‘Where is the Urgency’: Nolan Wells’ Mother Details the Desperate Steps She Took to Get Police to Take Her Son’s Disappearance Seriously
Nolan Wells’ parents say that from the time their son went missing, it has been chaos as they pursue the truth.
The 18-year-old Mississippi teen went missing while celebrating the Fourth of July with friends on Horn Island. His body was found on the northwestern tip of the island two days later.
Since Wells’ death, his parents say they’ve been confronted with so many conflicting stories about what happened that they no longer know what the truth is.
‘Have You Seen Nolan?’
Elmore and Christine Wonsley told their son’s story during a panel Thursday at the NABJ Convention in Atlanta.
Christine Wonsley says she last saw her son the night before the Fourth of July. After finishing his cooking, he told her he was heading to a friend’s house before going to Horn Island the next morning.
“He told us kind of a general ‘Hey, we’re going to the island’. We knew that he was staying at Jax’s house,” said Wonsley. According to her, Jax was a friend they “met in passing.”
The next day at 8 p.m., Wonsley says her sister brought it to her attention that Wells had not checked in with them. Wonsley then calls Wells multiple times with no answer.
Hours later, around 11 p.m., Wonsley says Warren Hudson called to ask if she had seen or spoken to her son. She replied, “No, he should be with you guys.”
That’s when Warren told her that Nolan had chosen to stay behind on the island and talk to a girl named Katie.
“I said what? Because we know our child… Nolan isn’t one to throw caution to the wind and stay behind with a girl he just met,” Wonsley said.
Wonsley then checked Wells’ location, which showed he was on land. Hudson told her they had his phone, according to Wonsley.
“At that point, you’re telling me, don’t worry about it; we’re going to find him; it’s going to be okay. Don’t tell me not to worry,” Wonsley said. “This is my child, my flesh and blood that I brought into this world. Don’t tell me not to worry. Absolutely not.”
‘Who Am I Supposed to Talk To?’
Wonsley says Hudson told her he would call the Coast Guard. That’s when she decided to call the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) because Wells had gone missing on the island.
However, MDMR wasn’t sure that the case would fall within their jurisdiction. They advised her to call the Ocean Springs Police Department.
When Wonsley called Ocean Springs police, they told her she had to come in person to give a report. Once at the police department, they told her the case wouldn’t fall under their jurisdiction either.
“At that point, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, who am I supposed to talk to? Who is supposed to help me with this?” Wonsley said.
Wonsley says MDMR and Ocean Springs would go back and forth on who would take the case. She eventually called the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, which took over the investigation.
Wells’ parents first interaction with the Sheriff’s Office was in a McDonald’s parking lot. They met the night he went missing to provide information about Wells.
“He was just like, ‘Okay, thanks.’ I was like, ‘Where is the urgency?’” Wonsley said.
The Inconsistencies
Elmore Wonsley says between local authorities and Wells’ friends’ accounts, there are just too many inconsistencies.
“First inconsistency is you call me and tell me my son stayed on the island to talk to a girl. That’s not in his character. I didn’t raise any of my kids to do that,” Wonsley said. “The second thing is you say he doesn’t have his phone. He never leaves his phone… To me, that’s two lies you done told me.”
Another inconsistency for Wells’ father came when he had to retrieve his son’s keys from his friends. He says the scene was chaotic, and his friends took a while to hand over Wells’ personal belongings.
Jax Pitalo, whose house Wells’ phone and keys were at, pushed back on the parents’ claims. He told Officer Tatum he gave the phone up rather quickly.
“This narrative that they’re pushing that there was any argument over the phones or the keys is completely false,” said Warren Hudson in defense of his friend.
Remembering Nolan
The calls to find out what happened to Nolan Wells have grown louder. The Congressional Black Caucus has called for U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate his death.
The letter was sent Wednesday and gives authorities seven days to respond.
“We are demanding a full federal investigation. Kash Patel, we are demanding a full federal investigation as to what actually happened to Nolan Wells,” Georgia Representative Lucy McBath said. “We want to make sure that every stone is turned because his life matters.”
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is also still investigating Wells’ death. Their findings will be presented to a grand jury, which will determine whether criminal charges should be brought.
In the meantime, Elmore and Christine Wonsley will remember their son as a treasure.
“He was an incredible soul,” Christine Wonsley said. “He was God-fearing, God-loving. That boy had faith beyond measure. He was just a bright light. He was our bright light…”
The teen’s 19th birthday would’ve been August 19. To honor him, a national prayer rally featuring Dr. Jamal Bryant will be held that day in Biloxi.