A private autopsy of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, whose body was found off Horn Island, Mississippi, has yielded inconclusive results, prompting his family's lawyer to suggest that foul play cannot be ruled out. Benjamin Crump, the attorney representing the Wells family, announced on Wednesday that a second autopsy, conducted by pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, indicated that the cause of death remains undetermined.
Dr. Mitchell's report noted the absence of any fractures or deep tissue injuries, but identified a "red discoloration" on the back of Wells' skull. The cause of this discoloration could not be determined, though the report suggests it could be indicative of “intracranial hemorrhaging” and warrants further investigation. Without additional examination, Mitchell stated he could not definitively rule out that "non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death."
Crump highlighted challenges in the second autopsy, including the decomposition of Wells' remains and the prior removal of neck structures during the initial autopsy. These factors prevented Dr. Mitchell from examining the airway and lungs for water or the stomach for contents, which are crucial in drowning investigations. The pathologist was also not provided with the results of the original toxicology report conducted by the Mississippi coroner.
Wells died during a Fourth of July boating trip to Horn Island. He was reportedly the only black teenager among a group of white friends. His family expressed fears of foul play, which conflicted with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office's initial statement that no foul play was suspected. The sheriff's office stated that Wells allegedly stayed behind on the island while his friends returned to the mainland, and his body was discovered after his mother filed a missing person report on July 5. The official investigation into Wells' death is ongoing.
Crump stated that Dr. Mitchell needs to review the original autopsy findings before providing a definitive answer on the cause and manner of death. He called on state officials to release the evidence for the family's review as part of their independent investigation. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released its findings, but authorities initially believed Wells died from drowning.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced the findings of the independent autopsy during a press conference.
Wells' family commissioned the independent autopsy after the initial findings were released.
