Local officials in Mississippi are publicly supporting Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter after NAACP President Derrick Johnson accused the sheriff and district attorney of being "derelict in their duties" in the investigation of Nolan Wells' death. The accusation came during a press conference where attorney Ben Crump announced the results of an independent autopsy.
Mississippi State Senator Jeremy England, representing a portion of Jackson County, told Fox News Digital that Johnson's claims are "completely unfair." England stated that the sheriff, district attorney, and other state law enforcement officials possess "the utmost integrity" and are committed to uncovering the facts. He described the accusations as an attempt to generate sensationalism and suggest nefarious events without cause.
"There's not always someone to blame," England said. "And here in Mississippi, we don't have and we don't follow what you see in some other states and some other communities where you have activist district attorneys and activist sheriffs, and they're listening to the public and they're wanting to respond to the public."
England added that Mississippi leaders "take their time, they make sure they get it right, and they're doing that out of respect for the family and for the entire community."
Congressman Mike Ezell, R-Miss., also voiced his complete confidence in Sheriff Ledbetter. Ezell, a former sheriff and police officer himself, emphasized his firsthand understanding of the job's demands and pressures, asserting that Ledbetter and his team will handle the matter with integrity.
Nolan Wells, 18, disappeared on July 4 following a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His remains were discovered two days later by a National Park Service ranger on the island's northwestern tip. Authorities initially indicated that foul play was not suspected in his death.
An independent autopsy performed by Dr. Roger Mitchell revealed an area of "red discoloration" on Wells' head. However, Mitchell's report stated that a definitive cause or manner of death could not be determined pending further investigation. Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden reviewed the findings and suggested the head injury could be superficial and consistent with bumping into debris in the water, potentially occurring before or after death, and not indicative of foul play.
Despite these assessments, Mitchell's report noted that the possibility of "non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death" could not be ruled out without additional information. An official autopsy has not yet been completed.
Rev. Al Sharpton has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Wells' death.
Investigators believe Wells may have chosen to remain on the island after his friends returned. His mother reported him missing later that evening after being informed by one of Wells' friends.