Month: September 2026

The Boeing 767 crossed a road, hit vehicles, and erupted in flames. But investigators may find an important part of the story in the moments before it ever left the runway.

At least five people were killed and five others injured in Sunday’s crash. As officials examine what went wrong, experts have pointed to how far the aircraft may have traveled before touching down.

And beyond the runway itself, another detail has emerged: Miami International Airport did not have a runway arresting system designed to help stop aircraft after an overrun.

Five Dead After Cargo Plane Leaves Runway

The Amazon Air cargo plane was arriving at Miami International Airport from San Juan, Puerto Rico, when it overran Runway 30 at about 2 p.m. Sunday, September 6.

The aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 operating as 21 Air Flight 7598, continued beyond the airport grounds. It crossed a perimeter road used by workers and nearby businesses, struck multiple vehicles, and caught fire.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Eileen Higgins said five people were killed and five others were injured. Three of the injured were in critical condition, while two were hospitalized with less severe injuries.

It was not immediately clear whether the pilots survived or whether all five people who died had been in vehicles struck by the aircraft.

Dispatch audio initially indicated that a deceased person had been found beneath the plane’s right wing. Earlier audio also indicated that the aircraft struck a truck after leaving airport property.

The crash left the aircraft scorched as flames and thick smoke rose around it. Emergency crews rushed to the scene while people remained trapped in the cockpit and vehicles.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah said the pilot and copilot were trapped in the cockpit. Some people were also trapped inside cars, while rescue crews had to extricate another person from beneath a vehicle.

One warning captured in emergency dispatch audio showed what responders were approaching.

“Guys, the plane’s on fire, plane’s on fire, put your game faces on,” a responder said.

Amazon said it was gathering information and working with local officials. The company said its priority was the safety and care of everyone involved.

But once the immediate emergency response was underway, attention turned to a question the visible wreckage alone could not answer: Why did Flight 7598 run out of runway?

Investigators Look at the Landing

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, with Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy scheduled to discuss the agency’s plans Monday.

One of the issues investigators are likely to examine is where on the runway the Boeing 767 actually touched down, according to The Associated Press.

Typically, an aircraft’s landing zone is within the first 3,000 feet of a runway.

Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said that if the plane was beyond that area, the pilots should have aborted the landing and gone around to make another attempt.

That possibility became particularly notable because of video showing the aircraft during its approach to the runway.

Mary Schiavo, a pilot and former inspector general of the Transportation Department, said footage posted online appeared to show the cargo plane floating above the runway for an extended period.

According to Schiavo, the aircraft appeared to remain above the runway without flaring its nose upward to bring the main landing gear onto the ground.

A video posted online showed the Boeing 767 during the landing sequence before it ultimately continued beyond the runway.

The footage alone does not establish why the aircraft overran the runway, and federal investigators have not announced a cause.

Still, the amount of usable runway remaining after touchdown is expected to be among the factors investigators consider.

Weather Could Become Part of the Investigation

It was not raining at the airport at the time of the crash, according to the AP. However, dark storm clouds were nearby, and strong winds had been reported.

Schiavo said a tailwind could have contributed to the aircraft traveling farther down the runway before landing.

“A tailwind would certainly add to your troubles if you’ve already given up a good chunk of the runway by not touching down and landing right away,” she said.

That does not mean a tailwind caused the crash. The NTSB has not determined what led Flight 7598 to overrun the runway.

Investigators will have to establish the aircraft’s touchdown point, its speed, the conditions at the time, and other evidence before determining what happened.

But even after the plane passed the end of Runway 30, there was another potential layer of protection that has become part of the discussion.

Miami International Airport did not have it.

Miami Airport Lacked an Arresting System

Miami International Airport was not equipped with the type of runway arresting system that the Federal Aviation Administration says has been installed at more than 120 airports across the country.

Known as an Engineered Materials Arresting System, or EMAS, the safety feature is intended to stop an aircraft that goes beyond the end of a runway.

The system uses beds of lightweight, crushable material. When an aircraft enters the bed, the material gives way beneath its wheels and helps slow the plane.

In other words, the system is designed for the kind of dangerous situation in which an aircraft cannot stop before reaching the runway’s end.

The FAA has credited such systems with helping save at least 497 lives aboard aircraft involved in runway overruns.

Miami International Airport did not have one when Flight 7598 continued off Runway 30, crossed the perimeter road, struck vehicles, and caught fire.

