

Support for Wells’ family has continued to pour in from across the country. A GoFundMe campaign created by family friend Allayah Denis has now raised more than $238,000 from over 5,700 donations, bringing it closer to its $350,000 goal. According to the fundraiser, the money will help cover funeral and memorial expenses, celebration of life services, and other costs associated with honoring Nolan’s memory. The page also thanked everyone who searched for Wells, prayed for the family, shared his story, and offered support throughout the search.

Wells’ family has emphasized that the fundraiser organized by Denis is the only GoFundMe campaign officially approved by them. After several other fundraising pages appeared online, a GoFundMe spokesperson said the company is actively monitoring the platform and will remove any unauthorized campaigns while refunding donations made to pages that were not approved by the family.