Nolan Wells Update: Friend Disputes Viral Horn Island Video Theory Made By Ben Crump

A close friend of Nolan Wells has disputed claims that the 18-year-old Mississippi football player can be heard in a viral video recorded shortly before his disappearance, saying the voice belongs to him instead.

Tracestin Shepherd spoke publicly for the first time following the circulation of the clip, challenging assertions made by attorney Ben Crump, who represents Wells’ family. Authorities continue to investigate Wells’ death, and no official cause has been released.

Friend Claims Voice Was His

The video gained widespread attention after Crump said it captured Wells demanding his phone back during an argument on Horn Island before he disappeared.

Shepherd, however, told Rolling Stone that he, not Wells, is the person heard shouting in the recording. He said the argument involved another man and insisted Wells was not part of the confrontation.

According to Shepherd, he wanted to get off the boat to continue the dispute, adding that the comments heard in the clip were his own rather than Wells’.

Others Back Shepherd’s Account

Shepherd’s version of events was supported by several people who were present that day, including his girlfriend, his uncle, and a family friend.

He also told ABC News that Wells was not on Horn Island when the verbal altercation occurred. Shepherd argued that the individual some viewers believed to be Wells could not have been his friend, noting the noticeable difference in their height.

Another friend of Wells, Jayvon Williams, later told TMZ he could not identify the voice with certainty because of the recording’s quality but said it appeared consistent with Shepherd’s account of the argument.

Video Owner Speaks Out

The person who recorded the now-viral clip also addressed the controversy, telling TMZ the footage was never intended to document a fight.

According to the video’s owner, the recording was taken to send to a spouse and did not capture any physical altercation. The individual said they had heard about a verbal dispute on the island, but maintained the video itself does not show violence.

Investigation Remains Ongoing

Wells disappeared after a Fourth of July boat trip to Horn Island before his body was recovered several days later during an extensive search.

Shepherd said he decided to speak publicly after friends began receiving threats online amid growing speculation surrounding the case. He denied any involvement by their friend group in Wells’ death and said false assumptions had spread rapidly on social media.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has confirmed that investigators are reviewing the viral video as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities have not verified the video’s significance or confirmed whether it is directly connected to the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death, which remains under investigation pending autopsy results.