The available reporting does not establish that an EMAS installation would have stopped Flight 7598 in Sunday’s specific circumstances. Investigators also have not determined whether the absence of the system played a role in the deaths or injuries.

What is known is that the airport lacked a safety system specifically designed to help stop planes that go beyond a runway.

That detail now sits alongside the other major question investigators face: How much runway was already behind the Boeing 767 when its wheels finally touched down?

As federal investigators work to answer those questions, records from the emergency response show what crews encountered after the aircraft crossed the airport boundary.

What Crews Found Beyond the Airport Boundary

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue received reports at 1:55 p.m. of a hazardous situation involving a cargo plane that had struck multiple vehicles near the airport.

More than 60 units and approximately 200 personnel responded, the department said. They found the aircraft beyond the airport’s operational boundary, with heavy flames and smoke visible.

Firefighters encountered what the department described as a complex engine compartment fire. Specialized airport firefighting units used foam to extinguish the flames while other crews searched for victims.

One person was trapped beneath a vehicle and had to be freed by specialized technical rescue personnel. Hazardous materials crews also shut down the aircraft’s engine and worked to contain a fuel leak.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported five patients to local hospitals. By the department’s 6:25 p.m. update, crews had shifted into a supporting role while continuing to assist other agencies and mitigate the fuel leak.

Officials said there was no wider public safety concern for the Miami-Dade community, but asked people to avoid the area while emergency work continued.

The First Signs of the Crash Reached Nearby Homes

The impact was strong enough to shake a home in a nearby neighborhood. Jose Sanchez, who lives along Northwest 38th Terrace, initially thought he had heard an explosion or a truck crash.

“An explosion or truck, maybe, exploded or something like that,” Sanchez told CBS News Miami. “But for the house to shake – it wasn’t normal.”

When Sanchez stepped outside, he began to smell smoke even though he could not see it rising from the crash site. “Then I started to smell some smoke,” Sanchez said. “As I stepped outside, it got stronger.”

His home was not damaged, but he said the deaths made the crash’s proximity difficult to process. “Just the fact that it happened so close,” Sanchez said. “I feel very bad for the people, the victims and their families.”

Other residents described a sudden surge of emergency activity around MIA. “I looked and saw the tail and there was a lot of emergency vehicles headed in this direction. It’s crazy,” one resident told CNN.

Another resident noticed that the normal flow of aircraft overhead had abruptly stopped. “We live right where flights come in, in the pattern, and all of a sudden no flights and then we saw a ground stop,” the resident told 7News Miami.

A family member of another person hospitalized at Ryder Trauma Center said their loved one was doing okay. Officials also established a Missing Family Hotline at 305-471-2400 for people trying to locate relatives.

One Question Remained After Flight 7598 Left the Runway

The crash disrupted operations at MIA while emergency crews worked near the runway.

On X, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said officials issued a full ground stop as first responders assessed the scene. He warned travelers to expect significant delays and possible cancellations.

Duffy also said the Federal Aviation Administration would send inspectors to investigate.

The agency‘s initial account established the flight’s route and the basic sequence before the crash. Flight 7598 had departed San Juan and overran the runway after landing in Miami, the FAA said.

MIA also confirmed that the shutdown extended across its airfield. The airport said all runways and taxiways were closed and that a full ground stop was in effect.

Passengers with flights scheduled that day were advised to check directly with their airlines for flight status updates before heading to the airport.

On the other hand, the NTSB separately said it was gathering information about the incident and would provide updates as additional information became available.

It remains unclear why the aircraft was unable to stop. The plane was traveling nearly 130 mph when it left the usable portion of the runway, according to Flightradar24 data cited by CNN.

The same outlet also reviewed air traffic control audio from before the landing and found that the pilots did not declare an emergency. Neither detail establishes what caused the aircraft to overrun the runway.

With the cause still undetermined, aviation expert William Shepard pointed to several factors investigators may examine. He first emphasized the significance of an aircraft traveling beyond the airport property.

“Obviously, you never want this to transpire, and you certainly don’t want an aircraft to have this kind of trouble, but certainly not to breach the perimeter of the airport property, and to go off the runway,” Shepard said in a CBS Miami interview.

Weather could be among the factors investigators consider.

Shepard noted that serious thunderstorms had moved through South Florida that Sunday afternoon. “We don’t know if there was heavy rain at that particular point,” Shepard told CBS News Miami. “That’ll be one of the things that the NTSB is looking at.

The NTSB has not announced a cause. But officials have already singled out 1 discovery as especially important.

