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Rev. Al Sharpton and Tyler Perry are jointly offering a substantial reward for information regarding the death of Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old college student found dead two days after he disappeared on Mississippi’s Horn Island during a Fourth of July celebration with friends.
What did Rev. Al Sharpton say about his and Tyler Perry’s reward?
Wells’ funeral took place Monday at Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where Sharpton delivered the eulogy. He encouraged anyone with information to contact the office of Ben Crump, the family’s attorney. Sharpton pledged $50,000 toward the reward, with Perry matching the amount, according to Nola.com and People.
During his eulogy, Sharpton addressed critics who questioned his and Crump’s involvement, refuting claims that they were in it for attention and financial gain.
“First of all, I don’t get any money in any of what we do,” Sharpton told attendees, according to People. “Most of the cases that you have seen us do, we help to pay the funerals and all of that and never ask for a dime back, even if they got settlements.”
Details about Nolan Wells’ alleged whereabouts and disappearance
Blavity previously reported that Wells was a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College. He disappeared after a boating trip to Horn Island to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with his friends. Two days later, his body was found on the northwest end of the island, prompting an investigation into his death.
Several witnesses who claimed to be Wells’ friends came forward, recounting the last moments they spoke to or saw him. However, Crump, his parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, and other supporters have questioned some of those statements.
One, in particular, was from a few witnesses who claimed that Wells stayed on the island to spend time with a girl he had met and said that he would take another boat back to the mainland after everyone else had already left. Another was about the teen’s cell phone, which wasn’t with him, and that Christine located it several hours later through location services.
Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said he did not believe foul play was a factor in Wells’ death. Authorities have also stated that Wells could have drowned. However, the results of Wells’ autopsy remain pending, along with the toxicology report and the results of an independent autopsy, per Blavity and People.
Sharpton on full transparency in the investigation: ‘Wouldn’t you want the truth?’
Both Sharpton and Crump argued against those claims at Monday’s funeral, calling for transparency and a full investigation surrounding some of the events leading up to Wells’ death.
“They went out on the boat, the boat came back and Nolan washed up on a shore two days later — dead. Wouldn’t you want answers?” Crump said, per People. “Wouldn’t you want transparency? Wouldn’t you want the truth? Wouldn’t you want justice?”
Wells’ parents have been outspoken in their pursuit of answers and have called for full transparency. On Sunday, Christine addressed an anonymous sender who sent hate mail while she and her husband continue to grieve their son’s loss, Blavity reported.
“This is America where a grieving mother and father have to deal with this type of behavior because we asked a simple question of what happened to our son and accepted all the help we could get to find answers,” Christine wrote in the Facebook post. “Please go touch some grass.”
During the eulogy, Sharpton reiterated the purpose of the reward: “We’re putting up $100,000 for anybody that’ll come forward. We just want the truth. That’s all. We just want the truth and we want to thank Tyler Perry,” People reported.
Christine also spoke loving words in remembrance of her son: “If you ever had the privilege of meeting our son Nolan, or calling him a friend, then you experienced a glimpse of God’s love through him,” she said. “He was both protective and nurturing.”
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