An independent autopsy on 18-year-old Nolan Wells revealed a "gruesome missing part of his body," according to the pathologist who conducted the examination. The preliminary findings, shared by attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, state that the cause and manner of Wells' death are currently "undetermined pending investigation," and the date of death remains unknown.
Dr. Roger Mitchell, former chief medical examiner for the District of Columbia and president of the National Medical Association, performed the independent autopsy. He noted that a limitation of his examination was the absence of the throat structures, which were missing when the body arrived from Mississippi after the official post-mortem examination. Dr. Mitchell stated that the retention of anterior neck structures is a common practice in forensic pathology for further evaluation. However, he concluded that a posterior neck dissection performed without reviewing the anterior neck structures is incomplete, and therefore, he could not rule out injury to the neck as a contributor or cause of death.
Wells' parents transported their son's body from Mississippi to Washington, D.C., for the independent autopsy due to concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick reportedly assisted with the costs of the independent examination.
At a press conference where the preliminary findings were presented, Crump also revealed that the second autopsy identified a mark on the back of Wells' head. The report described a "focal area of red discoloration in the soft tissue in the back of the head" measuring 12-by-8 inches in the lower skull. However, the report also noted that significant decomposition of the body made it impossible to determine if bruising was present on the skin.
Jackson County coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. had previously indicated that the authorities' autopsy results might take several weeks due to toxicology tests. The official investigation into Nolan Wells' death is ongoing.