It Was Supposed to Be a Normal Assignment

Reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw had spent years covering Southern California from the air. They had flown together since 2023, reporting on police pursuits, wildfires, and other major breaking-news events. Both were longtime members of the local news community. Moreno had worked aboard news helicopters since 2010, while Marciniw had decades of aviation experience and had also worked as a flight instructor.

On September 15, they were covering the aftermath of a collision involving an SUV and a Metro bus in Chatsworth. The helicopter was hovering over the scene when something appeared to go wrong.

Witnesses later described seeing the aircraft moving unusually before it began to descend. Moments later, NewsChopper4 crashed near commercial buildings on Mason Avenue.

For Moreno and Marciniw, what began as a routine news assignment became their last. But the tragedy did not end in the air: when NewsChopper4 came down, 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia was also killed on the ground after simply being in the area when the helicopter crashed.

Then Investigators Realized Something Was Missing

The NTSB began examining the wreckage, maintenance records, weather conditions, and witness accounts. Investigators also started searching for recordings that could help reconstruct the helicopter’s final moments.

But the aircraft may not have carried the type of onboard recorder people often associate with major aviation investigations. NTSB Investigator-in-Charge Fabian Salazar said he was not aware of a recorder aboard, though investigators had not finished examining the wreckage.

Light helicopters like the AS350 are generally not required to carry flight data recorders. That could have left investigators with fewer direct clues about what happened inside the aircraft.

That absence could have left investigators with a major blind spot. Instead, the nature of the crew’s work meant something else had been capturing those crucial final moments.

The Clue Had Been There All Along

The helicopter’s camera and audio were running while Moreno and Marciniw covered the scene below. That meant the broadcast continued to capture what was happening as the aircraft’s own emergency began.

When investigators reviewed the material, they realized it could provide far more than a visual record of the crash. Salazar called it “the most important piece of evidence” discovered so far. What investigators heard on that recording is now central to the investigation.

The NTSB now wants a “pristine copy” of the original recording for further analysis, according to reporting on the investigation. The agency plans to send it to its recorder laboratory, where specialists can study the sound in detail.

For investigators, that recording may partly fill the gap left by the apparent absence of a flight recorder. The crew’s own broadcast could now help explain what was happening aboard the helicopter.

Investigators Heard Something They Couldn’t Ignore

The audio appears to capture more than voices. Investigators say there are sounds that may indicate changes inside the aircraft shortly before it descended.

“In that recording, we are clearly hearing sounds that are consistent with the engine changing its speed, and we’re also hearing tones that are being generated that are likely advisories to the pilot,” Salazar said.

The NTSB has not said those sounds prove what caused the crash. But they could help investigators establish when the problem began and what warnings Marciniw may have received.

That timing could be especially important because the helicopter had been hovering at relatively low altitude. If something failed suddenly, there may have been very little time to react.

The Helicopter Was in the Worst Possible Position

Former NTSB and FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti said the aircraft’s position may be another significant part of the investigation. Helicopter pilots sometimes refer to the combination of low altitude and little forward movement as a “dead man’s curve.”

“That’s the worst place to be if you have a problem,” Guzzetti said. In simple terms, altitude and forward movement can give a pilot more options during an emergency. A helicopter hovering relatively low may have less room to recover if something suddenly goes wrong.

That does not explain what caused the issue aboard NewsChopper4. It may simply help explain why events unfolded so quickly once the emergency began.

The First Answers Only Raised More Questions

Aviation experts who have heard the available recording have said the sounds could be consistent with an engine losing power and a rotor warning activating. Those interpretations have helped focus attention on the final seconds before the descent.

But they remain preliminary. The NTSB has not announced a cause, and investigators still have to determine what produced those sounds.

The recording can show investigators the moment something went wrong. It just can’t tell them why.

Investigators Are Looking for Answers Inside the Aircraft

NewsChopper4 was a Eurocopter AS350 B2, a single-engine helicopter widely used for news-gathering and other work. Previous fatal accidents involving the model include a 2014 crash involving Seattle station KOMO-TV and the 2018 East River helicopter crash in New York. The aircraft’s broader accident history will likely be considered alongside evidence from this aircraft.

But the history of a helicopter model cannot explain what happened in Chatsworth. Investigators will instead examine NewsChopper4’s maintenance, mechanical condition, and systems.

For now, nothing has established that the aircraft model itself was responsible. The final answer will have to come from evidence specific to this crash.

