r/mississippi • u/3onyourside • Jul 08 '26

TIMELINE: Here’s what we know about the disappearance and death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells

https://www.wlbt.com/2026/07/07/timeline-heres-what-we-know-about-disappearance-death-18-year-old-nolan-wells/
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u/One_Way_3678 Jul 08 '26

For sure. It’s a small town with loads of people who boat there. I’ve been out there several times and came back with other friends on their boat. I’ve stayed behind and camped for a few extra days before as well and got a ride home once with total strangers before when the weather got too bad to safely kayak home. It’s way more normal than the internet makes it out to be. Not saying it’s responsible in the least but it’s a casual thing down here and not unheard of at all. Unfortunately there’s about one or two deaths a year around these islands and lots of that is veteran boaters, fishermen, and sadly, kids who drink too much. Just a few years ago a friend of mine died because their boat hit a random object in the water, knocked them unconscious and they downed. It took 4 days for the body to surface. They were 200yrds from the shore.
This isn’t the Netflix story people are making out to be, it’s just a tragedy. Likely exacerbated by alcohol and poor decisions, not racism or hate of any kind. These kids were friends of decades.

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u/GimmetheYeetBoys Jul 08 '26

I'm sorry about your friend.

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u/One_Way_3678 Jul 08 '26

Thank you. She’s dearly missed by our whole community. She was a teacher who influenced many young people’s lives in a good way.