An independent autopsy commissioned for 18-year-old Nolan Wells found his cause and manner of death to be “undetermined” pending further investigation. Attorney Ben Crump announced the findings Wednesday at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago, noting that missing body parts and a lack of state-provided evidence hindered a definitive conclusion.
The second autopsy, performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell on July 10, was intended to provide clarity following the teenager’s death after a Fourth of July boat trip. Wells went missing on July 4 while visiting Horn Island, located off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with a group of friends. His body was discovered by a U.S. park ranger on July 6, two days after he was last seen.
Missing Evidence and Forensic Limitations
The independent review faced significant procedural challenges because the initial autopsy, conducted by the Mississippi medical examiner, had already removed and processed key anatomical structures. Dr. Roger Mitchell, chair of pathology at Howard University College of Medicine, reported that the body arrived without neck structures, including the trachea and thyroid bone.
Mitchell stated that these missing components made it impossible to determine if the teenager had suffered a neck injury. The report also noted that the pathologist could not directly observe the condition of the lungs or stomach contents, which are typically vital for assessing potential drowning or identifying substances ingested before death.
Red Discoloration and Potential Foul Play
Despite the limitations, the independent autopsy identified red discoloration
on the back of Wells’ skull. While the report deemed this finding inconclusive, it remained a point of concern for the pathologist. Dr. Mitchell could not rule out the possibility that non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death.
For more on this story, see Nolan Wells Found Dead On Horn Island After Boat Trip.
Crump emphasized that the pathologist could not determine whether Wells was conscious when he entered the water or if he had been forced into it. Because the state’s autopsy report has not yet been released to the public, the family’s legal team is calling on Mississippi authorities to share their findings and photographs to assist in the ongoing investigation.
Public Scrutiny and Community Response
The case has generated intense public interest and speculation, partly due to the circumstances surrounding the trip. Wells, who was Black, had traveled to the island with a group of white high school friends.
During the press conference, Rev.
“The reason that a lot of people across the nation are looking at this Nolan situation is because we’re looking at the history in Mississippi. We can’t have someone in law enforcement saying there was no foul play before there was an investigation.”
Rev. Al Sharpton
The Path Forward for the Wells Family
The family continues to seek answers as they navigate the silence from state officials. The independent autopsy was funded by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp.
The Jackson County Coroner’s office has stated that their own autopsy results remain pending, awaiting toxicology reports from the state medical examiner.
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