The Tragedy Had Another Story

But understanding what happened to the aircraft is only 1 part of this story. There was another victim whose story received far less attention.

Much of the attention has focused on Moreno and Marciniw because viewers knew their work. But the crash claimed a third life. Edy Gutierrez Mejia, 29, was not part of the news crew. He happened to be on the ground when the helicopter came down.

Gutierrez Mejia had reportedly arrived in Los Angeles that Tuesday to meet a cousin and help pick up several vehicles that were supposed to be taken back to Guatemala. He was married and the oldest of 3 children.

His family is now working to return his body home, according to details shared after he was identified. His death adds another painful part to a tragedy that had already shaken the NBC4 newsroom.

The Final Moments Were Not the End of the Story

In the hours after the crash, the crew’s final broadcast drew attention because it captured the sudden moment when a normal assignment turned into an emergency. Earlier coverage focused on the brief sounds and exchange heard before the transmission ended.

Now investigators are looking at that same material differently. It is not only a record of Moreno and Marciniw’s final moments — it may also contain some of the clearest evidence of what was happening to the helicopter.

That is why the NTSB wants the original recording rather than relying on copies circulating online. Even small details in the audio could help establish the order in which things happened.

One Mystery Still Sits at the Center of the Crash

The investigation is still in its early stages, and a final cause may take months to determine. Investigators need to compare the recording with the wreckage, maintenance history, witness accounts, and other evidence.

Until that work is finished, theories about what happened remain preliminary. But Salazar has already made clear which discovery investigators consider especially valuable.

It was not something discovered deep inside the wreckage. It was the news coverage Moreno and Marciniw themselves were producing.

They went into the air that afternoon to document another breaking-news story. In the end, their final broadcast may become one of the most important pieces of evidence in understanding what happened to them.

That also gives the recording a meaning far beyond a routine piece of newsroom footage. What began as coverage intended for viewers may now help investigators reconstruct the final sequence of events with a level of detail they might not otherwise have had.

For Moreno and Marciniw, the camera had always been part of the job. In this case, it may also become part of the answer.

Season 35 opened with a different kind of premiere, splitting the celebrity cast across two nights while putting an elimination on the line each evening.

“Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) returned September 15, 2026, with the male celebrities taking the ballroom first. The female contestants were scheduled to perform the following night, according to ABC News.

The split premiere also meant two early exits. One male celebrity would be eliminated on opening night, while one female celebrity would leave on September 16.

The First Scores Left Little Room for a Slow Start

Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson finished at the top of the first-night scoreboard with 21 out of 30, according to scores published by The Hollywood Reporter.

Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach followed with 20 out of 30. Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess earned 17 out of 30, while Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold tied Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart with 16 out of 30. Jackson Olson and Emma Slater received 15 out of 30.

One couple landed further down the leaderboard with 12 out of 30. Only Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, who received 10 out of 30, had a lower judges’ score.

Viewer votes are combined with the judges’ scores to determine which couples advance, meaning the leaderboard did not tell the whole story.

One Salsa Became Their Only Dance of the Season

Conner Leavitt and professional partner Adele Zaikman were the first couple eliminated from Season 35.

The pair performed a salsa to Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is)” and received 12 points out of 30, placing them second from the bottom among the male celebrity contestants.

Their exit came after just one competitive routine. But the result quickly became about more than their position on the scoreboard.

Viewers Questioned What Went Wrong

On Instagram, viewers offered sharply different assessments of the performance, with several turning their attention to the choreography.

One netizen criticized the dance while also arguing that Zaikman’s choreography worked against her partner. “that was probably the worst first dance i’ve seen in a while. adele kinda did him dirty w the choreography too😁😁😁 [sic],” the user said.

Another user shared a similar view, writing, “That choreo was not made to highlight his strengths :(.” A commenter believed Leavitt had more to offer than viewers got to see: “he has so much potential but I don’t think the choreo did him any favors.”

Someone else questioned how much salsa was actually included in the routine. “Disappointed… And I love Adele and their partnership but WHERE was the SALSA??? I mean she is a Latin dancer :/ [sic],” the viewer remarked.

Another netizen offered a much harsher assessment: “this made me genuinely horrified [sic].”

The criticism was not limited to the dance itself. Once Leavitt and Zaikman’s elimination became official, other viewers focused on whether their departure was deserved.

One user was disappointed to see the couple leave after supporting them in the vote. “I voted for Connor L. and Adele!!! So sad their journey was cut short [sic]!” the user wrote.

