At the NAACP national conference in Chicago on Wednesday, attorney Ben Crump announced the preliminary independent results from a private autopsy of 18-year-old Nolan Wells. Crump stated that the initial findings from an independent pathologist concluded the cause of death is currently “undetermined pending investigation.”
The autopsy was conducted by Dr. Roger Mitchell, a forensic pathologist and president of the National Medical Association. Mitchell’s report indicated that Wells’ exact date of death remains unknown. The examination took place on Friday, July 10, four days after the teen’s body was discovered on a barrier island off the coast of Mississippi. Following the press conference, the United Cajun Navy, which assisted in the search efforts, clarified that Wells was found wearing only a bathing suit.
Challenges in the Independent Investigation
Mitchell’s examination served as the second autopsy conducted on Wells. The independent examiner noted that he lacked access to all necessary information to reach a definitive conclusion, citing that parts of Wells’ body were missing. Crump suggested that these remains may have been retained by the medical examiner during the initial state-led autopsy, a practice Mitchell described as common during ongoing forensic testing. The first autopsy was performed on July 7 by a state medical examiner in Mississippi.
The report from Mitchell indicated no evidence of fractures or deep tissue injuries, though it did identify a “focal area of red discoloration in the soft tissue in the back of the head.” Due to the limitations of the second examination—specifically the inability to directly observe the airway, lungs, and stomach contents—Mitchell could not determine if Wells was conscious when he entered the water. Consequently, Crump emphasized that foul play cannot be ruled out at this stage.
Community and Family Response
The disappearance and subsequent death of Wells, a college football player, garnered national attention over the July 4th weekend after he failed to return from a trip to Horn Island with friends. His body was recovered on July 6, near the location where he had been spending time with his peers.
Former NFL player and activist Colin Kaepernick helped fund the private autopsy on behalf of the Wells family. Meanwhile, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI continue their investigation. The official state autopsy and toxicology reports have yet to be released.
During the press conference, Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, expressed her unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth. “Any parent that would be in this situation, you would do anything, anything to find out what happened to your child, and that is what we’re here to do,” she said.
The community recently gathered at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs for Wells’ funeral, which was supported by donations and assistance from producer Tyler Perry. During the service, Al Sharpton announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction, a figure that was subsequently matched by Perry and supplemented by a $25,000 contribution from retired football player Terrell Owens, bringing the total reward to $125,000. “He was not on that island by himself,” Sharpton remarked during his eulogy. “Somebody saw something or knows something.”