More than two months after 18-year-old Nolan Wells was found dead on Horn Island, newly highlighted timeline records and unresolved digital evidence are adding fresh questions to a case that has already drawn national attention.

Nolan disappeared during a July 4 boating trip to Horn Island, off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His body was discovered two days later near the island’s northwest area. Investigators initially said they had found no obvious signs of foul play, but Nolan’s family has continued to challenge parts of the timeline surrounding his final known hours.

One of the most significant developments involves the timing of the boat’s departure. During the early search, information circulated suggesting the boat Nolan had arrived on may have left around 3 p.m. But later route data cited in records places the boat’s sustained departure at approximately 4:31 p.m. That creates a gap of roughly 90 minutes between Nolan’s reported last sighting and the boat leaving the island — a period investigators are still trying to fully reconstruct.

Another unresolved piece of evidence is Nolan’s cellphone. His phone was reportedly left with others when they returned from the island, a detail his parents have repeatedly said was unusual for their son. Nolan’s mother’s legal team later obtained subpoenas seeking records from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok and Life360 in an effort to recover messages, location information and other digital activity that could help establish what happened before he disappeared.

As recently as September 17, reporting indicated that questions remained over when Nolan’s phone and its data would be fully shared with state investigators. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department continues to lead the death investigation with FBI assistance.

The medical evidence has also failed to provide a simple answer. An independent autopsy commissioned by Nolan’s family listed both the cause and manner of death as “undetermined, pending investigation.” The examination could not rule out foul play and raised additional questions that investigators say require further evidence.