Another commenter argued that Leavitt had been treated unfairly and pointed to voting access. “Conner got so robbed. 😢 Canada couldn’t even vote!!” the person said.

Someone else agreed with that sentiment, declaring, “He was robbed!” But another viewer had the opposite reaction:“The right choice was made!”

After leaving the competition, Leavitt and Zaikman had an opportunity to give their own perspective.

Leavitt Responded to the Voting Issue

In a post-elimination interview with Entertainment Tonight‘s Denny Directo, Leavitt acknowledged how difficult the result was after the work he and Zaikman had put into their routine.

“I mean, I’m feeling all of them. I was upset. We felt like we were vulnerable. We left it out on the dance floor. Dancing’s hard,” he said.

“For anyone who doesn’t know, dancing is hard. So to go out there, perform all out and then to get that kind of a disappointing result like that, it’s sad, but I could not be more thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful cast and to have such a wonderful dance partner.”

Zaikman, who was making her debut as a professional partner on the show, also acknowledged the disappointment.

“This experience is a dream come true. I was so happy and so blessed to be partnered with Conner. He’s the best partner. I loved working with him. I do feel, of course, disappointed because I’m very competitive,” she said.

At the same time, Zaikman recognized that an early exit was always possible.

“But that’s what it is about. It’s a competition. Someone had to go home. This is a part of the game. When you’re going into this, you know that you might be the first one to go or you might be the one to win. You never know, and you need to be prepared for that.”

The premiere had also been affected by an online voting glitch. Online voting was unavailable, forcing viewers to rely on text voting, while the online votes were tossed out.

Directo asked Leavitt whether he thought the problem had worked against him and Zaikman.

“You know, I’m not sure what happened, but at the end of the day, I’m a mathematician by trade. That’s not my background, I don’t know. So, as long as the texting was a large enough number, it should be a fair representation,” Leavitt said.

Despite his disappointment, Leavitt said he did not believe the result was unfair. He felt everyone deserved their place in the competition and was simply disappointed that he and Zaikman were the first couple to leave.

Whitney Leavitt Shared a Proud Message

Leavitt’s wife, Whitney Leavitt, was in the audience that night. He described her as the “love of my life” and his best friend.

According to Leavitt, Whitney quickly approached him after the result, gave him a big hug and told him she was proud of him. She acknowledged how difficult and vulnerable the experience had been and praised him for putting himself out there and giving the performance his all.

He said she also kissed him on the cheek, offering a warm conclusion to a night that had gone very differently from what he and Zaikman had hoped.

Who Else Remains in the Competition?

The competition was far from over after the first elimination. Among the contestants still in the running who had yet to perform were Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, Tatyana Ali, Amber Glenn, Sarah Jane Nader, Giada De Laurentiis, Maura Higgins, and Ciara Miller.

The female celebrities were scheduled to take the ballroom on September 16 for the second half of the premiere.

Another elimination is expected on September 16, when one of the female celebrity contestants will become the second person to leave Season 35.

With the first elimination settled and another still ahead, Season 35 has already given viewers plenty to discuss.

Julia Stiles Suddenly Has Viewers Interested

The announcement of the new batch of “DWTS” participants generated plenty of mixed reactions, but Stiles’ inclusion drew some especially enthusiastic comments.

One viewer declared, “Styles [sic] is the only one worth watching!” Another shared that enthusiasm, swooning, “omg I was not interested until I saw Julia styles 🥰 that’s awesome [sic].”

Those reactions stand in sharp contrast to another commenter, who was far less impressed by the overall lineup. “So disappointed. Seriously considering not watching this time. Not happy with the line up [sic],” the viewer wrote.

But while Stiles may have given some fans a reason to tune in, Dewan has become the center of a much more heated discussion.

Some Viewers Think Jenna Dewan Has an Unfair Advantage

Because Dewan spent years working professionally as a dancer, some viewers immediately questioned whether her presence was fair to celebrities with considerably less experience. One person declared, “Jenna 100% should not be allowed! Shame on you DWTS [sic].”

Another wrote, “Jenna should be disqualified, [sic] she is a professional dancer.” A third penned, “Isn’t Jenna a professional dancer? That’s odd,” while another viewer took issue with Dewan’s pairing specifically, writing, “Putting Val with Jenna is wrong!!!! She’s a dancer and [sic] Harry is a dancer too omggg this is wild!!!!”

