The family of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old college football player who died during a Fourth of July boating trip, has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump to conduct an independent autopsy. Wells was found dead on Horn Island, Mississippi, on Monday, after staying behind while his friends returned to the mainland.
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter stated that authorities do not suspect foul play and initially believed Wells died from drowning, though no official cause of death has been released. The family, however, has retained Crump, known for his work in high-profile civil rights cases including that of George Floyd's family, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wells' death.
Crump announced that Wells' body was being flown to Washington D.C. for an independent autopsy. He raised concerns about inconsistencies, including allegations that friends had a phone containing a video of Wells and another individual arguing on the boat, and that messages had been deleted from the phone before it was returned to the family. Crump stated the family does not accept the accidental drowning theory and is seeking a thorough investigation.
The National Action Network, led by Reverend Al Sharpton, has also called for a full and transparent investigation into Wells' death, emphasizing the need for answers for the grieving family and ensuring young Black men's deaths are properly investigated.
Wells was a student athlete at Southwest Mississippi Community College and had previously played for Ocean Springs High School. His family described him as a beloved individual with a bright future. A GoFundMe has been established to support the family with funeral expenses.
Ashlee Cole, the mother of one of Wells' friends on the trip, posted on social media that Wells had chosen to stay on the island due to a mechanical issue with the boat, intending to return with another group. She expressed condolences to the Wells family and hope for community support during their grief.