Nolan Wells’ independent autopsy results in ‘undetermined’ cause and manner of death

An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Nolan Wells has concluded that both the cause and manner of the 18-year-old’s death remain undetermined. The results, announced Wednesday, July 22, at the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago, highlight significant evidentiary gaps following the teenager's disappearance during a holiday outing.

Wells was last seen on the afternoon of July 4 while visiting Horn Island, a barrier island accessible only by boat off the coast of Mississippi. After his friends departed the island, citing mechanical issues with their boat, Wells did not return to the mainland. His body was recovered on July 6 by a U.S. Park ranger.

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Dr. Roger Mitchell, the board-certified forensic pathologist who conducted the independent review on July 10, stated in the report that he could not rule out foul play. The findings were presented by the family’s attorney, Ben Crump, who noted that the second autopsy was hindered by the state of the remains and the scope of the initial, state-conducted procedure. According to Crump, the report noted an area of red discoloration on the back of the teen's head, though no underlying skull fractures or skin lacerations were present. Because the state’s medical examiner had previously removed and dissected organs — including the lungs, stomach, and structures of the throat — Dr. Mitchell was unable to perform a comprehensive internal examination.

"This is only another part of the puzzle, and even though it tells us significant information, we still have more questions than we have answers at this time,"

Ben Crump, attorney for the Wells family, via NBC News

The state-run autopsy, performed by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office, remains pending as officials await toxicology results. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has maintained that the investigation is ongoing and that initial interviews with the individuals who accompanied Wells to the island indicated the teen chose to stay behind. Some observers and community leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton, have questioned the transparency of the local investigation, citing concerns over public statements made by law enforcement early in the process that suggested no foul play was suspected.

Disagreements have also emerged regarding the physical state in which Wells was found. While authorities stated that Wells was discovered wearing only swim trunks, a representative for the United Cajun Navy, an organization that assisted in the search, disputed claims that the teen was found wearing a shirt, asserting that they only observed him in trunks. Attorney Ben Crump has called for investigators to allow Dr. Mitchell to review the state’s findings and has requested that the independent pathologist be permitted to participate when the case is presented to a grand jury, a standard procedure in Jackson County for unnatural deaths.

Case Timeline and Context

• July 4: Nolan Wells is last seen during a boat trip to Horn Island.
• July 6: A U.S. Park ranger discovers the teenager's body off the island's coast.
• July 10: Dr. Roger Mitchell performs an independent autopsy.
• July 22: Preliminary results from the independent autopsy are made public.

The investigation has drawn national attention, with a combined reward of $125,000 offered by Rev. Al Sharpton, actor and producer Tyler Perry, and former NFL player Terrell Owens for information leading to an arrest and conviction. The independent autopsy was funded by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.

As the family continues to press for clarity, the case remains under the jurisdiction of local authorities, with assistance from the FBI due to the island’s location within the Gulf Islands National Seashore. For now, the "crux of the matter," as described by Crump, remains whether Wells was conscious upon entering the water and how he arrived there. Authorities have requested that anyone with firsthand information regarding an argument, disturbance, or unusual activity on the island on the day of the disappearance contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.