A chilling conspiracy theory has spread across social media following the tragic death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Well.

Wells, an 18-year-old boy from Mississippi, disappeared after traveling to Horn Island, a barrier island around 10 miles off the state's Gulf Coast, with a group of friends on July 4, The Guardian reported.

While the rest of the group returned home that evening, Wells never made it back, leading his mother to report him missing and plead for help on social media.

Nolan Xavier Wells disappeared from Horn Island, Mississippi, on the Fourth of July weekend. Credit: Facebook

Her appeal led to a massive two-day search that sparked national attention before coming to a heartbreaking end on Monday (July 6), when a body was found on the island.

The following day, Wells' mother, Christine Wonsley, confirmed on Facebook that the body was her son's.

"His father, our family, friends and I are absolutely devastated," she penned. "Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son. I ask that you all please give me and my family privacy as we grieve. Thank you all again. God bless."

Viral video fuels online speculation

Following the discovery of Wells' body, an alarming video allegedly filmed on Horn Island on the Fourth of July began circulating online.

The clip appears to show several people involved in a heated confrontation near the shoreline, while boats are lined up along the beach.

A crowd can also be seen gathering and looking toward one area of the island.

Some online users have claimed the video shows Wells or captures a fight linked to his disappearance.

However, police have not confirmed those claims, and investigators have not said whether the footage has any connection to the case.

Officials are continuing to ask anyone who was on Horn Island on July 4 to come forward with any photos, videos, or information that could assist the investigation.

The person who shared the footage speaks out

The person who uploaded the video to Facebook claimed it was recorded at 4:01PM on the north side of the west tip of Horn Island.

"We were parked right next to the boat Nolan was allegedly on," the post read. "Hope this helps in any way."

"This was immediately after the big fight that broke out up on the shore," they added, per the outlet.

The individual said that they were unsure whether Wells could be seen in the footage, but encouraged anyone able to slow the video down to examine it more closely.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter confirmed to TMZ that investigators are aware of the circulating footage.

Wells with friends on a boat during July 4 celebrations. Credit: Facebook

Investigation remains ongoing

Officials have not released a cause of death, and investigators have not publicly confirmed what happened to Wells after he was last seen.

The 18-year-old had recently completed his first year at Southwest Mississippi Community College and would have celebrated his 19th birthday next month.

He had been expected to return to campus on Monday to begin preparations for the upcoming football season.

Before college, Wells played football at Ocean Springs High School, where those who knew him remembered him for much more than his athletic ability.

"We are devastated by Nolan's passing," Ocean Springs head football coach Jake Bramlett said. "He was the kind of son, teammate, friend and student that every coach hopes to have in a program."

"Nolan was so much more than an outstanding football player. He carried himself with humility, treated others with respect, worked hard, and led by example.

"His character spoke louder than his accomplishments, and he was loved deeply by his teammates and coaches. Our football family is grieving alongside Nolan’s parents, family, friends, classmates, teammates, and all who loved him," he added.

Southwest Mississippi Community College President Dr. J. Steven Bishop also paid tribute to the freshman.

"The entire Southwest family is heartbroken as we mourn the tragic loss of Nolan Wells," Bishop told WLOX. "We remember Nolan as a well-respected young man who was very popular among friends, faculty, and staff... We loved Nolan, and he will be greatly missed in many ways."

The investigation into Wells' death remains ongoing.

Featured image credit: Facebook

Authorities in Florida have released new details surrounding the tragic death of 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier, whose body was discovered in a pond one week after he went missing during a family trip. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office shared fresh evidence this week, including video footage of the teen in his final moments, while stressing that no signs of foul play have been found.

According to Sheriff Rick Wells, Giovanni was picked up around 1:30 a.m. on August 1 by his paternal cousin and two of the cousin’s friends. Although Giovanni had spoken with his cousin by text, he had never met the two friends in person before that night. The group set off toward Brevard County, and during the ride, messages revealed Giovanni discussing smoking marijuana, mentioning that he “hadn’t had a smoke in a while because of court stuff” in North Carolina but was eager to take part.

Not long after, the three men told investigators that Giovanni began behaving erratically once they smoked in the car. They described him as “acting out and raging,” before he suddenly became agitated. Around 1:55 a.m., Giovanni sent his mother three desperate text messages in quick succession: “Help,” followed by “Help” and “Me.”

One of the friends told deputies that Giovanni declared: “I am a demon and I will wreck this car and kill you all,” while trying to open the door as the vehicle was still moving. Concerned, the group pulled over, noting that Giovanni carried a knife, . However, Sheriff Wells confirmed the blade was never drawn and remained in its sheath.