The first wave of comments reacting to Dewan’s casting makes one thing clear: her professional background is already shaping how some people view her chances before she has performed a single ballroom routine. Dewan, however, has a few words for those critics.

Jenna Dewan Responds: Ballroom Is ‘Two Different Languages’

According to a report addressing the casting controversy, Dewan acknowledged that she has a dance background but argued that ballroom requires an entirely different skill set. “I do not know how to ballroom dance. Let’s be clear. It’s two different languages,” Dewan told Entertainment Weekly.

She admitted that her previous experience offers some advantages, but said she will also have to unlearn certain habits. “It’s a new technique, brand new technique,” Dewan explained.

Despite spending years dancing professionally, she said ballroom still “feels really foreign” to her and explained that joining the series gives her an opportunity to challenge herself.

Still, her credentials are admittedly substantial. Dewan appeared in Janet Jackson’s “Doesn’t Really Matter” and “All For You” music videos before joining the singer as a backup dancer on the All For You World Tour from 2001 to 2002.

“I was a teenager. I was like, ‘That’s all I want.’ When it happened, I just couldn’t even believe it,” Dewan recalled of achieving her dream of dancing for Jackson. She said the two remain “really good friends,” and she hopes she may eventually get the chance to perform to one of Jackson’s songs in the ballroom.

Mississippi investigators say they are relying on evidence — not rumors — as they work to determine what happened to 18-year-old Nolan Wells during a July 4 outing to Horn Island.

According to ABC News, Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said detectives are still asking anyone who was on the island that day to come forward.

Because Horn Island has limited cellphone service and no surveillance cameras, investigators have few ways to reconstruct Wells’ final hours beyond witness statements and physical evidence.

Ledbetter said detectives are reviewing every claim that has surfaced since Wells disappeared, but are looking for information they can verify.

“We act on the information that we get, and we’re looking for factual information, witness, firsthand witness knowledge that we could use to this case,” Ledbetter told the outlet.

One Dispute Centers on Whether Alcohol Played a Role

Friends, including Tracestin Shepherd, have said the group spent part of the day swimming and drinking alcohol before Wells disappeared.

But People reported that Brian Trascher, vice president and spokesman for the United Cajun Navy, which assisted in the search, said available information does not suggest Wells was intoxicated.

Rather than confirming alcohol as a factor, Trascher said the available evidence points in a different direction.

“My understanding is that even though there was pictures of the boys drinking beer and stuff, Nolan’s blood alcohol level was not at an intoxicated level,” Trascher said.

Others Have Questioned Whether Dangerous Water Conditions Were Involved

Some have also questioned whether dangerous water conditions contributed to Wells’ death, although investigators have not identified a rip current as a factor. The theory has drawn attention because Horn Island is part of a stretch of the Gulf Coast known for hazardous currents.

A 2022 FOX10 News report described Gulf Coast rip currents as “an invisible force” after a separate rescue near Dauphin Island. The report highlighted how swimmers can be pulled away before recognizing the danger, even when warning flags are posted.

The Coach Rejected Claims That School Tensions Played a Role

Questions about the case have also expanded beyond Horn Island, with some wondering whether racial tensions at Pascagoula High School could have been connected to what happened.

TMZ reported that Wells’ football coach, Tracy Lampley, rejected that suggestion based on his own experience with the students.

Describing the relationships among players, Lampley said he never saw the kind of division that some have speculated about.

“They grew up together and played together,” Lampley said, adding that Wells was well-liked and got along with everyone.

His comments contrast with those of civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has questioned the timeline presented so far and whether enough attention has been given to what happened after Wells entered the water.

Explaining why he believes more scrutiny is needed, Crump pointed to what he sees as unanswered questions.

“If he’s drowning, nobody sees him drown? Nobody offers assistance? Nobody tries to help? I mean, obviously he stands out,” Crump said during an interview with ABC7. He also noted that Wells appeared to be the only Black person visible in videos from the outing that he reviewed.

Nolan Wells’ Family Challenges the Claim That He Stayed Behind

Another point of disagreement involves the account that Wells voluntarily remained on Horn Island after the others left.

During an interview with theGrio, later reported by TMZ, Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, said the family has received few updates from investigators despite the intense public attention surrounding the case.

“We have not heard from our local authorities since last Tuesday… we received a phone call. Basically, really no updates. And that was it,” she said.

Wells’ father, Elmore Wonsley, said he does not believe his son would have chosen to stay behind on the island alone.

