THE PARENTS OF NOLAN WELLS HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 18-YEAR-OLD FOOTBALL PLAYER WAS FOUND DEAD AFTER GOING MISSING DURING A FOURTH OF JULY TRIP TO MISSISSIPPI'S HORN ISLAND.(PHOTO).

 The parents of Nolan Wells have spoken publicly for the first time since the 18-year-old football player was found dead after going missing during a Fourth of July trip to Mississippi's Horn Island.

Speaking on Good Morning America, Christine and Elmore Wonsley said they are still searching for answers about what happened before their son's death and have started an independent investigation.

Nolan disappeared on July 4 after traveling to Horn Island with a group of friends. One of the friends reported him missing to the U.S. Coast Guard later that night, and his body was found in the water two days later.

Authorities have said they believe Nolan may have drowned, but investigators are still awaiting the medical examiner's report and reviewing evidence before determining the cause of death.

One question his parents say they cannot understand is why Nolan would have separated from the friends he arrived with.

“That we cannot answer,” Christine said. “I just can't fathom why he would.”

Elmore said Nolan had always been taught to stay with the people he travelled with.

“We always taught him that if you go with a group, you stay with a group,” he said. “If you go with five, you come back with five. Do not separate from the group. Safety is in numbers.”

Christine said she expected Nolan to check in after the outing, as he normally did, but instead received a call from one of his friends telling her he was missing.

Nolan had been preparing to return to college football camp after the holiday weekend.

“The entire summer, he is training,” Elmore said. “He got more serious. He started to understand that if you want to go farther in football, you have to treat it like a business.”