Officials insist the investigation is being handled properly, but the Wells family and supporters say the latest developments leaves them searching for answers
Nearly a month after 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells disappeared during a Fourth of July boat trip to Mississippi’s Horn Island, the investigation into his mysterious and tragic death remains active. With an independent autopsy unable to determine how he died, a newly announced grand jury review, and the District Attorney’s Office defending their decision to keep details of the case out of public view while the investigation remains active, the family of Wells (and the public) is not quieting in their demand for answers.
Wells, an 18-year-old black teenager from Ocean Springs, traveled to Horn Island on July 4 with a group of friends. Officials have said the group returned to the mainland without him, and his body was recovered in the water two days later. Since then, Wells’ family (and the public, including high-profile individuals, like Nancy Grace) have questioned the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death. They claim the stories were inconsistent from friends who were with him and have raised the alarm regarding the investigation. Nancy Grace recently stated on her popular show that “We are not stopping until we know what happened to Nolan Wells.”
There are several theories playing out online, including an alleged enhanced audio extraction of the audio from a call placed from the boat Wells was previously on with his friends (on July 4). The recording, first released by Mississippi marine authorities, originally captured a caller requesting help after reporting the boat was taking on water and possibly sinking. The new version, which was enhanced by TMZ, claims to hear someone say in the background: “Is he dead?” Along with someone saying his name, and “Wake Up.”
Sources also told TMZ that the background noise was panic from the boat possibly sinking.
Other sound engineers have also weighed in and explained how they processed and separated the audio. They’ve stated that they would like the public to use this as a “listening reference but not the only interpretation.”
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A forensic audio expert featured on NewsNation’s ‘Jesse Weber Live‘ noted that the new, enhanced audio was at least twenty seconds longer than the original audio, and expressed doubts. The forensic audio company compared the transcriptions of both files and could not corroborate TMZ’s claims. Investigators haven’t officially commented.
TMZ also reported that two witnesses saw Wells on Horn Island when his friends departed, though again, authorities haven’t commented on this either.
Last week, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Wells family, released the results of an independent autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell. The report listed both the cause and manner of death as “undetermined pending further investigation.” Mitchell wrote that advanced decomposition and the fact that the body had already undergone an official autopsy significantly limited the examination. Because main organs, including the lungs and portions of the neck, had already been removed during the state autopsy, he said he could not determine whether Nolan drowned or whether another cause contributed to his death. In many unexplained-death investigations, retaining organs for additional testing is routine and often standard practice.
Mitchell also wrote that he could not rule out the possibility that “non-accidental factors” played a role.
The independent examination found no skull fractures or major fractures and no deep tissue injuries that clearly explained Wells’ death. However, Mitchell noted a red discoloration on the back of Nolan’s head that he described as inconclusive and deserving of further investigation. The report stressed that decomposition prevented definitive conclusions about bruising, abrasions or other possible injuries.
Despite the unanswered questions, Mississippi law enforcement have not released the official autopsy or toxicology reports. Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath announced last week that those records will remain sealed until a grand jury reviews the evidence. In a recorded public statement, McIlrath said the decision follows standard practice in Jackson County.
“Every death in the county, except those of natural causes and non-criminal car wrecks, is presented to your grand jury,” McIlrath said. She added that investigators will not publicly discuss evidence or witness interviews while the investigation remains active because doing so could compromise the integrity of the grand jury process.
McIlrath emphasized that Wells’ case is being handled the same way as other potentially criminal death investigations and promised the investigation would be “thorough, careful and uncompromised.” She did not say when a grand jury would hear the case. Crump has accused the District Attorney’s Office of failing to communicate with the family and has repeatedly called for more transparency as questions surrounding the teen’s final hours continue to mount.
The circumstances surrounding Wells’ disappearance remain a point of contention.
According to Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter, witnesses told investigators Wells chose to remain on Horn Island because he believed he would be returning to the mainland with someone else, and stayed to talk to a girl. Several reports have indicated the girl in question said Wells did in fact leave on the boat; however, investigators have not confirmed. Crump and the family also said Wells’ cellphone was returned without him and that some messages or ‘Snapchats’ had been deleted (or none were posted, which they deem suspicious) before it was recovered. Authorities have not publicly addressed those claims.
Wells was the only black member of his friend group on the boat, which has captured the attention of many. His family has said Mississippi’s history of racial injustice has contributed to their concerns about how the investigation has been handled, while civil rights leaders, including Crump and Reverend Al Sharpton, have called for a full and transparent investigation.
A reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction has grown to $125,000, with contributions from several public figures, including Tyler Perry, Colin Kaepernick and Al Sharpton. Meanwhile, the family says it will continue pressing for answers as investigators await the results of the official autopsy, toxicology testing and eventual grand jury review.
Lauren Conlin
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