Explaining why, he said the family’s own experience with Nolan makes that version of events difficult to accept. “I know he wouldn’t do that… You’re lying to me. I can’t believe it and I won’t believe it,” Elmore said during the interview.

The investigation continues to raise new questions, but for those who knew Wells, the focus has also been on the moments they shared with him before he disappeared.

What Wells’ Friends Said About His Last Day

The SunHerald reported from Lake Mars Boat Launch that friends gathered by the water after a body matching Wells’ description was found off the western tip of Horn Island. Wells’s parents were too distraught to speak as they spent a second morning waiting for word from rescuers.

Those close to the family offered comfort and hugs while childhood friends remembered the young man they could hardly believe was gone. Wells had been expected to return to Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit on Monday to practice for the upcoming football season.

His friends described him as kind, easy-going, and someone who could calm tense moments. If an argument broke out when they were younger, they said Wells was the person likely to break it up.

One friend called him “a great role model,” while another said, “He could spark up a whole room.” That image of Wells — warm, steady, and smiling — is part of what has made the story so painful for the people who knew him.

Several of the young men at the dock had grown up playing sports with Wells in Ocean Springs. Football, basketball, baseball — they played it all together before he went on to become a wide receiver for the Southwest Community College Bears.

Doris Hands, whom the childhood friends called “Mama D,” said Wells always gave her a hug and minded his manners. “He was a good person,” she said, describing him as someone who “loved sports” and was “kind-hearted.”

Wells would have celebrated his 19th birthday in August. “It really, really hurts,” Hands said, adding that after the first day with no contact, she feared the worst.

The Words Wells’ Best Friend Cannot Forget

One of the most heartbreaking accounts came from Wells’ best friend, 17-year-old Jayvon Williams. He said he was supposed to be on the same boat as Wells, but it filled up, so Williams rode out to Horn Island on another boat.

Williams saw Wells on the island and believes he saw him for the last time after 4 p.m. Saturday. Wells had visited with a girl and also chatted with other friends in the crowd. Then Wells said something that now feels almost impossible to read without getting chills. “As soon as we got out there,” Williams said, “he told me that he loved me.”

Wells always had his back. If anyone talked badly about Williams, Wells stuck up for him. Both young men had left their phones on the boat that Wells rode out on. Williams later retrieved his phone, while Hands said Wells’ mother found her son’s phone through location services.

Wells was last seen near the western tip of Horn Island, where the current is strong. His friends also said he knew how to swim and had even taken lessons at the YMCA in Ocean Springs, a detail that only deepened the heartbreak and confusion.

Another Friend’s Final Exchange with Wells

Another friend, Trace Carter, spoke to Wells before the island trip, and their exchange has become another painful part of the story. Carter told him, “Just hit me up when you get back. Just be careful, bro. Watch out for yourself.” Wells responded, “I got you. I’ll hit you up later.”

That simple promise now carries a terrible sadness. What sounded like an ordinary goodbye between friends became one of Wells’ final known conversations.

Schools and Coaches Remember the Young Athlete They Loved

After Wells’ death, his former high school and college released statements honoring him. He had played football at Ocean Springs High School and Southwest Mississippi Community College.

Ocean Springs Head Football Coach Jake Bramlett said, “We are devastated by Nolan’s passing.” He described Wells as “the kind of son, teammate, friend and student that every coach hopes to have in a program.”

Bramlett also highlighted that Wells was much more than an outstanding football player, as he carried himself with humility, treated others with respect, worked hard, led by example, and was deeply loved by his teammates and coaches.

A family returned home from what should have been a meaningful day at church, unaware that within hours, their lives would be changed forever. But as investigators began piecing together what happened, two accounts of one crucial moment did not match.

The devastating case unfolded in Peoria, Arizona, on September 13, 2026, after a family came home from the baptism of another child.

What authorities say happened between their arrival and the frantic search that followed has now become a central part of the investigation.

A Family Returns Home from Church

According to Fox 10 Phoenix, the family arrived back at their home at approximately 1 p.m. after attending the baptism. For more than two hours afterward, however, five-year-old Theo’s whereabouts were apparently unknown.

Shortly after 3:45 p.m., his family realized he was missing and began searching for him. It was his mother who ultimately found the little boy. Theo was unresponsive inside a vehicle at the family’s home near 67th Avenue and Happy Valley Road.

