Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, goes missing after traveling with friends on a boat trip to Horn Island on July 4 and is later found dead near the island’s shore. Multiple outlets report the family seeks answers as authorities investigate what happened during the trip. Wells’ parents report him missing late on July 4, and police and marine resources join the search after a friend calls and Wells’ cellphone is tracked to the mainland. His body is located about two days later.

Authorities have not publicly released a conclusive cause of death. NBC and other outlets report that a cause of death is still pending. NBC also reports that the family, through attorney Ben Crump, does not believe the death was accidental. A family-commissioned independent autopsy is described by several sources as inconclusive: it finds no fractures or deep tissue injuries, but does not determine how or why Wells died. With no definitive findings shared by law enforcement and an official state autopsy still pending in some reporting, questions remain as investigations continue into the circumstances of Wells’ death.