Detective warns against drawing early conclusions in Nolan Wells investigation

(NewsNation) — As the funeral of Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old Mississippi teen who was found dead after going missing during a Fourth of July trip, was held Monday, civil rights attorney and retired police detective Tim Alexander warned against forming conclusions before the facts are in about the case.

“Confirmation bias is the quickest way to destroy an investigation,” Alexander told NewsNation’s Leland Vittert on “On Balance.” “If you go in with an understanding of what is and what isn’t before you do an investigation to the end, you’ve already ruined your investigation.”

Speculation has swirled about Wells’ death, which quickly gained national attention, including that of several prominent Black figures and activists, including Tyler Perry, Rev. Al Sharpton and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Wells, who was Black, was traveling with a group of friends, all of whom are white. The friends are reportedly cooperating with investigators. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has said early interviews suggest Wells chose to stay on the island and that his friends believed he’d get a ride back with someone else. Wells’ parents have raised doubt about details of the case, including the timeline of events, and are conducting an independent autopsy.

Alexander, who spent nearly 30 years in law enforcement followed by years as a prosecutor, argued the case shouldn’t be treated as settled in either direction. He said he can’t say race played a role in Wells’ death but also pushed back on the idea that it wasn’t a factor at all.

“There’s no evidence that I can see that race played a role, but there’s no evidence that race did not play a role,” Alexander said.

He said it’s the investigator’s job to work through interviews, background checks, the autopsy and toxicology reports, as well as an examination of the boat before any conclusions can be drawn. He said investigations take time, and shutting the door early, in either direction, is where things go wrong.

“The evidence will take you where it takes you. That is the ultimate responsibility of the detective,” he said.

Neither the official nor independent autopsy results have been released. The results of the investigation will be turned over to a grand jury once complete.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.