Family members pulled him from the car and began CPR. By then, according to authorities, he had been inside the vehicle for approximately two and a half hours. Peoria Fire personnel transported the five-year-old to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The heartbreaking discovery alone was enough to leave a family devastated. But court documents would soon reveal another detail that added a difficult new question to the investigation.

Father and Teen Son Give Different Accounts

According to the court documents cited in the report, Theo’s father, Mihail Sabo, told investigators that when the family first arrived home, he had asked his 14-year-old son to get the five-year-old out of the vehicle. The teenager, however, reportedly gave police a different version of events.

He told investigators that his father never asked him to get Theo out of the car. That contradiction has emerged as one of the most significant details surrounding the case as investigators try to determine exactly how the little boy remained inside the vehicle for so long.

“It appears that it was either a miscommunication between who or which family member was supposed to get the child out of the car,” William Kennedy of the Peoria Police Department said.

Authorities have not indicated in the information provided that investigators have resolved the conflicting accounts, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Theo’s Parents Were Arrested

Police arrested Theo’s parents, identified as Mihail and Anca Sabo, following their son’s death. Authorities recommended charges of negligent homicide and child abuse. During Anca’s initial court appearance on September 14, she was visibly emotional.

“I want to see my kids. Please let me see my kids,” she said. Brooke Gaunt of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office addressed the amount of time Theo was allegedly left unattended. “The child was in the car for more than two and a half hours and the parents were not aware of his location during that whole time,” Brooke said.

Criminal Defense Attorney Leah Dodd, meanwhile, emphasized the devastating nature of what had happened. “This was a, I can’t overstress this, a tragedy,” Leah said. Both parents were given $150,000 bonds.

They are not permitted to have contact with each other and are only allowed supervised visits with their other children. The pair are also expected to return to court one week later.

No final determination of criminal responsibility has been made in the information provided, and the case remains under investigation.

A Community Rallies Around the Sabo Family

As the legal process unfolds, people have also rallied around the family following Theo’s death. A GoFundMe fundraiser created to support the Sabo family described the five-year-old as a deeply loved little boy and asked the community to help his grieving family with funeral and memorial costs, meals, time away from work, and other immediate expenses.

“On September 13 the Sabo family experienced the unimaginable heartbreak of losing their precious little boy, Theo,” the message begins. It continues by describing the family as people who have “poured into their community through serving, loving, and giving to others.”

The organizer said supporters wanted to surround the family with “love, prayer, and practical support” while they grieve and honor Theo’s life. “There are simply no words for the pain of losing a child,” the fundraiser states.

The page also asks those unable to donate financially to share the fundraiser and pray for the family. “Theo was deeply loved, and his precious life will never be forgotten,” the message reads. The fundraiser set a goal of $300,000, and has so far raised more than $269,000.

Hot-Car Deaths Remain a Persistent Danger

Theo’s death comes amid continued warnings about the dangers children face when left inside vehicles. In a July 2026 report about another child who died after being found in a locked vehicle, Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning Spokesperson Reg Griffin called such tragedies a heartbreaking reminder for parents and caregivers to repeatedly check their vehicles before leaving and locking them.

At the time of that report, National Safety Council data showed 17 pediatric hot-car deaths in the United States in 2026.

“The bottom line is they have lost a child, and it could’ve been prevented,” Griffin said in the July report. “It’s always sad when you realize that with just some safeguards and a change in routine, that you [sic] can prevent something like this. Usually what you see in a case like this is they’re distracted, might be something going on at home, something going on at work.”

Reg also stressed that cooler outdoor conditions can create a false sense of security. “Even that early in the morning because you may forget it might be cooler in the morning and then you think it’ll be OK. The heat inside a car is so much hotter than the outside temperature,” he warned further.

Experts Urge Parents to Create Extra Reminders

Following Theo’s death, Cass Herring of Safe Kids Worldwide also emphasized that parents can use reminders and technology to reduce the chance of a child being inadvertently left behind. “There’s a lot of technology that’s built into vehicles as well as car seats. There are sensors, there are apps,” Cass said.

She explained that a child’s body can heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s, making additional safeguards particularly important.

“Children also often fall asleep in the car and so just having that extra step, that extra reminder, is very helpful,” she added.

For the Sabo family, however, those warnings come after an irreversible loss. What began with the family returning from a child’s baptism ended with five-year-old Theo being rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead, while his parents entered a legal process that is still unfolding.

As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding his death, the conflicting accounts from Mihail and his 14-year-old son about whether the teen was ever told to remove Theo from the vehicle remain a crucial unresolved detail in the case.