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Attorney Ben Crump is scheduled to announce the preliminary findings from the autopsy of 18-year-old Nolan Wells on Wednesday, weeks after the Mississippi teen was found dead.
The independent autopsy was conducted on behalf of the family because of questions regarding the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death. The case has attracted national attention amid concerns expressed by family members and civil rights advocates about whether all aspects of the investigation have been fully examined.
Wells was reported missing after he traveled by boat with friends to Horn Island, Mississippi, on July 4 to celebrate the holiday. When the group returned to shore, he was not with them. On the morning of July 6, a U.S. park ranger found his body at the northwestern tip of the island.
The scrutiny has intensified after Wells’ family reported receiving hateful and threatening messages following the death. The family said some of the messages attempted to intimidate them as they prepared to lay their son to rest, prompting renewed concerns about the increasingly polarized reaction to the case.
$100,000 Reward Offered
“I want to offer a reward of $50,000 to anybody that will give information that will lead to an arrest and a conviction in the case of what happened,” civil rights activist the Reverend Al Sharpton said during Wells’ funeral in Mississippi on Monday. “You were not on that island by yourself. Somebody saw something and knows something.”
Before the service ended, Sharpton said that he had received a text from Tyler Perry, offering another $50,000 to match the reward, bringing the total to $100,000.
The announcement came during an emotional service attended by Wells’ family, friends and community members, where speakers remembered the teenager’s faith, kindness and athletic accomplishments while renewing calls for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Sharpton, who has been assisting the family alongside Crump, said the pursuit of justice should be guided by evidence rather than speculation.
“We want a full and thorough investigation,” he told mourners. “We don’t want nothing sugarcoated either way.
“We cannot say it was racist, but we cannot say it was not racist. So let’s not judge either way until all the evidence” is examined.
Crump echoed those sentiments, saying they don’t need law enforcement to narrate what happened. He implored anyone who was on Horn Island when Wells was killed to come forward.
“They went out on the boat, the boat came back, and Nolan washed up on the shore two days later dead,” Crump said. “Wouldn’t you want answers? Wouldn’t you want justice?”
Who Spoke at the Funeral?
The service featured remarks from Wells’ parents, who painted a portrait of a teenager remembered for his compassion, strong faith and dedication to family.
His mother described him as someone who “had such a gentle, calming spirit about him” and a gift for making others feel valued.
“He had a way of making people feel seen, welcome and valued,” she said through tears. “He could lift your confidence with just a few words and make you feel like you belong.”
She recalled her son’s dream of one day having three daughters and said his faith shaped how he lived his life. Despite the family’s grief, she said they found comfort in believing he was “resting in the arms of the Lord.”
“Your father and I are incredibly proud of you,” she said. “We will always be proud of the legacy of love, kindness, and faith that you have left behind.”
Wells’ father shared personal memories from his son’s childhood and athletic career, recalling how Nolan excelled in football, basketball and baseball while serving as a positive influence on his younger siblings.
“I want to start out by saying how proud I am of you, my son,” he said.
Sharpton also addressed mourners, emphasizing that the family’s search for answers should not divide the community.
What Investigation Shows
Authorities have continued investigating the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death, while advocates for the family have pressed for a comprehensive review of all available evidence.
Authorities initially said they did not suspect foul play in Wells’ death after his body was discovered after he was reported missing July 4, though official autopsy findings remain pending while toxicology results are completed.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has maintained that Wells voluntarily remained on the island after others left, but his family and Crump have disputed that conclusion, citing what they describe as inconsistencies in witness accounts.
The FBI‘s Jackson Field Office is assisting local investigators and separately investigating interstate threats directed at people connected to the case.
Meanwhile, Crump’s legal team obtained video footage that he says captures a confrontation shortly before Wells disappeared. At a news conference, Crump said a voice in the footage can be heard demanding: “Give me my freaking phone. What are you freaking doing?” and argued that the video raises further questions about the timeline provided by witnesses.
Friends of Wells have pushed back on that interpretation. Tracestin Shepherd, who was on Horn Island that day, told Rolling Stone that he, not Wells, is the person heard in the recording and said the footage depicts a separate altercation in which Wells was not involved.
Crump has also noted that Wells was one of only a few Black attendees among roughly 200 people gathered on the island and has called for investigators to thoroughly examine all evidence before drawing conclusions.
Speaking at the funeral, Sharpton said he first became involved after Wells’ parents visited the National Action Network’s Harlem headquarters and shared their account of the case. He noted that Crump had since been examining the facts.
Sharpton repeatedly stressed that conclusions should not be reached before investigators complete their work.
“I do not think that it is appropriate for either side of opinions to prevail without the backing of that investigation,” he said.
Sharpton said the reward would be funded through the National Action Network.
Wells’ family renewed their vow to continue seeking answers, with his mother telling mourners that they would “continue to fight” to keep his memory alive and pursue justice in his name.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas
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