The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who was found dead days after disappearing during a Fourth of July boating trip, is questioning the circumstances of his death, according to the civil rights attorney representing them. Ben Crump stated that the family will not allow the case to be "swept under the rug" and is seeking to uncover what happened to the college athlete after he was last seen.
Wells vanished on July 4th while on a trip to Horn Island, Mississippi, with friends. His body was discovered on Monday morning near the island's northwestern tip. Authorities are reportedly operating under the belief that Wells drowned, with no foul play suspected. However, the Wells family is pursuing their own investigation, which includes arranging for an independent autopsy in Washington D.C.
"Obviously, the biggest question is what happened to Nolan Wells?" Crump said in an interview, noting that the case has gained public attention due to the surfacing of footage showing Wells in an intense argument with others on the island. Crump added that the family's insistence that the death not be dismissed as an accident is fueling public interest.
According to police, Wells was last seen around 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, talking to a girl on the island. His friends told authorities that Wells indicated he wanted to stay with the woman and declined to leave with them. However, Crump highlighted inconsistencies in witness accounts, pointing out a discrepancy between the friends' statement and the woman's account.
"The boys on the boat said, ‘No, Nolan told them he was going to stay with her.’ And so they are conflicting. She’s saying he went and got on the boat. They’re saying he didn’t get on the boat. So which is it?" Crump questioned, emphasizing the conflicting narratives.
Further complicating the situation, Crump alleged that Wells' friends took his cellphone when they departed the island. The attorney also noted that the family has expressed concern over deleted messages found on the recovered cellphone, stating they are trying to understand their significance. Wells, described by Crump as a "good kid" and a "college athlete," had his life cut short after going on the island for a holiday celebration.