MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST, MS. (THECOUNT) — The death of Nolan Wells has drawn national attention after the young man was found deceased off the coast of Mississippi’s Horn Island two days after disappearing during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. While authorities initially stated Wells died by drowning, his family has continued to question the circumstances surrounding his death and commissioned an independent autopsy as the investigation remains ongoing.
Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing the Wells family, which has publicly expressed concerns that important questions surrounding Nolan’s death remain unanswered. Civil rights leaders and public figures, including Reverend Al Sharpton and filmmaker Tyler Perry, have each offered $50,000 rewards for information leading to an arrest and conviction should foul play ultimately be determined.
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The official autopsy findings have not yet been publicly released.
According to preliminary findings from an independent autopsy commissioned by the Wells family, Nolan may have suffered an injury to the back of his head.
Crump announced that an independent medical examiner identified a focal area of red discoloration measuring approximately 12 by 8 inches in the soft tissue located on the lower portion of the back of Nolan’s skull.
However, the independent examiner noted that significant decomposition made it impossible to determine whether bruising had been present on the skin at the time of death.
Medical experts note that discoloration found during autopsies can sometimes occur due to postmortem blood pooling, depending on how a body is positioned during examination. At this stage of the investigation, no definitive conclusions have been reached regarding the cause of the discoloration.
Crump further stated that components of Nolan’s throat were not present when his body was received by the independent medical examiner because they had reportedly been removed during the official autopsy process for additional examination.
The independent autopsy was performed by Dr. Roger Mitchell, a board-certified forensic pathologist who currently serves as President of Howard University Hospital and previously served as Chief Medical Examiner for Washington, D.C.
According to Dr. Mitchell’s preliminary findings, the cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending additional investigation and testing.
Dr. Mitchell reportedly stated that foul play cannot be ruled out at this time.
Nolan’s mother addressed supporters during a news conference, describing the emotional toll of losing her son while emphasizing that her family’s sole focus remains determining exactly what happened in the hours leading up to his death.
She also stated that false allegations directed at her family have compounded their grief during an already devastating period.
The Wells family has previously questioned the official narrative surrounding Nolan’s death and raised concerns regarding information allegedly missing from his cellphone following its recovery.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Nolan’s disappearance and death.
Until official autopsy findings are released and investigators complete their work, Nolan’s cause and manner of death remain undetermined.
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