YouTuber Rachel Accurso, known online as Ms. Rachel, has drawn criticism for comments she made on social media regarding the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells. Accurso, a popular children's educator, suggested in an Instagram post that the investigation would have been handled differently had Wells been white and his friends been Black.
"We know the investigation and everything that followed would have been different if Nolan Wells were white and his friends were Black," Accurso wrote. "Nolan and his family deserve justice."
Wells disappeared on July 4 while on a boat trip with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His remains were found two days later by a National Park Service ranger on the island's northwestern tip. His friends had returned to shore without him on the evening of his disappearance.
An independent autopsy commissioned by Wells' family concluded his manner of death was "undetermined" pending further investigation. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wells family, presented these findings, noting that the autopsy report showed no evidence of fractures or deep tissue injuries. He also highlighted a "red discoloration" on the back of Wells' skull as "inconclusive" and warranting further investigation. Forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell reportedly stated that, without additional information, the possibility of "non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death" could not be ruled out.
The Mississippi medical examiner's office has conducted a second autopsy, the results of which have not yet been released. Authorities have not announced any charges in connection with the case.
The circumstances surrounding Wells' death have led to online speculation, with many pointing to the fact that Wells was Black and his friends are white. Accurso's followers on Instagram echoed her sentiments, with some commenters suggesting that if Wells had been white, his friends would have been arrested immediately and that evidence might have been destroyed.
However, former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg cautioned against online personalities making unsubstantiated claims about race in ongoing investigations. "I’ll be the first to tell you that the investigation into the tragic death of Nolan Wells needs more transparency," Aronberg told Fox News Digital. "His family deserves answers."
Aronberg criticized Accurso's approach, stating, "But jumping on social media to race bait — without a shred of evidence — that law enforcement is covering up a murder is not helping." He added that Accurso "always has to throw gas on a fire" and "constantly pushes narrative over facts," citing past controversies including "toxic, antisemitic rhetoric." Aronberg emphasized the need for "real investigative transparency, not popular children’s creators using tragic deaths and foreign policy to divide us."
Accurso has previously defended her public commentary on political and social issues, responding to critics who urged her to "stay in [her] lane." She has stated that she has "always cared about how children around the world are treated." She also recently drew attention for her response to former President Donald Trump sharing a video of children wearing hijabs at a kindergarten graduation.
Ms Rachel, played by Rachel Accurso, got involved with the ongoing Nolan Wells death investigation.