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A week after Nolan Wells' body was found on Horn Island, donations to support his family are approaching $650,000 as national figures including Ben Crump, Al Sharpton, Tyler Perry and Colin Kaepernick continue to rally behind them.
Wells, 18, went to the barrier island with friends on July 4th. He was reported missing that night, and a ranger found him dead on the beach on Monday, July 6. Questions about why he was still on the island and did not have his phone remain.
The community has rallied behind Wells' family. Protests and social media posts have called for a deep investigation to ensure the family learns what happened to their son.
Support has included prayers and donations. A fundraiser initially started by a friend of the family has surpassed its goal by more than five times.
Weather Channel owner gives $100K
A GoFundMe to help the family met and passed its $150,000 goal. It had raised almost $650,000 toward a new $750,000 goal as of Monday, July 13.
Byron Allen, owner of The Weather Channel, donated $100,000 over the weekend. It's the largest single donation to the fundraiser.
Last week, Wells' mother Christine Wonsley said she had been flagged about fake GoFundMe accounts that weren't linked to the family. Her friend Allayah Denis created the only authorized page.
It describes Wells as a "beloved son, grandson, brother, friend and teammate whose life touched so many people. His smile, kind heart, and love for others left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him."
Wonsley took over the fundraiser last week, acting on advice from her legal counsel.
“Our hearts go out to the family of Nolan Wells during this difficult time. Our Trust & Safety team is continuing to monitor the platform for any GoFundMes created on behalf of the family, and will remove and refund any not approved by the family," a GoFundMe spokesperson said.
Sharpton, Perry back Wells family
Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, said he'll officiate Wells' funeral in Mississippi. Arrangements were not yet set as of Friday, July 10.
The reverend said actor and producer Tyler Perry will help fund the services.
Sharpton said the funeral is not meant to be a protest. If protests are scheduled, they will be announced separately.
Wonsley said Wells' friends already staged a small protest in Ocean Springs. A larger one followed over the weekend.
She encouraged anyone who might protest to stay peaceful, noting Wells hated conflict.
Filmmaker Spike Lee also attended the Friday news conference.
Kaepernick helps fund second autopsy
The results of a second, independent autopsy have not been released as of Monday, July 13.
Colin Kaepernick is partially funding the second autopsy, according to Crump, who has been hired to lead an independent investigation into the death.
Crump said during an exclusive interview with Don Lemon on Wednesday that the second autopsy will find out "if he had any physical injuries to his body beyond drowning." Crump was unaware of Wells' physical condition at the time of that interview.
As of late last week, the results of the state autopsy was incomplete, pending toxicology results. Mississippi investigators have not released a cause of death for Wells, but they did identify him using dental records.
On Friday, Crump said flights had been canceled because of storms along the East Coast. That led to a delay in getting the body to Dr. Roger Mitchell, the medical examiner in Washington, D.C.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: GoFundMe for family of Nolan Wells climbs toward $750K goal