At that point, Giovanni bolted from the vehicle. Witnesses said he nearly ran into the path of an oncoming truck before disappearing into the darkness, leaving behind his backpack and phone. New surveillance video played at the press conference showed a truck swerving to avoid striking him on the highway. Additional footage from a nearby Lowe’s captured a figure—believed to be Giovanni—racing down a steep embankment in what Wells described as an “almost uncontrollable sprint.” The pond where his body would later be found lay just beyond that slope, out of the camera’s view.

“The important thing to understand is that Giovanni was alone,” Sheriff Wells told reporters. “No one was chasing him. No one was near him. When he ran down that embankment, the car was already two miles away.”

Giovanni’s backpack and phone were later recovered in Tampa after a truck driver who found them unknowingly took them from the scene. His body was ultimately discovered on August 8 by a private investigator hired by his family, per WFLA News.

The medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death, pending toxicology results. Sheriff Wells emphasized that Giovanni showed no visible trauma; no gunshot wounds, no stabbings, no evidence of foul play. For now, his death remains classified as undetermined.

“This is a heartbreaking case,” Wells said. “What happened once Giovanni reached that pond, we simply don’t know.”

Featured image credit: Andrew Leyden / Getty Images.

A man who took his own life after killing four members of his family had shared a concerning post just days before the incident.

The horrific incident unfolded in a quiet cul-de-sac in Nassau County, Long Island, on Sunday, days after the family's 95-year-old matriarch, Theresa DeLucia, died.

Her son, Joseph DeLucia, Jr., 59, is accused of gunning down three of his siblings as well as his niece, before running out onto the front lawn and turning the gun on himself.

The horrifying crime happened in the small blue home Theresa owned in Syosset, and lived in with Joseph, with reports stating that he had become upset at his siblings' plans to sell the property.

Joseph, who worked as an automobile mechanic and had formerly been an EMT, had reportedly lived in the home his whole life and had been upset that he would need to find somewhere else to live once the property, which is believed to be worth $900,000, was sold.

Nassau County Police Capt. Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick said during a press conference that Joseph had used a pump-action Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun to kill his three siblings - Joanne Kearns, 69, of Tampa, Florida; Tina Hammond, 64, of East Patchogue; and Frank DeLucia, 63, of Durham, North Carolina, as the family convened in the den of the home.

He also shot his 30-year-old niece, Victoria Hammond, to death before running out into the front yard and fatally shooting himself.

Fitzpatrick added: "Officers found him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced at the scene."

A neighbor, 73-year-old Sandy Landsman, had called 911 after hearing Joseph screaming in the yard before pulling the trigger, telling the New York Post: "We heard a high-pitched scream, it was Joe screaming, then one shot. I was shocked. I never would have thought beforehand that this would happen."

Landsman added that the man had been "very upset" at the prospect of the home being sold, explaining: "We heard he was very upset over this. He didn’t know where to go, he had lived there his whole life.

"One of the siblings said she would take care of him, that she would let him come and live with her. Apparently, that didn’t sound too good to him."

Fitzpatrick added that investigators had been told that Joseph had past mental health issues, which have not yet been confirmed, however, neighbors said that he had been struggling since his mother died on August 19.

He added that Joseph had been "kind of a hoarder", explaining: "He spent all his money on tools and stuff. The house was pretty much hoarded, packed with tools, stuff involved with an auto mechanic.

"He was living there his entire life, never lived on his own. So you could see his mindset, where his world was now changing and he was in a panic."

Joseph had also shared a concerning post on Facebook on the day that his mother died, just a week before shooting his siblings and himself.

He had posted a photo of a grey Tesla car with a New York license plate reading: "Deprssed".

Still reeling from losing his mother, things appeared to come to a head as his siblings convened on the home over the weekend to meet with a local real estate agent, Mary Macaluso, on Sunday to discuss putting the property up for sale.

Macaluso had been headed to the home to speak to the family, however, when she arrived she found the property had already been taped off by police.

Fitzpatrick added: "When this happened, they arrived to meet the realtor. They brought Starbucks, they were assembled in the den area — the brother had stayed behind."

He revealed that Joseph had fired 13 shots in total, aiming 12 at the victims before firing the final one at himself, meaning he'd had to reload the gun several times.

Officers described the scene they found in the home of the late Theresa, who'd worked for three decades as a nurse at a local hospital as well as volunteering in local shelters and food banks - as one of the most horrifying they'd encountered.

Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said: "In 41 years, that was one of the most horrific scenes I’ve ever seen."

Fitzpatrick also revealed that the man had a clean record bar one arrest for drink-driving in 1983, and there had been one wellness check call to the home in 2022 which did not lead to any police action.

Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the deceased.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.

