How trying to make sense of the Nolan Wells tragedy led to rampant misinformation

As the investigation into the death of the athletically talented 18-year-old college student continues, social media has been rife with misinformation, including doctored images, fabricated audio recordings and unsubstantiated claims.

A new ABC News report says witnesses told investigators Nolan Wells had been drinking heavily before he disappeared on Horn Island on July 4. However, officials have not determined his cause of death. The official autopsy and toxicology results are still pending, while an independent autopsy listed the death as undeter

Witnesses told investigators that Nolan Wells had been drinking heavily with friends, according to a document with preliminary information from Mississippi officials.