JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A body was found on the northwest end of Horn Island on Monday morning, according to Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter.
Officials said the body, which is believed to be that of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, was found around 8:45 a.m. by a park ranger.
Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd said DNA testing will officially confirm the identity, but Lynd said: “There is no reason to believe it is not him.”
The sheriff also said the body found did match the description of Wells, and the family shared posts on social media confirming their loss.
Ledbetter said Wells’ mother reported him missing late Saturday night and a search began. Officials said the teen was last seen on Saturday, July 4, around 3 p.m. on Horn Island.
A view of Horn Island as the United Cajun Navy took part in the search. (United Cajun Navy)
The search for Wells involved multiple agencies, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Marine Resources, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the United Cajun Navy.
Wells played football at Ocean Springs High School and Southwest Mississippi Community College.
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