Ben Crump Reveals Deleted Text Messages Were Found On Nolan Wells’ Phone And Says There Are “So Many Inconsistencies” In The Case

Attorney Ben Crump is not wasting any time.
Just one day after being retained by the family of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, the civil rights attorney sat down with Don Lemon to reveal a series of deeply troubling new details that are raising serious questions about what really happened on Horn Island on the Fourth of July.

Deleted Text Messages Found On Nolan’s Phone
Perhaps the most alarming revelation from the interview is what was discovered on Nolan’s cell phone. According to Crump, Nolan’s parents found that text messages had been deleted from their son’s phone. Investigators are now working to determine what those messages said and who deleted them.
“They got his phone, so they’re trying to figure out there’s deletions on the phone and they’re trying to look at what is that about,” Crump told Don Lemon.
The discovery of deleted messages adds yet another layer of complexity to a case that already has more questions than answers. Authorities have asked members of the group who were on Horn Island with Nolan to turn over their cell phones to Mississippi law enforcement, a step Crump says his team is monitoring closely.
Cell Phone Left Behind Raises Red Flags
Crump also addressed one of the most glaring inconsistencies in the story that has been circulating since Nolan’s disappearance. According to the attorney, it is “very improbable” that Nolan would have chosen to voluntarily stay on Horn Island without his cell phone.
This directly contradicts the account offered by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, which told ABC News that based on initial interviews with the group, it appeared Nolan had “chosen to stay” on the island with the assumption he would catch a ride back with someone else. The idea that an 18-year-old would willingly remain on a remote barrier island with no cell phone and no guaranteed way home is something Crump says does not add up.
“So Many Inconsistencies”
Crump made it clear that the inconsistencies in this case go beyond just the cell phone. Without detailing every one of them in the interview, he told Don Lemon that his team of investigators and associates are compiling a comprehensive list of every inconsistency they have identified so far.
“There are so many inconsistencies going on and so we’re going to have with our investigators and our associates, we’re going to list all the inconsistencies,” Crump said.
He also emphasized how early they are in the investigation, noting that his team had only officially gotten onto the case the day before the interview. “We just got onto the case yesterday, so we have been staying up late with the family, talking to friends, talking to people who were there on that Fourth of July trying to piece together what really happened to Nolan Wells,” he said.
What We Know So Far
Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, traveled to Horn Island with a group of friends on July 4 to celebrate Independence Day. Horn Island is a remote barrier island located approximately 10 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is only accessible by boat. His friends returned to the mainland without him that afternoon. His mother Christine Wonsley reported him missing just before midnight.
After a multi-day search involving the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the United Cajun Navy, a park ranger discovered a body in the water near the northwestern tip of Horn Island on the morning of July 7. Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd confirmed the body was Nolan through dental records. An autopsy has been performed but results, including a toxicology report, could take several weeks.
Investigators have said they suspect drowning and have stated there is currently no information leading them to believe a crime occurred. However, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is also actively investigating a viral video allegedly showing a heated confrontation on Horn Island on the day Nolan went missing, and has asked the public for any original unedited photos or videos from the island that day.
The Family Wants Answers
Nolan’s mother Christine Wonsley wrote on social media after his death was confirmed: “Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son. I ask that you all please give me and my family privacy as we grieve.”
With Ben Crump now leading the legal charge for the family, the pressure on investigators to be thorough and transparent is only growing. Crump made his position clear in his statement upon being retained: “We will not rest until every fact about what happened to Nolan on Horn Island is brought into the light.”
Nolan Wells would have turned 19 next month. His football coaches, his school, and his community have all described him as a humble, hardworking young man who was deeply loved. His family deserves the truth and they are fighting to get it.
If you have any information about what happened on Horn Island on July 4, contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at 228-769-3063 or the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources at 844-937-6636.