An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Nolan Xavier Wells has deepened the mystery surrounding the 18-year-old’s death, concluding that both the cause and manner of death remain “undetermined” pending further investigation.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Wells’ family, revealed the preliminary findings Wednesday before a standing-room-only audience at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago, where the announcement drew audible gasps from the crowd.
According to the report, the autopsy found no fractures or deep tissue injuries. A “red discoloration” on the back of Wells’ skull was deemed inconclusive and requires additional investigation.
Without more evidence, forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell wrote that he could not rule out the possibility that “non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death.”
Wells disappeared during a July 4 trip to Horn Island off the Mississippi coast after traveling there with a group of high school friends. The friends returned to the mainland without him, and his body was found floating in the water two days later.
Mitchell said several factors limited what the independent examination could determine, including decomposition and unanswered questions about whether Wells was conscious when he entered the water.
Because a state autopsy had already been performed, Wells’ body was returned without its organs or neck structures, preventing Mitchell from determining whether he suffered a neck injury or inhaled water before his death. The report noted that this is standard practice following a medical examiner’s autopsy.
Crump said the findings leave the family with even more unanswered questions and called on Mississippi officials to release the evidence gathered during their investigation so it can be independently reviewed.
“This is only another part of the puzzle, and even though it tells us significant information, we still have more questions than we have answers at this time,” Crump said.
Mississippi’s state medical examiner has not publicly released the findings of the official autopsy and did not respond to a request for comment.
The independent autopsy was funded by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick through his Know Your Rights Camp, which has financed other independent postmortem examinations in high-profile cases.
The unexplained circumstances surrounding Wells’ death have fueled widespread online speculation and prompted demands for greater transparency. Wells, who was Black, traveled to the island with a group of white high school friends, a detail that has drawn national attention.
A $125,000 reward, funded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, filmmaker Tyler Perry and former NFL star Terrell Owens, is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction if criminal wrongdoing is uncovered.
The announcement came just two days after Wells was laid to rest in his hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
During the funeral, Sharpton questioned why Wells’ friends left him behind, why they took his phone and keys, and why they did not immediately report him missing. He also criticized authorities for publicly suggesting early in the investigation that no foul play was suspected.
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has said investigators believe Wells chose to remain on the island and that his friends thought he would find another ride back. He said the friends have cooperated with investigators, and the investigation remains active.
“We are trying to be respectful and collaborative as much as we can,” Crump said. “But it’s always troublesome to all of us when these investigations just take forever.”
