The family of Nolan Wells is searching for answers after a second, independent autopsy left the cause and manner of the teenager’s death listed as undetermined. Speaking at the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, attorney Ben Crump revealed that Dr. Roger Mitchell, a prominent forensic pathologist, could not rule out foul play. While the report noted a lack of obvious fractures or lacerations, it highlighted red discoloration on the back of the eighteen year old’s head and raised concerns over missing tissue from the throat area that prevented a full assessment of potential neck injuries.

The process was complicated by several factors, including the advanced state of decomposition and the fact that organs had already been removed during an initial examination conducted by the state. Because these pieces were missing or altered, Dr. Mitchell was unable to examine Wells’ lungs for water intake or analyze its contents, leaving it unclear whether the young athlete was conscious when he entered the water. This gap in evidence has become a central point of contention for Crump, who argues that determining Wells’ physical condition prior to entering the water is crucial to solving the case.

Nolan Wells vanished on July 4 after visiting Horn Island off the coast of Mississippi with high school friends. According to reports, his peers left early due to boat trouble, leaving Wells behind with plans to catch a ride back later. When he failed to return home that night, his mother reported him missing; his body was discovered two days later by a park ranger on the northwestern shore of the island. While some locals suggest strong currents may have led to an accidental drowning, Wells’ parents maintain that their son was an experienced swimmer and that something more sinister occurred.

During the convention, Christine Wells-Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley expressed deep frustration over the silence from local authorities and the delay in releasing official state autopsy results. They described a heartbreaking void of information and pleaded for honesty regarding their son’s final moments. As tensions rise between legal representatives and investigators over conflicting accounts of what Wells was wearing when he was found, Ben Crump is now calling for Dr. Mitchell to be involved in upcoming grand jury proceedings to ensure every detail is scrutinized.