An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Nolan Xavier Wells has come back without a clear answer. A private autopsy preliminarily found that the Mississippi teenager’s cause and manner of death are “undetermined pending investigation,” with the independent pathologist acknowledging multiple limitations in the report. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, announced the findings Wednesday.
For the parents of the 18-year-old, the result offered little of the resolution they have been seeking since their son failed to return from a Fourth of July boat trip. “The only question we have is what happened to our son?” his mother, Christine Wells-Wonsley, said at the announcement.
What the independent autopsy found
Crump presented the preliminary findings at a press conference during the NAACP National Convention in Chicago. The autopsy was performed by Dr. Roger Mitchell, a board-certified forensic pathologist and the president of the National Medical Association, and it was the second examination conducted on Wells’ body.
The central conclusion was that the evidence did not allow for a determination. Reading from the report, Crump acknowledged the autopsy found no evidence of wrongdoing, but he described the findings as inconclusive: “This pathologist cannot rule out if any intervening non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death of Nolan Wells.”
The pathologist did note one physical finding. The report found “red discoloration” in the soft tissue in the back of Wells’ head, but no underlying skull fractures or lacerations to the skin around the area. Beyond that, additional dissections were performed, for which there were “no fractures or deep tissue injuries identified.”
Two limitations shaped the outcome. First, the condition of the body. The report noted that “the second autopsy performed on Nolan Wells revealed marked decompositional changes,” which the pathologist described as barriers to establishing a definitive cause of death. Second, the report flagged a procedural complication from the first examination.
Nolan Wells autopsy update. pic.twitter.com/q3Nbkkziz0
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 22, 2026
It observed that during the initial autopsy in Mississippi, part of the throat was removed. Doctors told ABC News that it is not uncommon for pathologists to remove an organ or tissue to examine deeper inside the body, but if a second autopsy is requested, there may be a delay in the ability to examine the removed tissue.
Notably, the independent autopsy, performed on July 10, did not include a toxicology report. That means questions about any substances in Wells’ system remain open pending the official findings.
How this autopsy differs from the official one
There are two separate examinations at play, and keeping them distinct matters for understanding where the case stands.
The first was the official autopsy. An autopsy took place on July 7 at the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office, but the results were not immediately made public. That official report is still pending, according to Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr., and once complete, it will be provided to the local coroner.
The second was this independent one, arranged privately. Wells’ parents were desperate for answers and sent the teen’s body to Washington, D.C., for the private autopsy. An independent autopsy is a common step when a family wants a review outside the official channel, particularly in cases drawing scrutiny. It does not replace the state’s findings; it runs alongside them.
The practical takeaway is that neither examination has yet produced a definitive cause of death, and the official one has not been released at all.
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Timeline of events
The sequence of what is publicly known:
- July 4: Wells travels to Horn Island with friends, where he is last seen around 3 p.m. He tells the group he’ll find another ride home, and his friends leave without him. Around 11 p.m., Wells’ family gets a call from one of his friends and reports him missing.
- July 5: Wells’ mother posts on social media asking for help finding her son. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department works with the Coast Guard and the United Cajun Navy to search the island.
- July 6: His body is discovered off the coast of the island, which is about 10 miles south of the Mississippi mainland, following a search that involved the U.S. Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the National Park Service.
- July 7: Dental records confirm the body is Wells, and the official autopsy takes place at the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office.
- July 10: The independent autopsy is performed, six days after Wells disappeared and four days after his body was found.
- July 22: Crump announces the preliminary independent findings in Chicago.
Why the circumstances remain unresolved
Several questions that predate the autopsy still have no public answer, and the inconclusive report does not close them. More than a week after Wells disappeared, many of the central questions surrounding his final hours remained unanswered, including why he didn’t return on the boat with his friends or have his cellphone with him.
One factor the pathologist raised is where the death occurred. Crump said the independent pathologist noted the significance of Wells’ death occurring in or around a body of water. Wells could swim, but the circumstances surrounding his death are still not clear. “With suspicion of drowning, it is important to confirm how that person entered the water,” Crump said.
Investigators have been working to reconstruct the day. They specifically asked for original, unedited photos and videos taken on July 4, particularly those depicting alleged altercations or believed to include Wells. A viral video circulated online, but a friend has publicly disputed the interpretation that it showed a confrontation. On Good Morning America, Tracestin Shepherd, a friend of Nolan, addressed the viral video that investigators have been studying. Many worried it showed Nolan in a confrontation, but Shepherd said that was not the case: “That’s the video I am referring to, and that’s me yelling.”
Wells’ father has said he does not accept the account that his son chose to stay behind. When directly asked if he believed Nolan was left behind on the island, his father responded, “Yes. I don’t believe he decided to stay on the island by himself. It just doesn’t that’s not his character.”
It’s worth noting what law enforcement has and has not said. Sheriff John Ledbetter said there was no indication of drug or alcohol use, but that the coroner would have more information following the investigation and toxicology report. The sheriff has also urged patience. “Folks want answers ten minutes ago, and unfortunately, that takes time to get the accurate information. It’s gonna take a lot of hard work,” he said.
The response so far
The case has drawn national figures and a public appeal for information. The Rev. Al Sharpton, filmmaker Tyler Perry and former NFL player Terrell Owens are offering a $125,000 reward for any information leading to a conviction in Wells’ death. The second autopsy itself was paid for by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.
Wednesday’s event appeared aimed as much at the pace of the official process as at the forensic details. The press conference provided little new concrete information about the case but appeared to be part of an effort to spur faster action from law enforcement. Wells’ mother voiced that frustration directly. “It is our hope that our local authorities will do what they need to do. Us having the preliminary autopsy results and hearing nothing from them is heartbreaking,” she said.
Ben Crump framed the findings as a partial step. “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,” he said.
Wells was remembered by those who knew him as well. Ocean Springs head football coach Jake Bramlett said, “We are devastated by Nolan’s passing. He was the kind of son, teammate, friend and student that every coach hopes to have in a program.”
Frequently asked questions
What did the independent autopsy conclude?
It found the cause and manner of death “undetermined pending investigation.” The pathologist found no fractures or deep tissue injuries but noted red discoloration at the back of the head, and said he could not rule out that non-accidental factors contributed to the death.
Why couldn’t the pathologist determine a cause of death?
Two main reasons: the body showed marked decompositional changes, and part of the throat had been removed during the first official autopsy, which can complicate a second examination.
Is there a toxicology report?
The independent autopsy did not include one. Any toxicology findings would be expected to come through the official investigation.
Has the official Mississippi autopsy been released?
No. The state medical examiner’s report is still pending and has not been made public. That examination took place on July 7.
What does “undetermined” mean here?
It means the available evidence did not let the pathologist assign a specific cause or manner of death. It is not a finding of foul play, nor a ruling out of it. The report explicitly leaves both possibilities open pending more information.
What happens next?
The case remains under active investigation. The official autopsy results are still awaited, and law enforcement has requested unedited photos and videos from July 4 from anyone who was on or near Horn Island.
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Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
