Group chats from Nolan Wells’ phone show what his friends said before and after he vanished

October 15, 2026 / 10:03 AM EDT / CBS News

Group chats pulled from Nolan Wells' cellphone show what his friends said before and after the Mississippi teen vanished in early July following a boat outing with friends.

Wells disappeared after he and a group of friends celebrated the Fourth of July holiday off the Gulf Coast. They say he left his phone on their boat but didn't return with them.

A nearly 300-page report analyzing the late teen's phone and recently uploaded on the Justice for Nolan Wells website reveals his friends' reactions to his disappearance and speculation about his death in dozens of group chats.

On July 5, one group chat discusses when Wells was last seen, saying, "He got off our boat with this other guy and they started walking back to their boat." Minutes later, one friend calls it suspicious, saying, "There is def some sus s*** going on."

At one point, they talked about trying to find Wells, asking everyone to check their camera rolls. Another user added, "See if he was talking to anyone we don't know."

Another message read: "That's not like Nolan bro just to get left."

Someone else writes, "Hes gotta…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/