The search for answers in the tragic death of teen Nolan Wells is taking a complicated turn. High-profile attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Wells’ family, is leaving no stone unturned—and that now includes a viral photo that has sparked intense speculation about the teen’s final hours.
Crump recently reposted a photo making waves on social media that appears to show a group of teens at a “land-based pool party.” The internet is buzzing with theories that one of the figures in the photo is Nolan, leading people to believe that he may have made it back to the Mississippi mainland before his death.
The online community claims the photo was snapped before 1 a.m. on July 5, and Crump reposted the image from the account Shannel Tarot TV to keep the conversation going. Crump noted in his caption, “Now listen, I don’t know if these are facts or rumors because no official statements have been confirmed. We sometimes have to follow all clues until the truth is found.”
But not everyone is buying the theory. Nolan’s friend, Tracestin Shepherd, spoke to Rolling Stone to set the record straight, claiming the photo isn’t from July 5 at all. Instead, he says it was taken at a different pool party back on June 27 and was simply posted on the 5th.
Rolling Stone reportedly obtained metadata from another source, along with additional group photos from that same night. Tracestin—who wasn’t even at the party—identified the people in the picture for the magazine and confirmed Nolan was present.
He told Rolling Stone the pool party theory is nothing more than misinformation, calling it “unbelievable” and “heartbreaking.”
As the public is well aware, Nolan vanished during a July 4 trip to Horn Island. While his friends made it home safely, Nolan didn’t, and his body was later discovered in the waters off the island. His family has since brought in Crump to lead an independent investigation, as they continue to search for clarity in a case where they feel the pieces simply aren’t adding up.