Nolan Wells' family has taken another legal step in its effort to determine what happened to the 18-year-old, notifying several individuals and entities that they must preserve evidence as litigation is "reasonably anticipated."
According to court records reviewed by the Sun Herald, Wells' family recently sent preservation notices to several of the teen's friends who were with him on July 4, as well as investigative entities connected to the ongoing case.
The notices instruct recipients to preserve any materials that could be relevant to future legal claims, including documents, photographs, videos, text messages, emails and other records.
"Accordingly, you have an immediate legal duty to preserve all materials of all kinds within your possession, custody, or control that may be relevant in any way to the claims or defenses," one notice states, per the Sun Herald. "This duty includes not only to you, but also your family members."
ABC News reported that one of the notices was sent to Chancery Court Judge Ashlee Cole, whose son, Warren Hudson, was among the group that traveled with Wells to Horn Island on the Fourth of July.
Hudson and his mother have said Wells chose to remain on the island after the group's boat began experiencing mechanical problems. Audio previously obtained by NBC News through a public records request captured someone aboard the boat requesting emergency towing assistance after reporting the vessel's bilge pump had failed.
Wells' parents have repeatedly disputed the account that their son voluntarily stayed behind, saying that would have been out of character. They have also questioned why Wells' cellphone remained on the boat when the group returned to the mainland. Friends have said Wells intentionally left the phone behind to keep it from getting wet before they later returned it to his family.
The preservation notices come as Wells' mother, Christine Wonsley, continues seeking additional digital evidence related to her son's final hours. Court filings reviewed by People show she has also subpoenaed Meta, Life360, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp for records associated with Wells' accounts, including user information and account data.
Wells disappeared July 4 during a boating trip to Horn Island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. His body was recovered two days later.
An independent autopsy commissioned by the family concluded that Wells' cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending further investigation. The examination, conducted by board-certified forensic pathologist Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr., also stated that the available evidence was insufficient to rule out foul play. The official state autopsy and toxicology findings have not been released publicly.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate the case, which will be presented to a grand jury once the investigation is complete.
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