Featured image credit: James Carbone/Newsday RM via Getty Images

A 16-year-old has died after selflessly jumping into the ocean to save four younger children who were stuck in an undercurrent.

Bryce Brooks, from Atlanta, was in Pensacola, Florida, with relatives for spring break when he and an older family member died saving four children who were stuck in the ocean on April 6.

The children, whose ages are unknown, had gotten into difficulty in a part of the Perdido Key where no lifeguards were stationed, according to reports from WEAR.

The teenager had dived in to help but went under, and family friend Charles Johnson II went to help the high schooler but also ended up dying, according to Brooks' father Shivy Brooks.

He said during a press conference streamed by Fox 5 Atlanta: "The selflessness that it takes for someone to make such a sacrifice, to do so at only the age of 16, we’re so proud as parents how our son has shown up in this moment.

"Let it be amplified that Atlanta developed kids that would give up their life for others that they didn’t even know."

Other adults on the beach were able to get Brooks and Johnson out of the water and onto the shore, where life-saving measures were administered.

The pair were then airlifted to hospital but were both tragically pronounced dead, with Brooks having died from cardiac arrest, his father said.

Despite his parents and younger brother's grief, the family has expressed their pride that their eldest son would sacrifice his own life to save others.

His mother, Crystal Brooks, added: "He stepped into his manhood to save these children. That makes me proud. It doesn’t take away an ounce of pain, but it makes me proud of our son."

According to the Daily Mail's reports, Brooks was one of three teenagers who rushed to help the children as three others ran to inform adults about the emergency.

The other two teenagers, who have not been named, managed to make it out of the water while onlookers searched for Brooks and Johnson, who was a father of three.

Despite there being yellow flags warning of moderate currents, there were no lifeguards present at that part of the beach at the time of the incident.

The honor roll student's father added at the press conference: "Being selfless, our son Bryce, while being pulled by the currents himself, literally called for help, not for himself, but he was calling for help for the little kids that he was looking out for.

"Bryce is a hero. He literally saved the lives of four kids at the expense of his own."

A GoFundMe was set up for the family and has amassed over $95,000 in donations at the time of writing.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Bryce Brooks and Charles Johnson III at this heartbreaking time.

Featured image credit: James Kirkikis / Alamy

Heartfelt tributes are flooding in for two Irish teens, Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall, both 18, who tragically died within hours of each other while vacationing in Greece, celebrating the end of their exams.

The recent graduates from St Michael's College had embarked on their trip to the island of Ios with a large group of friends.

During a night out, Andrew was separated from his friend on the way back to their accommodation and was later reported missing. His body was tragically discovered the next day around 9:20AM on rocky terrain in a field, indicating a possible slip that led to a fatal head injury.

Devastatingly, Max, who had a pre-existing heart condition, is said to have collapsed upon hearing about his friend's sudden passing near the island's port.

His condition rapidly deteriorated and despite medics' best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. Local law enforcement confirmed two investigations are underway into the tragic incidents, with the bereaved families arriving on the island.

A local police official, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Mirror: "We understand that Max who was discovered in the port had a history of heart problems. Friends who were with him described him collapsing on hearing about Andrew. They were close. This is about as near as it gets to an ancient Greek tragedy."

The initial alert was triggered when Andrew didn't return to the rented accommodation. "Police were brought in immediately but the search took many hours before his body was located in a gully in [the area of] Germanoli," said the officer, referring to one of the island's steep waterways.

Autopsies for both teens are anticipated at the port of Pireaus, near Athens. "The autopsies will tell us more although right now we are ruling out anything suspicious," said a source on the island.

Local community members, including Leinster Rugby, have expressed their profound shock and grief at the untimely death of these two "young men gone far too soon."

St Michael's College principal, Tim Kelleher, described the devastating impact of this tragic event on the entire school community during an interview on RTE's Morning Ireland.

"We're absolutely devastated, the entire community is reeling with the news over the last 24 hours," Kelleher said. He expressed the school's deepest condolences to the families of the young men and confirmed that representatives of the school's parent association are now in Greece offering support.

Both young men were lauded by Kelleher, with Andrew being remembered as a "fantastic young man, great sportsman, fantastic footballer" with a bright future. Similarly, Max was described as "very bright", passionate about rugby, and having "the world at his feet."

The school community is offering support and has opened a book of condolences, while the Irish tricolour and school flag are flown at half-mast, symbolizing the collective mourning.

The loss of these "bright, sporting, academic men, who had their whole lives ahead of them" leaves the community heartbroken, Mr. Kelleher expressed.

Our hearts go out to the families of O'Donnell and Wall.

Featured image credit: Heritage Images / Getty