Nolan Wells Death

Nancy Grace is diving into the Nolan Wells death investigation ... and she's not convinced this is a drowning ... raising concerns about some suspicious allegations involving his cell phone.

Nancy had her first segment on Nolan on her 'Crime Stories' show ... and she was particularly focused on his mother, Christine Wonsley, going on national TV and claiming his messages were deleted.

Nancy and her guest -- New York Post correspondent Caitlyn Becker -- said the alleged phone tampering was strange.

Brian Trascher helped search for Nolan Wells by air before the 18-year-old's body was found along Horn Island's shoreline ... and he believes dangerous water conditions may explain how Nolan ended up surprisingly close to where he was last seen alive.

The United Cajun Navy vice president tells "TMZ In The Know" ... weather conditions forced his team to switch tactics as the search stretched into its second day -- ultimately taking to the sky to cover more ground.

Brian says he and the pilot had been searching for about two hours on July 6 when they noticed several law enforcement boats converging on the northwest tip of Horn Island ... and they swung in close and saw a body floating face down in the water near shore.

Al Sharpton is putting his money where his mouth is ... offering $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Nolan Wells' death ... and Tyler Perry is following suit.

Sharpton announced the reward Monday while delivering remarks at the 18-year-old's funeral ... saying he and the National Action Network are ready to put up the cash.

Watch the clip ... Sharpton says anyone with information can contact attorney Ben Crump's office. Crump is representing Nolan's family.

Sharpton said Nolan "was not on that island by himself" and insisted somebody knows more about what happened during the Fourth of July trip to Mississippi's Horn Island, where Nolan was found dead two days after going missing.

Nolan Wells' loved ones gathered to say their final goodbyes Monday ... honoring the 18-year-old whose life ended far too soon.

The funeral service happened at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where Rev. Al Sharpton officiated and family attorney Ben Crump delivered a call for justice.

Sharpton announced during his remarks that he'll be offering a $50,000 reward to anyone who comes forward with information about Nolan's death ... and he said Tyler Perry will match that amount.

As we reported ... Nolan disappeared after traveling by boat with friends to Horn Island for a Fourth of July gathering. His friends returned to the mainland without him, and his body was found two days later on Horn Island.

Nolan Wells' loved ones are gathering to celebrate the 18-year-old's life ... as questions surrounding his death continue to haunt his Mississippi community ... and some very familiar faces will be on hand to pay their respects.

Family, friends, and civil rights leaders will remember Nolan this morning in his Ocean Springs hometown ... with Rev. Al Sharpton officiating the funeral and family attorney Ben Crump delivering a call for justice ... TMZ has learned.

Nolan traveled by boat with high school friends to Horn Island for a Fourth of July gathering, but the group returned without him. Two days later, Nolan's body was found along the island's shore.

Nolan Wells' grieving mother says someone sent a cruel piece of hate mail straight to her home ... mocking her push for answers about her 18-year-old son's mysterious death.

Christine Wonsley shared the anonymous mailing on Facebook ... a photo showing Rev. Al Sharpton and attorney Ben Crump supporting her alongside her husband, Elmore Wonsley -- now defaced with arrows pointing from the men toward Christine and dollar signs seemingly implying they were exploiting her grief for money.

Christine fired back, writing ... "Whoever sent this to my home, may the good Lord have mercy on your soul."

Nolan Wells' family may not be convinced he drowned off the coast of Horn Island ... but some of the area locals say they wouldn't be surprised -- because the waters have claimed other lives.

Here's the deal ... NBC News spoke to several people who regularly visit the area -- all anonymously due to the media scrutiny around the mysterious case -- including a boat operator who gave a rundown on the area's current.

The boat operator said, "I know people that have grown up out there that have died out there. It’ll humble you very quick. I don’t care what kind of shape you’re in. Those currents can get you, and before you even realize you’re in trouble, you’re gone.”

The FBI is investigating alleged threats that they say have been sparked by the case surrounding Nolan Wells' mysterious death.

FBI Jackson said in a statement that the federal level of the Bureau "has been working to address interstate threats" that they say were received by "individuals related to this matter."

It's unclear what kinds of threats were made and who was on the receiving end, but FBI Jackson added ... "these efforts are in parallel with Jackson County’s independent investigation."

There are more peculiar details of Nolan Wells' last day alive ... and in newly released audio, the friends that were with him on Horn Island were heard calling for help when their boat malfunctioned.

According to audio from the day Nolan went missing -- obtained by NBC News -- the boat Nolan's friends took to Horn Island experienced difficulty before making the journey back to the Mississippi mainland.

It sounds like there were about 7 people on the vessel ... and the call for help was made around 4 PM when the boat's operator said, "Hey, we're at the west tip of Horn, and our bilge pump stopped working. We're going. We're sinking."

Nolan Wells will be laid to rest next week in Mississippi ... and his parents say the family also intends to do something fun to celebrate their son.

Christine Wonsley says her son's visitation will be held at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs on Monday July 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. ... with the funeral to follow.

She also explained the family plans to have a party for Nolan, saying ... "We want to celebrate Nolan, he would not want us to be sitting around crying and eating."

Nolan Wells' high school football coach, Tracy Lampley, is breaking his silence on the death investigation ... and he doubts race was involved.

Tracy joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday ... and we asked him if there were racial tensions at their Mississippi high school.

Nolan's coach says that's not the vibe he gets ... telling us the students "grew up together" and "played together."

What's more, Coach Tracy says Nolan got along with everyone ... remembering him for his big smile and big personality. He says people gravitated towards Nolan.

Nolan Wells' parents say they haven't gotten a meaningful update from authorities in nearly a week as the mystery surrounding their 18-year-old son's death drags on.

In an interview with theGrio alongside attorney Ben Crump, Nolan's mom, Christine Wonsley, said the family hadn't heard from investigators since last Tuesday ... and she says they only got a call after she reached out herself asking for an update.

Hear them out ... according to Christine, they were told there was essentially nothing new ... and she says they haven't heard from anyone since.

The Nolan Wells police probe will not be rushed, as investigators are now working with prosecutors to figure out what exactly happened in the mysterious death of the teen ... this according to the Mississippi sheriff in charge of the case.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter told ABC News on Monday that it's essential for his investigators not to be put on a timetable and rushed by people who are clamoring for answers.

Ledbetter also called for anyone with information to provide it to his investigators so they can get to the bottom of the puzzling case.

Ben Crump, the attorney for Nolan Wells' family, is following every lead in the teen's tragic death ... including a photo that suggests he may have made it back to the Mississippi mainland before he died.

Crump shared a snap circulating on social media that shows a group of teens at a "land-based pool party" ... and people think one of the kids in the photo is Nolan.

The internet believes the snap was taken before 1 a.m. on July 5 ... and Crump reposted the photo from an account called Shannel Tarot TV.

Crump said 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."

Jay-Z is spitting fiction, not facts, when he claims Colin Kaepernick agreed to be silenced by the NFL ... an allegation Jay dropped live on stage at Yankee Stadium, and one refuted by sources speaking to TMZ Sports.

The moment came during Jay's Friday night opener ... in a freestyle rap aimed at his critics, he said, "They run out of characters, had to bring back up Kap again. Buddy took a check, I ain't even mad at him, but along with that check you have to sign a non-disparagement. I’m the one they can’t control."

The shot at Kaepernick -- 7 years after he and the NFL reached a settlement -- had some fans wondering, "Why now?" But, sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Sports, the bigger issue is Jay's wrong ... Colin did not sign a non-disparagement agreement when he settled the lawsuit in which he'd claimed NFL teams were colluding to keep him out of the league.