Attorneys for the family of Nolan Wells, a Black teenager found dead after a July Fourth boat trip, have agreed to work with the local prosecutor’s office to inspect the contents of his cellphone. This development comes amid ongoing concerns raised by the family regarding the circumstances and investigation surrounding his death.
The family previously alleged that messages appeared to have been erased from Wells' phone before they recovered it. Following a meeting with District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath, her office committed to presenting the investigation to a grand jury upon its completion.
“The hope is when this is presented to the grand jury, all relevant witnesses and evidence will be presented to them, so we can have a fair and impartial investigation into the death of Nolan Wells,” said attorney Ben Crump. “Our lived experiences tell us that we must question everything, everybody’s role, law enforcement’s role. That is the lived experience as Black people in America.”
In Mississippi, most felony cases are presented to a grand jury, typically composed of 15 to 25 citizens who determine if there is sufficient evidence for an indictment, according to Ronald Rychlak, a law professor at the University of Mississippi. The inspection of evidence by both the police and the victim's family is not typical, Rychlak noted, adding that such cooperation could potentially expedite the investigation.
Wells had traveled to Horn Island, a popular gathering spot off the Mississippi coast, with friends. He failed to return with them when they departed around 3 p.m. Conflicting accounts exist regarding his intentions to stay on the island, which is accessible only by boat.
His mother reported him missing shortly after midnight on July 5. Search crews launched operations the following day, and Wells' body was recovered in waters near the island. Authorities from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies initially stated they did not suspect foul play, though official autopsy results are still pending.
Wells' family retrieved his phone from a friend's home on July 4 after using a locator app. They noted the absence of messages or posts from the 24 hours preceding its recovery, despite his frequent use of Snapchat. Crump indicated that efforts to recover data from the phone and social media will proceed in cooperation with the prosecutor's office.
The Congressional Black Caucus has also called for an independent investigation into Wells' death. The incident has drawn attention from public figures, with actor Tyler Perry assisting with funeral expenses and former NFL player Colin Kaepernick funding an independent autopsy. Filmmaker Spike Lee has publicly supported the family.
Wells, who would have turned 19 next month, was a wide receiver on the Southwest Mississippi Community College football team. His family has urged a thorough investigation, emphasizing that he was a swimmer and questioning why his belongings, including his phone and keys, were not with him when his friends left the island.
Family members are preparing for a funeral service on Monday, which Wells' mother, Christine Wonsley, described as a celebration of his life. "He would not want us to be sitting around crying and eating, and so what we're gonna do is kind of have a party to celebrate him," she said.