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The cause of death of Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells remains undetermined, according to the results of an independent autopsy released Wednesday, adding to the mystery surrounding the death of the football player whose body was discovered on Horn Island earlier this month.
Wells, 18, was reported missing after traveling by boat with friends to Horn Island, a barrier island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, on July 4. When the group returned to the mainland, Wells was not with them. His body was found two days later by a U.S. park ranger on the island’s northwestern tip.
Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Wells’ family, announced Wednesday that the independent autopsy conducted in Washington, D.C., concluded that the manner and cause of death remain “undetermined pending investigation.” The findings have intensified calls from Wells’ family and the public for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death.
“Every day is a challenge. We’re going to miss our son and, like my wife said, we just want honesty,” Elmore Wonsley, Wells’ father, said during the press conference Wednesday. “We want to know what happened to our son.”
Local authorities previously said they did not suspect foul play after Wells’ body was found. However, the lack of a definitive cause of death leaves key questions unanswered, including what happened to the recent high school graduate during the hours after he was last seen on July 4.
There is currently a $125,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone in the case. The funding for the reward was provided by Reverend Al Sharpton, filmmaker Tyler Perry, and former football player Terrell Owens.
‘What Happened to Our Son?’
Speaking during Wednesday’s press conference, Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, said the uncertainty surrounding her son’s death has been devastating for the family.
“You don’t find too many genuine people like him, so to lose that light at such a young age under these circumstances has been absolutely difficult, which is why we’ve gone this route,” she said. “There’s so many people out in the public asking all of these questions, but the only question that we have is what happened to our son. That is the only question.”
Wonsley said the family has relied on faith and community support while waiting for answers.
“It’s been difficult for us, but we are leaning into our faith, leaning into one another, also leaning into all of you,” she said. “It is our hope that our local authorities will do what they need to do. Because us having the preliminary autopsy results and hearing nothing from them, it’s heartbreaking and it’s concerning.”
Nolan’s father, Elmore Wonsley, said his son should be preparing for football practice rather than being mourned by his loved ones.
“Nolan brought a lot of joy to our family,” he said. “He loved to put in the work because he wanted to be the best; he wanted to make me and his mother proud.”
He added: “We’re going to keep pushing and fighting until we find answers.”
Timeline of Investigation
July 4: Wells Reported Missing
Wells traveled by boat with friends to Horn Island to celebrate Independence Day and was last seen around 3 p.m. According to investigators, he failed to return to the mainland with the rest of the group and was reported missing later that night.
July 5: Search Effort Begins
Multiple local and state agencies launched an extensive search operation across the island and surrounding waters in an effort to locate the missing teenager.
July 6: Body Found on Horn Island
A U.S. park ranger discovered Wells’ body on the northwestern tip of Horn Island. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter later said investigators did not initially suspect foul play.
July 10: Family Calls for Independent Investigation
Joined by attorney Ben Crump and civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton, Wells’ parents publicly called for transparency in the investigation and announced plans to commission an independent autopsy.
July 15: Meeting With District Attorney
Wells’ family and their legal team met with Jackson County District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath. Following the meeting, Crump said the district attorney had committed to presenting the case to a grand jury once the investigation is completed.
July 20: Funeral Held in Ocean Springs
Hundreds gathered for Wells’ funeral in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. During the service, Crump and Sharpton renewed their calls for accountability and urged authorities to continue pursuing answers.
July 21: Independent Autopsy Findings Expected
Crump announced that preliminary findings from the independent autopsy would be released the following day.
July 22: Cause of Death Remains Undetermined
The independent autopsy results were made public, concluding that the cause and manner of Wells’ death remain undetermined pending further investigation, leaving many of the central questions in the case unresolved.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Sam Wilson.
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