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 was found around 8:45 a.m. by a park ranger.
The identity has not been confirmed, but officials have been on the island searching for 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells.
Wells was last seen Saturday, July 4, around 3 p.m. on Horn Island.
A search has been underway involving 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.
A view of Horn Island as the United Cajun Navy took part in the search. (United Cajun Navy)
First responders have a command post set up at the Lake Mars Boat Launch, located at 1200 Lake Mars Avenue in Ocean Springs.
Wells played football at Ocean Springs High School and is a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College.
See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.
Copyright 2026 WLOX. All rights reserved.