Missing Athlete's Tragic Fourth of July | Raleigh News

Raleigh News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 9, 2026 · 1m

An 18-year-old college athlete, Nolan Wells, vanished on the Fourth of July during a boat trip to remote Horn Island, and a body believed to be his was found Monday. Authorities suspect drowning but are still investigating — especially after friends allegedly took his phone and deleted messages, and students recorded a heated argument before he disappeared. His family, devastated and struggling to accept an accidental death given his elite swimming skills, is awaiting an independent autopsy. Sheriff’s officials are urgently asking anyone with photos, videos, or even small details from that…