Body of Mississippi teen recovered after his July 4th disappearance on boat trip as family calls for full investigation

A body believed to be that of missing Mississippi teenager Nolan Xavier Wells has been recovered after an extensive search, bringing a tragic end to the search for the 18-year-old who disappeared during a Fourth of July boating trip.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office recovered the body Monday morning near Horn Island, a barrier island roughly 10 miles off Mississippi's Gulf Coast where Wells was last seen on July 4. While authorities were awaiting DNA confirmation, Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter told ABC News the body matched Wells' description and was believed to be the missing teenager. According to Ledbetter, Wells had traveled to the island with friends but never returned to the mainland with them. "They left Horn Island and went back without Nolan," Ledbetter said. "From what we understand, he chose to stay there."

Following a missing person's report filed by Wells' mother, authorities from the US Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and local law enforcement launched an extensive search of the island and surrounding waters. "There's no information that we have right now that would lead us to believe that a crime has occurred," Ledbetter added.

Despite investigators' preliminary findings, Wells' family, pictured, are seeking additional answers. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, said in a statement that the family is demanding "a thorough and transparent investigation into how Nolan died", adding that they would not rest until "every fact about what happened to Nolan on Horn Island is brought into the light."

Wells' mother, Christine Wonsley, announced the devastating news on social media on Monday. "My heart is broken for our sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others," she wrote. "Nolan was a special soul." His former principal Jacob Dykes remembered Wells as "an extremely kind and hardworking young man who left a lasting impression on his teachers, coaches, teammates, and community."

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wells' death while awaiting final identification and autopsy results.